Ländliches Leben

Forest Skuķi are the property of the Skuķi family, and that has been true for several generations.  The farm in Latgale is in a remote location.  It is next to a forest and the private Lake Inikši (Forest Skuķi). 

Since the 1930s, the farm has had a black smoke sauna, large barns made of logs, a granary and a cattle shed.  Some fragments of a full cycle of natural farming have been preserved -- a fruit and berry orchard, a greenhouse, a little garden and chickens in the cattle shed  An apiary has flourished and been expanded.  The farm welcomes guests who have access to a modern weekend house that is surrounded by approximately 20 hectares of natural meadows, a forest, lake and pond. 

The lady of the farm, Aija, is a professional sauna master, a passionate gatherer of mushrooms and berries, and a manager of the apiary. 

A visit to the farm will take all day to learn about the country lifestyle.  The programme must be arranged in advance, and that will depend on the season of the year and the interests of the guests.  Visitors can go fishing, spend an evening at the sauna with the lady of the house, gather ingredients for herbal tea and dry them, go to the apiary, get honey and go mushroom or berry picking.  Visitors can purchase beekeeping products, local herbal teas and plants from the Forest Skuķi garden.  Several days can be spent at the farm, spending nights at the weekend house.

THE PROGRAMME:

• Arrival at the weekend house to meet Aija;
• Learning about the farm and its leisure locations -- the lake, a boat, a swimming location and areas for sports;
• A daylong examination of country lifestyle on the basis of a pre-arranged plan.

The Arendole Estate is on the banks of the Dubna River.  Its park is a century old, and it has been preserved thanks to a protected plant -- the white viscum.  The owners of the farm have spent 20 years and more in restoring the estate and its surroundings.  The estate has sheep, chickens, turkeys, a goose, ducks and fish in the pond.  The garden produces herbs and vegetables for the kitchen.  Accommodations are available in historically designed rooms, with meals, tours and a smoke or black sauna.  

Owner Arvīds is a lawyer and historian, while his wife, Faimja, is a homemaker and a Tatar from Siberia.  She is also an engineer and technologist.  The owners will welcome guests to the estate and provide all of the services, including meals and tales about the estate and the history of Latgale.

THE PROGRAMME:

• A tour with the owner's tale about the estate and how it is operated;
• Tea and snacks.

This family boutique hotel was opened in the 18th century granary of the former Bilstiņi Estate.  It is located at the place where the Pērse River flows into the Daugava River.  Leisure is offered on a terrace under grape leaves, at the restaurant with a fireplace and grilled dishes, a chance to fish in the river, or a visit to the miniature spa. 

After more than 30 years of living and working in Rīga, Tomass and Dace and their son Reinis decided to move to Koknese, where Tomass was born and raised.  Dace was a violinist at the Latvian National Opera, while Tomass spent more than 20 years working in the automobile business.  Now they both have their Mediterranean-style boutique hotel. 

Guests can have a look at the everyday lives of the couple, accept the slow flow of life with a seemingly simplified look at things, and a chance to become involved on the work of the hotel and the farm.  Guests see nearly everything that happens at the house -- the child plays the piano, the husband is screwing together a motorcycle, the wife is practicing the violin, and granny is bringing freshy baked apple pastry which everyone tastes in a friendly way between the two rivers.  There will be wine tastings and smoked meat.  Fish will be caught in the river, and everyone will go swimming.  In the evening, there will be grilled meat, wine and movies on a large screen on the terrace under grape leaves.  A shorter trip offers a daytime programme to learn about the lifestyle of the owners.

THE PROGRAMME:

• 11:00 AM:  Arrival, meeting the owners and learning about the home and territory so as to make the programme more precise;
• 12:00-2:00 PM:  Marinating and smoking meat;
• 2:00-3:00 PM:  Lunch with grilled foods;
• 3:00-5:00 PM:  Free time to go fishing, swimming, paddleboarding or suntanning.  Smoked meats can be tasted, weighed and packed up so that guests can bring some of them home.

Das Unternehmen "Sabile Cidre" befindet sich im Herzen des Städtchens Sabile. Jeden Herbst liefern die Landwirte aus der Region Kurzeme Äpfel an, aus denen hier Saft zur Cidreherstellung gewonnen wird. Die Anlage ist auch eine öffentliche Veranstaltungsstätte. Im Sommer organisieren die Firma und die Gemeindeverwaltung von Sabile dort Konzerte und kulturelle Events.

