In 1779, King Stanisław Augustus Poniatowski (1732-1798) assigned Plungė eldership and the manor to Vilnius Bishop Ignacy Jakub Massalski (1726–1794).

In 1795, following the 3rd Partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Catherine II, Tsarina of the Russian Empire gave 170,000 acres of land to Platon Zubov (1767–1822) for his loyalty and service.

It is thought that the villa (known by Plungė people as the ‘clock-house’) imitating Florence’s Gothic masterpiece Palazzo Vecchio was built on the estate park during Alexandrovich Zubov’s time.

The Zubov family built buildings, repaired roads, businesses flourished and educational and cultural institutions were established.

In 1873 Alexandrovich Zubov family sold Plungė estate to Michał Mikołaj Ogiński.

[4][5] Over the next thirteen years, Michał Ogiński constructed a new ensemble of buildings at Plungė Manor.

In 1879, he ordered the main mansion to be built, designed by architect Karl Lorenz,[6] who was of German origin.

Lorenz and the performer of works Gotrfried Schrank created the flamboyant ensemble, incorporated into the old mixed-style park.

[8] At the turn of the 20th century, the Ogiński residence was famous for its musical traditions, collections of European and folk art, archaeology, numismatics, books, manuscripts, feasts held by the hosts of the manor, along with scientific, technological and economic innovations.

The musicians of the Plungė orchestra played on the Eiffel Tower in Paris on a French national holiday.

[8] In 1901, Michał Ogiński suddenly fell ill and died while getting treatment in Nice, France.

By 1934, the buildings of the manor accommodated the gymnasium of Saulė, Motiejus Valančius School, a teachers’ seminary, and the national stud farm.

From 1934 to 1940, when the 6th infantry of Margis and the 4th regiment of artillery were stationed at the manor, the ensemble and park were transferred for their use.

At the beginning of World War II, the palace and other buildings were severely damaged by fire and vandalized by Soviet soldiers.

The chief priest, seeing Galinda’s tears and heartache, began to teach her that only a sacred fire can quench her earthly pain.