You are currently looking at the historic centre of Birži Manor, and the origins of the city of Madona can be traced back to this historic site. The Birži Manor (or Madona Manor) was marked on the maps as early as the 17th century. In the early 20th century, the outbuildings of the Manor centre – cattle-sheds, barns, the granary and the threshing barn – were located in the area between the building of the current gymnasium and the street Skolas iela. Buildings of similar style were built also in Cesvaine due to the fact that, as of 1815, both manors were owned by one and the same family – the family von Wulf.Up to the stairs on your left, you can see two buildings. The nearest one used to be the Manor stable, whereas the farthest one – the white plastered building with rubble walls – was the residence of the administrator of the Manor, which housed also the workers and servants. In the 1920s, during the agrarian reform, this building served as a place of work of a veterinarian. Currently, this building houses the Madona Forestry Division and the Food and Veterinary Service.Along the street, on the other side of the hill on your right (it cannot be seen from here), there is the Madona Regional Library and also the Madona Museum of Local History and Art, which was moved to the reconstructed building in 2003. There was a mill at this place while the Manor existed. However, in 1933, a hospital was built on the foundations of the mill.Right across the street, you can see the Exhibition Halls of the Madona Museum of Local History and Art. Part of the building on the right side used to be the Manor granary, but the Exhibition Halls were built in 1984, whilst preserving the architectural style of the stone walls. Due to the unique lighting of the ceiling, the Exhibition Halls of Madona are among the best ones in Vidzeme and even Latvia.In the 1930s, the former Manor granary was used as a fire station, but during the World War II, a morgue was set up in the basement of the granary.Further on your right, you can see a white three-storey building which was built in 1926. Currently, it is the Madona State Gymnasium. As for the very beginnings of the school, in 1908, it commenced its operation as a Birži Progymnasium for Girls in Kalna Sprīzdāni, in Sarkaņi Parish. Its establishment marked an important step, as it was the first educational institution of this status in a rural area not only in Latvia, but also in the entire Russia back then. The school was relocated several times, until, in November 1926, it was moved to this building – the Madona Secondary School, at the time. It was the first and also the largest publicly financed building in Madona, at the same time being also the first three-storey building in the city. The relocation of the school to the new premises took place solemnly, as the books and other educational materials were carried up the high hill by the students themselves. During the World War II, the building served as an infirmary for some time. Furthermore, the school was intentionally blackened with smoke to hide it from view during the air strikes.On the opposite direction, you can see the steep street called Biržu iela – one of the first streets named by the Madona Village Council. On the right from the street Biržu iela, you can see the Park Hill, which offers a scenic panorama of Madona from atop. In the 1920s, an open space for dancing was set up on the top of the hill, where the local song festival concerts had taken place several times. In the autumn of 1944, the authorities started using this place for burying the soldiers of the Red Army. Later on, this area was turned into the largest local cemetery of the brethren.