Für Baiba und Aldis Circenis aus Riga fing das Leben in Sabile vor mehr als 20 Jahren an, als sie in der Nähe eine "Oase der Ruhe" zwischen Linden und Eichen erwarben. Sie begehen lettische Feste, bieten Kurse zur Landarbeit an und haben nach langen Überlegungen darüber, was sie mit ihrer enormen Apfelernte anfangen sollten, den ersten Sabiler Apfelwein hergestellt. Voraussetzung dafür war ein gepflegter Garten mit alten und großen Apfelbäumen. Parallel dazu haben die beiden sowohl Tradition als auch Herstellung von Cidre direkt vor Ort in den altehrwürdigen Anbaugebieten in England und Frankreich studiert.

Besucher können an einer Führung durch die Fabrik teilnehmen und erfahren, wie dort Apfelschaumwein hergestellt wird. Die Besitzerin erzählt, warum sie ihren Beruf wechselte und Cidremeisterin wurde. Im Sabiler Cidre Haus, das sich direkt neben der Fabrik befindet, können die Besucher den Apfelschaumwein probieren und zum Mitnehmen kaufen.

PROGRAMM:

• Ankunft in der Apfelschaumweinfabrik "Sabile Cider" und Treffen mit einem ihrer Vertreter.
• Informationen über die Geschichte der Welt des Apfelschaumweins, Fakten, Hintergründe und die Geschichte der Firma; außerdem Vorstellung der Technologien zur Cidreherstellung in Lettland und anderswo auf der Welt.
• Rundgang durch die Fabrik, Besichtigung der Anlagen und Informationen über die Herstellung von Cidre vom Apfel bis zum Korken der abgefüllten Flasche.
• Besuch des "Sabiler Cidre Hauses", etwa 300 Meter von der Fabrik, um die Produktion der Anlage kennenzulernen und in gemütlicher und ungezwungener Atmosphäre Cidre zu verkosten. Es werden Gespräche über Apfelschaumwein und seine Variationen, über das Städtchen Sabile, die Kultur des Cidregenusses und die dazu passenden Speisen geführt.
• Möglichkeit zum Kauf von Sabile-Cidre.

The village of Kaltene stretches more than seven kilometres along the western shore of the Bay of Rīga. 

The Rožkalni family are local residents who built the Cīrulīši farm on land that they inherited from their grandfather.  Eventually they opened a winery.  Wine tasters began to visit, which meant that there was also a need for delicious food.  Owner Gunta is a food technologist who specialises in the manufacturing of unsterilized canned fish.  She also produces fish products that are popular and known under the brand name of "Home Goodies from Cīrulīši."  These products are available at local stores.  Cīrulīši offers various fish snacks, homemade wines and cider from berries, fruits and flowers from the farm's gardens.  The company also offers conserved foods, jams, sauces, Balsamic vinegar and syrups from ingredients harvested in its own garden. 

Visitors can taste wine, cider, sangria, mulled wine and fish products.  They can help to prepare ancient Kaltene fishermen's food.

THE PROGRAMME:

• Meeting owner Gunta and learning about the Cīrulīši farm;
• Tasting wine and fish products;
• Preparing Kaltene fishermen's food in the garden and on a campfire, with a choice between milk-sautéed Baltic herring or a warm porridge;
• Learning how to eat or conserve the seasonal vegetables, fruits or berries from the garden.

The watermill of the Krape Estate is found on the Lobe River in the Ogre Administrative District.  Owners offer tours of the mill so that you can learn how the old mill operates.  You can stroll along the banks of the river or learn about plants in the meadow.  There are places for tenting, but the main operation here is the production of elixirs from meadow plants, production of soy wax candles, production of etheric oils and hydrolats, a well as growing trout and African catfish that can be viewed during the season.  A new thing is SPA services with floating, a halotherapy salt beach and an aromatherapy steam system.

Floating is a unique way to boost your health.  You’ll be dipped into a warm magnesium salt solution, which will allow your body to relax completely in physical, emotional and intellectual terms.  The solution (MgSO4) is very concentrated, and it has a temperature of +37C, which is body temperature.  That’s what makes the procedure so relaxing.  Your body will not sink because of the concentration of salt, and you will float above it like bobber.  You will relax all of your tendons and possibly compressed nerves.  Your limbs will “oil up.”  Your body will receive a very necessary dose of magnesium through your skin.

