If you ever get a chance to visit the open-air museum in Pribylina, make sure that you will join the guided tour of the Gothic-Renaissance Manor House.
Nowadays, you will be obliged to wear a mask in the building which is not very comfortable as it is quite warm inside but the tour only takes 1 hour, so it’s not that bad. The entry to the manor house is included in the price of the ticket to the open-air museum.
The manor house was built using stone blocks which creates the impression of a fortress. The solid walls would protect the inhabitants of the house against their enemies for as long as the heavy door wouldn’t give in. The oldest part of the house dates back to the 1st third of the 14th century which means that it is the oldest preserved yeoman seat in the region of Liptov.
The house was renovated and extended in the 15th century and it acquired its current appearance in the second half of the 17th century. It was the residence of the wealthy family of Paríž from which it acquired its name Parížovce. The Paríž family had a significant position in the history as they carried out the royal power in Liptov and they were also the main secular patrons in the parish which was the center of the church administration in the region.
The Paríž family died out in 1564 and the manor house was changing the ownership often from this point.
It is believed that it was also the seat of Ján Korvín – Matej Korvín’s son. The well preserved historical articles show the symbol of a raven with a ring on a twig which was the emblem of the King, and this is why it is said that his son lived here.
Not much attention was paid to the history and construction development of the manor house in Parížovce in the past, except for minor reports in the 18th century. This is a pity as a lot of information was lost over the years.
In the interior of the manor house we could experience the life of the upper social class of Liptov.
In addition to the ceremonial knight's hall in the oldest Gothic part of the building, there are bedrooms, dining rooms, music, yellow, green, pink and hunting rooms.
The last owner of the property was Móric Stein who bought the house in 1908. He was a wealthy man with good social life between the wars. He had three daughters who had their own families and came to the house on various family occasions.
The fate of this Jewish family was affected by the World War II. The manor house was taken over by Nazis and only 2 of Stein’s granddaughters survived the Holocaust. After the war they regained the property but lost it again with the communist regime.
The manor house was originally built on a hill, on the edge of the Váh river, which together with the swamps formed its natural defense.
The village Parížovce was flooded during the creation of the Liptovská Mara dam. The manor house was dismantled and moved to the open air museum. It was one of the few buildings that were saved during this time. The construction of the dam had a large impact on people from the region.
It was especially difficult for older people who lost everything with their houses being flooded. Young people moved around in the region or across the country.
The relocation of so many people wasn't without complications. Once it was decided that the construction will proceed, people were prohibited from building, remodeling or otherwise expanding their houses. These houses therefore fell in price.
Officials walked through the villages and valued buildings and properties. The state bought the houses from the people but the price was so low that it was not possible to build a second house elsewhere. Therefore, they often moved to apartments, most often to Liptovský Mikuláš.
Some of the last residents stubbornly remained in their homes, even though the construction progressed and the workers started to fill the dam with water. Those people were forced to leave.
Today, people understand that the dam is crucial for the region, some of them may have improved their lives but many still feel sentiment.
My family was in similar situation during the construction of the dam Starina, so I can understand their feelings well. My grandma still talks about the old times and life in their (now not existing) village.
It's hard to believe that the manor house has such a turbulent history. When you're inside you only admire its beauty but you don't think about the World War II, changing of the ownership or the flooding of the villages.
I hope that you have enjoyed our tour!
Thank you for reading!
Cheers!
Martina