The Southern Vidzeme Milk Tour

This is the only place in Latvia where you can tour a cellar in which the owner uses birch juice to prepare syrups, birch wine, sparkling wine (champagne), lemonade, and fermented birch juice. You can taste and buy the products.

Muzejs (dibināts 1944. g.) atrodas Skolas ielā 10. Tas ir viens no vecākajiem Vidzemes muzejiem, kura interesantākie eksponāti ir atradumi no vidējā un jaunākā dzelzs laikmeta, kas daļa ir nākuši no Lubānas ezera apkārtnes. Muzeja darbinieki organizē gan tematiskas izstādes, kas saistītas ar novada kultūrvēsturi, gan mākslas izstādes. Muzejs izvietots bijušās Biržu muižas vēsturiskajās ēkās.

Piedāvā aplūkot dažādu šķirņu trušus un mājputnu sētu (zosis un dažādu šķirņu vistas, kuras dēj olas zili zaļā un zaļā krāsā, tumši sarkanā, baltā un smilšu krāsā). Iespēja iepazīties ar vienu no vecākajām aitu šķirnēm, kas vilnu maina pašas. Atrakcija - trusis - īpašā piedāvājumā (fotogrāfēties, mīļoties u.c.). Saimniecībā iespējams nopirkt mājražoto produkciju. Iepriekš piesakot, piedāvā arī degustācijas.

Bioloģiskā ģimenes saimniecība “Līvi” atrodas Gaiziņkalna pakājē, Bērzaunes pagastā, un darbojas kopš 1996. gada. Saimniecības 250-300 kazu ganāmpulks ganās apkaimes dabīgajās pļavās. 

Sieri

Mīkstie sieri dažādās formās, garšās un iepakojumos: “Ķiploksiers” - kazas piena siers ar ķiplokiem, “Baraviku siers” - kazas piena siers ar baraviku garšu, “Baltais” - kazas piena siers, “Āboliņsiers” - kazas piena siers ar sierāboliņu, Kazas piena siers ar kaņepēm, Kazas siers “Labrīt” ar ķiplokiem (bumbas eļļā), Kazas siers “Labrīt” sevišķais (bumbas eļļā), Kazas siers “Labrīt” bez ķiplokiem (bumbas eļļā).
Citi kazas piena produkti: kazas piena saldējums; kazas piena konfektes (līdzīgas “Gotiņai”), saldās siera bumbas.

Kā top siers

Sieri top no ekoloģiski tīra pašu ganāmpulka kazu piena.

Apmeklētājiem

• Iepazīšanos ar saimniecību vada paši saimnieki. Ekskursijas laikā viņi dalās ar stāstiem par kazām un produkcijas tapšanas pirmsākumiem, piedāvājot ieskatu lauku dzīves ikdienā.
• Apmeklētāji var piedalīties produktu degustācijā – nogaršot dažādus kazas siera produktus, uzzināt to ražošanas stāstus, sajust svaigi gatavoto sieru aromātu un izmēģināt tos dažādās kombinācijās. Pēc degustācijas iespējams iegādāties produktus saimniecības veikaliņā.
• Saimniecības teritorijā ir iespēja ieraudzīt gan mazās pundurkazas dienas laikā, gan vakarpusē paglaudīt lielās kazas un vērot slaukšanas procesu.
• Piedāvā apmeklējumus grupām, skolēnu ekskursijas, kā arī apvienotās programmas: ekskursija, siera degustācija un tomātu zupa ar kazas siera bumbām.

Kur iegādāties sierus

Uz vietas saimniecības veikaliņā, kurš atvērts bez brīvdienām visu gadu.
Tirdzniecības vietās: lielveikalos RIMI, Citro, Elvi, specializētos veikalos un tirgos.

Atrodas Daugavas labajā krastā pie Karikstes upītes ietekas Daugavā. Pili, no kuras mūsdienās ir saglabājusies tikai sienas drupas un pamati, Livonijas ordenis uzcēla 1224. gadā. To apdzīvoja līdz 17. gs. vidum, kad Poļu - zviedru kara laikā celtni sagrāva. Uz pilsdrupām paveras labs skats no ceļa (grantēts), kas aizlokas lejup pa Daugavas ielejas labo krastu.