You can also take part in baking KrapesKrepes crepes – home baked crepes made of milk from one neighbouring homestead and eggs from another neighbouring homestead.  You can also prepare a meal on a Himalayan salt board
 

The family company Poļu nams was established more than 20 years ago, and it produces sweets that were popular during the Soviet era -- the Sweet Brunette chocolate sausage, as well as cookies filled with condensed milk that are known as Sweet Pearl or little nuts.  The owners started the work at their flat in Rīga, but now the manufacturing facilities are in a building which used to be a culture centre.  The products are still made by hand. 

Gunita has run the company from its origins and greets guests who wish to tour the manufacturing plant.  That will be of interest both to adults and to children.  Gunita designed her own house and initiates reanimation with the idea of dealing with the big building.  Step by step she is putting together a club, Lāde (Chest), to focus on esoteric issues, education and leisure.  Gatis supports Gunita in her efforts by handling all of the reconstruction and construction work. 

During tours, guests will visit the manufacturing facility, learning about the building and its history.  They will be able to taste the sweets and then have lunch with the owners.  A master class in preparing sweets can be arranged in advance and depending on the workload of the company.  People can learn how to prepare the Sweet Brunette or the little nuts.

THE PROGRAMME:

• A tour of the manufacturing facility to learn about it;
• A master class in preparing sweets;
• Tasting of sweets and a coffee break;
• A visit to the "Lāde" club to learn about Soviet-era film equipment and to take pictures;
• Lunch with the owners.

Das Gehöft befindet sich im Urstromtal der Abava. Hier können die Besucher das echte lettische Bauernleben hautnah kennenlernen. Auf dem Hof gibt es Ziegen, Schafe, Pferde, Gänse, Hühner, Kaninchen und weitere Tiere. Mit der Wiederherstellung des Gehöfts wurde 1991 begonnen. Damals befanden sich hier nur eingestürzte Scheunenwände und ein überwucherter Obstgarten. Die Familie Ezeriņ nahm den Wiederaufbau in Angriff, um ihrer ältesten Tochter Signe den Traum vom Leben auf dem Land und einem eigenen Pferd zu erfüllen.  

Heute betreibt diese Tochter, die Gastgeberin Signe Ezeriņa, nun ihren eigenen Bauernhof und versorgt ihre Familie mit frischen Produkten wie Eiern, Milch, Käse, Gemüse und Obst. Sie teilt die Erfüllung ihres Traums mit ihren Gästen und lässt sie am echten Landleben teilhaben.

Bei einer zweistündigen Führung erfahren die Gäste mehr über den Hof, können Tiere beobachten und die von der Gastgeberin hergestellten Spezialitäten probieren. Nach gesonderter Absprache ist eine Übernachtung möglich, um noch mehr vom Landleben zu erfahren, einen Saunabesuch mit Birken- und Wacholderruten zu unternehmen und anschließend im nahen Teich zu schwimmen. 

PROGRAMM
•    Rundgang über den Bauernhof, bei dem das Leben auf dem Lande vorgestellt wird
•    Erfrischungspause mit Kräutertee und Honig sowie Verkostung von Karottenkuchen und anderem traditionellen Backwerk 

The Mauriņi guesthouse is seven kilometres from Sigulda and in the middle of the forest.  The farm has a large oak, a pond for swimming, and a park that covers nine hectares.  The guesthouse has a warm pool, a sauna, a tub and a sauna barrel outdoors.  All around the guesthouse are ancient and typical Latvian flowers, including tiger lilies, phlox, peonies, dahlias, etc. 

Owners Andris and Māra Zemdega built the guesthouse themselves and have managed it for more than 15 years.  Māra bakes yeast breads, including rye wholemeal bread, rye bread with dried meat and onions, scalded rye bread, seed bread and yeast white bread. 

Visitors will learn how to bake bread and will receive yeast and a recipe to bake bread at home.  While waiting for the dough to rise, Māra will offer various activities such as gathering wild herbs for tea, cooking jam and baking pierogi.  An alternative programme involves the ability of guests to spend the night at the guesthouse when it takes longer for the dough to rise.  Visitors will have access to a sauna and a pool.

THE PROGRAMME:

A master class in baking bread:

• Preparing mash with yeast and then taking the necessary amount to mix it with flour and water;
• Preparation of the dough by adding flour, water and other ingredients for the specific types of bread;
• Activities while the dough is rising -- gathering ingredients for herbal teas, cooking jam, baking pierogi or just relaxing at the farm;
• Shaping and baking loaves;
• Presentation of a loaf to each participant, along with yeast and a recipe to bake bread at home.

We offer ancient dishes of Madona region (group catering), culinary master classes (ancient dishes, etc.), use home-grown berries (strawberries, raspberries), etc. agricultural products because they own a farm. The guest house is located in an old building, which is easily located. Participation in programs such as "Meet your master", "Real Latvian hosts 2017", etc.

Der Kainaži-Hof ist fast 150 Jahre alt und liegt zwischen Smiltene und Rauna. Er ist von hundertjährigen Eichen umgeben und befindet sich an einem ruhigen Ort, weit weg von großen Straßen. Ein Park mit mehr als 300 verschiedenen Ahorn-, Birken- und Walnussbaumarten gehört zum Hof. Seit vielen Jahren produziert und vermarktet die Familie Labanovskis verschiedene Arten von Birken- und Ahornsaft. Die Eigentümer haben sich mit der kanadischen Tradition der Sirupherstellung vertraut gemacht und arbeiten seit mehreren Jahren erfolgreich in diesem Bereich. Die Produkte von Birzī sind biologisch zertifiziert.

Līvija und Ervīns tauschten das Leben in Riga gegen das Leben auf dem Lande ein, um ihre Ideen zur Gründung eines Unternehmens für den Verkauf von Säften zu verwirklichen. Ervīns Eltern haben ihm ihr Wissen über den Flüssigkeitskreislauf der Bäume und über die wertvollen Eigenschaften der gewonnenen Säfte weitergegeben. Er befasste sich außerdem mit den kanadischen Technologien zur Saftverarbeitung. Seine Schwester Nora kombiniert ihre Arbeit in Riga mit der Mitarbeit im Betrieb und genießt das Landleben. 

Die Besitzer ermöglichen es Besuchern, die Verarbeitungslinie und den Saft-Park zu besichtigen. Die Gäste können einen Baum pflanzen und Birkensaft in verschiedenen Varianten probieren, von frischem bis zu prickelndem Saft mit verschiedenen Geschmacksrichtungen. Es gibt auch Birkensaft-Sirup. Besonders im Juni, wenn die Blätter der Birken frisch und voller Energie sind, werden die Gäste ermutigt, bei der Herstellung von Birkensaft zu helfen. Das kräftige Aroma der Birkenblätter lässt sich wunderbar erspüren! Zum Abschluss darf sich jeder seine Birkenrute mit nach Hause nehmen. Ein besonderes Angebot ist das Mittagessen für Besuchergruppen im Freien.

 PROGRAMM:
•    Begrüßung durch die Eigentümer
•    Erkundung der Birzī-Produktionslinie, Informationen über das Unternehmen, die Saftgewinnung, die Verarbeitungsräume, den Saftkeller und das Zuckerhaus
•    Besuch des "Parks der Bäume", wo jeder Gast ein Loch gräbt und dann eine Birke oder einen Ahorn pflanzt. Die Besucher geben "ihrem" Baum einen Namen und binden ein Namensschild um den Baum
•    Verkostung und Verkauf von Birzī-Produkten

Der Hof ist von biologisch wertvollen Wiesen und Wäldern umgeben und verfügt über einen eigenen Waldsee. Die nächsten Nachbarn sind 2 km entfernt. Es handelt sich um einen der ersten Betriebe in Lettland, in dem nach der Wiedererlangung der Unabhängigkeit mit der Teeproduktion begonnen wurde, wobei ausschließlich lettische Wild- und Gartenpflanzen verwendet werden. Seit mehr als 20 Jahren ist die Marke Lauku tējas ("Landtees") in den Regalen der Geschäfte zu finden.