Atrodas nepilnu kilometru no Aizkraukles pilskalna un redzama no Rīgas – Daugavpils šosejas (A 6). Dievnams celts (1688. g.) stāvā Daugavas ielejas krasta malā, gar kuru vēl izsekojams vecais Daugavpils ceļš. Laikā no 1896. -1899. g. baznīcu pārbūvēja neogotikas formās. No interjera pieminēt vērta ir A. Annusa altārglezna “Kungs, palīdzi mums, mēs grimstam”. Baznīcā uzstādītas memoriālās plāksnes šejienes novadniekiem - pulkvedim Jorģim Zemitānam un arhibīskapam Arnoldam Lūsim. Kāds nostāsts vēsta, ka 2. pasaules kara laikā baznīcas torni aizķērusi vācu armijas lidmašīna un tas kļuvis šķībs.

Ganāmpulkā ap 200 kaziņas. Saimnieks ar vieglu humora pieskaņu pastāsta par dzīvi ar kazām Latvijā un Eiropā, kazu siera pagatavošanas un garšas noslēpumiem, uzaicina uz sieru degustāciju, kuru ir iespējams pēc tam iegādāties. „Lielgrodēs” gatavotais kazu siers ir ne vien veselīgs, bet arī ļoti gards.

1973. g. dibinātais muzejs no 1989. g. atrodas Kalna Ziedu viensētas vietā. Ēka, kurā atrodas patstāvīgā ekspozīcija celta 1989. g. uz dzīvojamās ēkas pamatiem, bet krātuves ēka (1994. g.) uz kūts pamatiem. Izstāžu nams (2000. g.) tapis klēts vietā. Tādējādi no bijušās viensētas ēkām ir saglabājies tikai pagrabs, taču ēku izvietojums atbilst tipiskam Vidzemes sētas plānojumam. Muzeja krājums veltīts novada vēsturei no akmens laikmeta. Tā brīvdabas ekspozīcijā apskatāmi bišu stropi ar piederības zīmēm un Latvijā reti sastopamie riņķa krusti, kas ir viduslaiku kapu pieminekļi. 0,1 km uz ziemeļaustrumiem no muzeja atrodas Kalna Ziedu pilskalns. Kalna Ziedu Upurozola stumbrs (cilvēku un dabas stihiju postīts) 2013. gadā no Pļaviņu HES ūdenskrātuves malas pārvietots uz muzeja pagalmu, lai saglabātu to kā vēstures pieminekli nākamajām paaudzēm.

Muzeja krājumu veido vairāk nekā 40 tūkstoši dažādu priekšmetu, kas atspoguļo Ogres novada kultūrvēsturisko mantojumu no vissenākajiem laikiem līdz mūsdienām. Ekspozīcija "Pietura Ogre" piedāvā izsmeļošu vēstījumu par Ogres vēsturi, sākot no laika, kad Ķentes pilskalnā apmetās pirmie tā iemītnieki līdz Ogres kūrorta zelta laikiem un padomju periodam, kura laikā Ogre no peldu un atpūtas kūrorta pārvērtās par visā Austrumeiropā zināmu rūpniecības centru.

Muzeja pirmā stāva zālē izstādes mainās ik mēnesi. Tematiskās izstādes veltītas dažādiem vēstures notikumiem un norisēm, bet mākslas izstādēs sevi prezentē Latvijas un Ogres novada mākslinieki. Muzejā notiek pasākumi un koncerti, muzejpedagoģiskās programmas un radošās darbnīcas.

Iespējams pieteikt ekskursiju pa Ogres pilsētu.

Viena no skaistākajām Latvijas pilīm (eklektisma stils), ko pils saimnieks Ādolfs fon Vulfs esot uzdāvinājis savai sievai. Pēc arhitekta H. Grīzebaha projekta amatnieki to uzcēla laikā no 1893. - 1896. g. Šobrīd norit pils atjaunošanas darbi. Pie pils Sūlas upītes krastos plešas Cesvaines parks, kur atrodas ar mežu apaugušais Cesvaines pilskalns ar pils īpašnieka Ādolfa fon Vulfa kapu. Pili ir vērts izstaigāt gidu pavadībā.

Cesvaines Pils jumta pārbūves darbi ir noslēgušies. Pils ir pieejama apmeklētājiem Cesvaines Tūrisma centra speciālistu pavadībā, piesakoties pa tālr. 26172637 vai Pils ielā 2.  

Saimniecībā (atrodas Daugavas senlejas krasta augšdaļā), aug vairāk nekā 100 augu sugu un šķirņu – dekoratīvie, garšaugi, ārstniecības augi, kā arī tradicionālie latviešu sētas augi. Te apskatāmi Latvijā lielākie Mandžūrijas aktinīdijas (t.s. Ziemeļu kivi) stādījumi. Ekskursija, augu stādu iegāde, tēju, augļu un ogu degustācijas un konsultācijas.