Die Familie Lukin zog in den späten 1970er Jahren von Riga nach Annas Ozoliņi. Als Kind verbrachte Brigita die Sommer auf dem Land. Das Wissen ihrer Großmutter über die Kräuter und Pflanzen in der Umgebung des Hofes brachte Brigita auf die Idee, Kräutermischungen herzustellen. Heute werden auf dem Hof Öko-Tees hergestellt, wobei das Wissen der Vorfahren angewandt wird. Die Kräuter werden gesammelt und nach alten Methoden zubereitet, wobei die Fermentation zum Einsatz kommt.

Die Besucher werden mit den Pflanzen und der Teezubereitung vertraut gemacht, indem sie am Mandala-Tee-Workshop teilnehmen und ihren eigenen Tee zum Mitnehmen kreieren. Die Teilnahme an einer Kräutermeditation ermöglicht es jedem und jeder, die für ihn oder sie am besten geeigneten Kräuter für die Zubereitung des Tees auszuwählen.

Nach vorheriger Absprache kann die Teilnahme der Gäste an einigen Saisonarbeiten in der Teeherstellung (wie dem Pflanzen, Ernten, Sortieren, Vorbereiten zum Trocknen, Fermentieren und Verpacken) arrangiert werden.

PROGRAMM:

• Ankunft auf dem Bauernhof, Treffen mit den Gastgeberinnen Brigita und Evita
• Spaziergang über den Hof, Kennenlernen der Pflanzen und Sammeln für die Zubereitung des eigenen Tees. Der Vorteil des Sommers besteht darin, während des Spaziergangs beste Kräuter für einen frisch zu brühenden Tee sammeln zu können.
• Tee-Workshop:
  • Meditation, bei der die Teilnehmer mit geschlossenen Augen stehen oder sitzen, tief und ruhig atmen und die ganze Aufmerksamkeit in den Körper fließen lassen, um die Intention zu erkennen – wofür brauche ich genau jetzt den Tee? Zur Entspannung, zur Energiegewinnung, wegen eines bestimmten Gesundheitsproblems?
  • Die gewünschten Pflanzen werden aus 12 Möglichkeiten ausgewählt: Mit dem ganzen Körper sehen, riechen und fühlen – 3 bis 5 Pflanzen werden selektiert, die die Intention unterstützen.
  • Herstellung eines Tee-Mandalas: Aus den ausgewählten Pflanzen wird ein Kreis gebildet, um die Proportionen der Teemischung zu bestimmen. Das Mandala ist eine uralte Form der Heilung, der Kreis ein Symbol für das Universum.
  • Zubereitung der fertigen Teemischung zum Mitnehmen – sie wird in den Beutel gegeben und mit dem Namen und der Zusammensetzung der Mischung versehen.

The village of Kaldabruņa in Sēlija has a wealth of ancient traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation and preserved in oral history and work.  The Meadow Museum is a place where the traditions are accumulated, and people who know about them gather there.  The museum was established at a 100-year-old building that used to house a preschool.  It was set up by the "Water Signs" organisation. 

Ieva Jātniece was one of the funders of the Meadow Museum and is a story-teller who also runs a glass processing workshop where she transforms windowpanes into jewellery with elegant impressions of meadow plants.  Ingrīda speaks with a sonorous Selonian dialect which differs a bit from classical Latvian.  Andra, in turn, will take you to the garden of medicinal plants, where you will be able to choose plants for herbal tea.  She will prepare a tasty meal from things that are available at Kaldabruņa and offer a tour of a wood processing workshop where Andra operates a laser cutting system to prepare designs for original souvenirs. 

Visit Kaldabruņa to get a true sense of the diversity of a rural lifestyle.  This is an environment in which ancient traditions organically live together with modern technologies.

THE PROGRAMME:

• Arrival at the Meadow Museum to meet the hosts and take a tour of the museum's exhibition;
• Demonstration of the "Midnight Meadow" multimedia projection;
• A stroll through the garden of medicinal plants to learn how to brew tea from various plants; during the spring and summer, guests are invited to prepare mixtures of teas from dried plants;
• A visit to the specialised wood processing workshop where a demonstration of laser engraving will be available along with a story about how the relevant souvenirs are designed;
• A visit to the glass workshop and jewellery salon, where Ingrīda will talk all about the route to the glass meadows; you will be able to examine the way in which the jewellery and interior design objects are manufactured and purchase some to take home with you if you wish to do so;
• A creative workshop where each guest is invited to produce his or her own piece of glass jewellery;
• A meal with conversation served outside or indoors by the fireplace, depending on the season.

Valmiermuiža is on the northern border of Valmiera.  The stable and riding school were established during the first half of the 19th century in three buildings that are joined together by a yard with paving stones and are surrounded by a stone and mortar fence with a gate.

The Jurašs family currently manages this location, hoping to preserve the very best traditions in Latvian horse breeding.  The owner has been part of the Latvian horseback riding team, and he and his daughter, Viktorija, have won many prizes at riding championships in Latvia.  The family directs the Valmiermuiža Riding School, with some 50 students aged from 4 to 84 who wish to learn how to ride a horse.  There are also creative camps for children which feature a great many practical skills.  Many kids have never pushed a wheelbarrow, raked hay or fed and tended to animals that are as large as a horse.

Staff at the stable welcome adults and children as guests.  They offer an educational tour about tending to horses, breeding horses and types of horses.  Visitors can help with work at the stable and view an exhibition of items related to the work at the stable and look at an exhibition of horse breeding equipment.

THE PROGRAMME:

• Meeting the owners of the Valmiermuiža stable or one of their trustworthy assistants;
• Learning about the history of the stable;
• An educational tour of the stable to learn about horse breeding, various types of horses and their historical role in the lives of Latvians; should anyone wish to, they can clean the horses and feed carrots to them;
• A chance to look at and handle various tools related to horse breeding;
• It is possible to climb onto the back of a horse if that is arranged in advance.

There are lots of popular destinations around this beekeeping farm -- the Cīrava forest trail, the Cīrava castle, the Cīrava windmill and the Ievleju Maize bakery that partners with the beekeeping operation. 

The hives of bees are in the castle park and the forest, and the lady of the operation, Baiba, tends to the hives, trains beekeepers and produces beekeeping and apitherapeutic products.  She has more than 20 products to sell to her guests.  Baiba's father was a beekeeper, and that encouraged his daughter to follow his example.  Baiba has been familiar with bees for more than 30 years, and she has spent summers working at the apiary.  Outside the beekeeping season, she prepares products and inventory, and she also hones her skills and knowledge.  Baiba is happy to share her professional experience with other beekeepers and visitors to the farm.  She organises seminars about beekeeping, as well as practical activities out in the field. 

Visitors can take part in creative workshops and taste beekeeping products.  The programme can be supplemented with a health treatment in the bee therapy hut.  Beginners will undergo basic training, depending on the season of the year -- tending to hives of bees, doing selection work in the apiary, producing and selecting products, extracting the honey and preparing inventory.

THE PROGRAMME:

• Visiting the farm and meeting its owners;
• A creative workshop (one apiece):

- Making various kinds of wax candles;

- Preparing mixtures of honey and other beekeeping products;

- Learning about healthy aspects of beekeeping products, including tasting and preparation of products;

- A discussion about how hives of bees are cared for;

• A look at the work that has been done and tasting of products.

Bērzzemnieki is a farm in the park of the Zasa Estate, and it was once owned by the famous Latvian horse breeder Vilis Stukuls.  A few years ago, the Kalnājs family bought the farm.  The family restored and improved the historical house, which was built in the style of Eclecticism.  They also reintroduced horses to the large stone stables.  There are six horses, a sheep called Bučiņa, a ram called Alfrēds, a dog called Baron Louis, and two cats.  The animals behave well, and visitors can look at them, pat them, cuddle them and feed them with treats which will be provided by the owners.  Accommodations are available for travellers. 

The Kalnājs family gathered in Latvia from all corners of Europe to satisfy the dream of living at a farm.  Anna is responsible for the animals and horse tourism.  She has an appropriate education from Latvia and the UK.  She gets along wonderfully with children and teenagers, teaching them to ride horses.  She is very familiar with the nature and the needs of horses.  Sister Laura takes care of the house and makes sure that guests find the little estate clean and polished.  Laura is a master at brewing tea or coffee.  She bakes cakes and prepares tasty bean soup with smoked ribs for her guests.  Grandmother Īrisa, meanwhile, is active in the flowerbeds and garden. 

The Kalnājs family offers you a chance to learn about horses, do some work at the stable, learn about everyday handling of horses, and take a horseback ride in the Zasa park.