Found in the northern part of Cesvaine, the church was built of fieldstones in the Neo-Gothic style in 1879 by the architect Paul Max Bertschy.  The church was restored in 1929 and again in the early 1990s.  The altar painting, “Christ on the Cross” (1923) is by Jēkabs Bīne.

The tradition of dairy processing in Lazdona dates back more than 100 years. Today, the company produces milk, cheese, sour cream, curd cheese, quark products, yoghurts, desserts and other dairy products. Lazdonas piensaimnieks is one of the few producers of Jāņu siers, a traditional Latvian cheese recognised by the European Union as a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) product. Several of the company’s products also carry Zaļā karotīte (Green Spoon), Latvia’s national quality mark for food products.

Cheeses

• Jāņu siers (Jāņu cheese) – a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed product, produced seasonally at AS Lazdonas piensaimnieks to celebrate the cheese’s important place in Latvian summer solstice traditions. Demand for this cheese is high every year, reflecting its consistent quality, authentic flavour and consumers’ enduring trust in the Lazdona brand.
• Baltais siers – white curd cheese, mild-flavoured, with the characteristic crumbly texture of curd. A versatile cheese that is delicious on its own as a snack, or added to salads, where it complements other flavours while bringing out their subtle nuances. High in protein.
• Baltais siers ar zaļumiem - white curd cheese with herbs. Thanks to its blend of herbs, this is the most colourful of Lazdona’s curd cheeses. A delicious and nutritious snack.
• Baltais siers ar ķimenēm - white curd cheese with caraway, is a curd cheese with a distinctive flavour that may transport you, for a moment, to a warm summer solstice evening beside a Midsummer bonfire. The addition of caraway complements the cheese beautifully, creating a rich, full flavour deeply rooted in Latvian culinary tradition.
• Ķimeņu siers - caraway cheese, a lighter alternative to the traditional Jāņu cheese, with a fat content of 10%. A traditional flavour that never disappoints.

How the Cheese is Made
The products are made from high-quality ingredients, including milk sourced from more than 100 local family farms and three agricultural co-operatives. The company continuously improves its production processes to preserve the nutritional value of its products while enhancing their flavour and quality.

Visitor experience
From May to October, visitors can discover how dairy products are made by touring the production facilities and tasting a selection of the company’s products.

Where to Buy
Lazdona cheeses are available in shops throughout Latvia, including Rimi, Maxima, Beta, Aibe, Mego and other retailers.
When booking a tour, visitors can also purchase products directly from the production facility. If you would like to buy products on site without booking a tour, the minimum purchase is €100.

To the south of Koknese, the Destiny Garden is on an island that is surrounded by the waters of the Pļaviņas hydroelectric power plant (there is a bridge to the shore).  The aim of this fundamental open-air object was to commemorate people in Latvia who suffered because of totalitarian regimes.  The first work here began in 2008, and the designer of the landscape was a Japanese landscape architect, Shunmyo Masuno.  Work on the garden continues, but it is already a popular tourist destination.  The first permanent structure is a terrace that offers a view of the Koknese castle ruins and the local Lutheran church.  This means that there will be something new each time that people visit the park.  People are invited to bring rocks for this nationally important location that commemorates Latvia’s history.

Located in the Lielvārde Park and alongside the Andrejs Pumpurs Museum, the church was restored in 1932 on the foundations of a church that was built in 1747 and bombarded during World War I.  Inside the church are several artistic monuments, including the altar, the pulpit, the pews and an altar painting by Kārlis Miesnieks, “Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane” (1939).  On the eastern wall of the church is a stone cross that has partly sunk into the ground.  Specialists believe that it is an old gravestone.

This exhibition features the Pļaviņas hydroelectric power plant as a unique architectural building with unique engineering elements.  It is the largest producer of electricity in the Baltic States and one of the largest in Europe.  The exhibition speaks to the construction of the plant and major aspects of its operations.  There is a model of the plant, as well as various types of equipment that are used to ensure its operations.  Visitors will see a diver's suit, as well as various documents and photographs about the operations and reconstruction of the plant, the history of Aizkraukle, and the lives of people who worked at the plant.  Tours are available of the machine room of the plant, a look at the plant from a viewing platform, and a chance to learn more about the buildings as such.

The visitors are offered the excursion around the wine garden and the story about different sorts of grapes and the secrets of wine-making. During the excursion the vistiors can learn about the traditions of growing grapes in Latvia, to see and taste the newest tendencies of grape selectioning,as well as receive advice on growing and tending grapes. It is also possible to try home-made wines and buy grapes saplings.