THE PROGRAMME:

• Arrival at the farm to meet its owners;
• Encountering horses and other animals to learn about their characteristics and behaviour;
• Assisting with everyday or seasonal stable work -- cleaning boxes, adding water, preparing hay, weeding carrots and repairing or installing parts of the paddock;
• The horses will be brought in and cleaned, and visitors will be able to comb their manes, clean their hair and hooves, and prepare for a walk, ride or travel;
• A horseback ride to study the Zasa park and its surroundings;
• Returning to the stable to take pictures with the horses (the photos will be available to take home), with a chance to purchase souvenirs that are related to horses;
• Feeding the animals with treats and snacking with cakes and tea.

Gästehaus in der Brauerei des 300 Jahre alten Omuļi–Herrenhauses, 20 km von Valka entfernt. Heimwerkerbetrieb – Geräuchertes, Käse, Weißbrot, süß–saures Brot und Roggenbrot. Tierfarm, Sauna.

The Alsunga Tourist Information and Historical Heritage Centre has a permanent exhibition that features a Suiti living room and a kitchen, as well as liturgical apparel collection worn by Catholic priests. In the exhibition hall there are rotating exhibitions related to the history and present life of the Suiti women’s ethnographic ensemble. A special offer involves performances by ensembles “Suiti women”, “Suiti men” and “Suiti bagpipe players”.

Z / S "Kaņepītes" is a family company founded in 1992. The farm takes its name from the name of the house given to it in 1924. Organic farm where cereals are grown and processed into food. The production of the products is small, but the technique has an ancient atmosphere, a stone, wooden mill that gives a special taste and aroma to flour and oatmeal. Now the assortment already has 30 different product types.

The Iča settlement village is an ancient settlement on the banks of the Iča River which was discovered in 1937.  People from the Neolithic Era (4,500-1,500 BC) and Bronze Age (1,500-500 BC) settled here -- craftsmen, fishermen and hunters. 

Biruta Bogdane initiated the thematic village at the Iča settlement.  She is an active and creative resident of the Bērzpils Parish, and her idea of establishing a thematic village to popularise the cultural and historical heritage of the parish excited and brought together several local residents.  Guests are given a tour of the settlement village by Anna Kriviša, who otherwise is responsible for various cultural events in the parish. 

Guests are welcome to learn about the thematic village and its past and present, visit the most important cultural and historical sites in Bērzpils, as well natural locations.  Visitors can learn ancient skills such as cheesemaking, weaving grass mats, taking a master class in playing folk instruments that is organised by local experts, and then enjoying meals of hearty fish soup and home-baked rye bread.

THE PROGRAMME:

• Arriving at the Bērzpils Parish and meeting the guide at Dārzu Street 25A;
• A tour of the most important locations in Bērzpils along with a guide -- the thematic landscape park with a view of the beautiful locations in the parish, the Bērzi cemetery chapel, which is an architectural monument of national importance (built in 1791, restored in 2017), the Bērzi St Anne Roman Catholic Church (built in 1851), and the Bonifacova Estate;

The Iča settlement:

• Fish soup for lunch
• Master classes in playing folk instruments, singing, dancing or cheesemaking.

The farm is in the centre of the Sēlija Administrative District, and it is quite far from large cities, villages and neighbours.  Guests ride through a small grove of pine trees and find themselves in a place where there are large rose beds with more than 400 types of roses.  At the top of the hillock are greenhouses where various flowers and vegetables are grown.  More than 500 types of rose plants can be viewed and purchased. 

The Līcis family has been running the Grekāņi farm for more than 20 years.  The lady of the house is Ilze, and she is the granddaughter of one of the first Latvian breeders of roses, Jānis Braslis.  She is a graduate of the Bulduri Gardening Technical School and its flower breeding department.  The man of the house, Pēteris, has received a diploma in tending to the land.  Growing flowers and tending to their garden are hobbies for the family.  They have a small plant farm and a garden of roses which is constantly supplemented with new types.  Visits to the farm will depend on the season.  Contact the venue in advance.

THE PROGRAMME:

• A visit to the farm to meet its owners and to look at the flowerbeds of roses or greenhouses; the owners will talk about groups and types of roses and the way in which they are grown;
• In April and early May, visitors can work at the greenhouses to organise compositions of decorative or edible plants in decorative dishware or balcony boxes that can be purchased;
• When roses are blooming, visitors can stroll through the garden to learn about the types of roses and collect rose petals to brew rose tea or dry them into bags of aromas.