This is Latvia’s first major hydroelectric power plant, and construction along the right bank of the Daugava began in 1936.  The plant was designed by the architect Eižens Laube.  The first hydro-aggregate (17 MW of capacity as the largest plant in Latvia) was switched on in 1939.  A second round of construction occurred between 1976 until 1979, the result being a new building on the left bank of the Daugava, increasing the capacity of the plant to 260 MW.  Another round of reconstruction occurred between 1998 and 2001 on the left bank of the Daugava (the HES-2 plant).  The Energy Museum is now there.

The nature park near the town of Ogre is a popular place for leisure, hiking and, in the winter, cross-country skiing. Most of the park is covered with coniferous trees that are on a long and comparatively narrow line of hillocks with steep sides – another element of nature left behind in Latvia by the Ice Age. Many different plants can be found here. The Jaunogres castle hill is one of the most distinct hillocks in the area.

This venue organises seminars, courses and activities related to Latvian holidays and family celebrations.  There are master’s classes about culinary heritage in Latvia, musical instruments that can be played, and demonstrations of various handicrafts, including weaving, knitting, crocheting, etc.  The ladies of the house prepare tasty porridges, soups, herbal teas, chicory coffee, pastries and pierogi.  Visitors can learn about folk dances, games and songs.  Wedding performances are also available.

Where the little Rumbiņa river flows into the Daugava (on the left bank of the little river opposite the Lielvārde park), there is the Dievkalns castle hill that has been reduced by the waters of the Daugava.  It is also known as the Cepure hill.  According to antiquities that have been found here, representatives of Baltic tribes lived here from the first millennium BC to the 6^th or 7^th century AD.  The level of the Ķegums hydroelectric power plant can be reached by a staircase from which the best view of this object can be found.

An organic farm on the shores of Lake Jumurda in Madona region raises goats and produces artisan goat’s cheese. The farm’s owner developed her cheesemaking skills gradually, learning from books, online resources and a variety of courses. She has also expanded her knowledge by learning from cheesemakers in Italy, gaining hands-on experience both at their dairies and by welcoming them to her own farm.

Cheeses
The range includes a variety of spreadable, fresh, soft and matured cheeses, as well as goat’s milk, yoghurt, curd cheese and other products.

How the Cheese Is Made
The farm’s own organic goat’s milk is processed into cheese every day. As demand has grown, milk is also sourced from neighbouring farms, while maintaining consistent standards of taste and quality. Delicious, high-quality milk begins with a varied and nutritious diet for the goats.

For Visitors
Visitors can enjoy cheese tastings and take a virtual tour to meet the goats and discover the cheesemaking process. There is also a story to hear about how a girl from Riga moved to the countryside, became friends with a goat named Bonnie, and eventually became a cheesemaker herself.

Where to Buy
At the cheese dairy in Jumurda, 14 Nākotnes Street.
At markets: Kalnciema Quarter Market in Riga on Saturdays, Ērgļi Market, KukŪ themed markets, and markets organised by Pastaigu Tirgus.

The company, based in Aizkraukle region, began making cheese in 2010, starting with the still-popular Ievas siers. The farm’s main business is dairy farming.

Cheeses

• Ievas siers klasiskais — classic; Ievas siers ar siera amoliņa sēklām — with yellow sweet clover seeds; Ievas siers ar tomātu, baziliku, timiānu — with tomato, basil and thyme; Ievas siers ar sīpolu, ingveru, mārrutku — with onion, ginger and horseradish; Ievas siers ar ķiploku — with garlic; Ievas siers ar ķimenēm — with caraway; Ievas siers ar nātri — with nettle; Ievas siers ar lavandu — with lavender; Ievas siers ar čili — with chilli; Ievas siers ar pesto — with pesto; Ievas siers ar trifelēm — with truffle. Available as large and small wheels, or as pieces wrapped in wax.
• Two-year matured cheeses: Ievas siers klasiskais; Ievas siers ar sīpolu, ingveru, mārrutku; Ievas siers ar ķiploku; and Ievas siers ar čili. Available sliced and/or grated, as well as in pieces as a cheese MIX snack.
• Unripened soft cheeses: Ievas Brīvdienu siers – klasiskais; Ievas Brīvdienu siers ar tomātu, baziliku, timiānu; Ievas Brīvdienu siers ar ķimenēm; and Ievas Brīvdienu siers ar nātri.

How the Cheese is Made
The cheese is made from unpasteurised milk from the farm’s own morning milking. The farm has more than 1,000 dairy cows, and three tonnes of milk are turned into cheese every morning. The entire process is carried out by hand.

Where to Buy
The cheeses are available from selected outlets: at Liepsalas, next to the Liepkalni shop; at the Gastronomy Pavilion of Riga Central Market; and from the self-service fridge at Imantas Market. They are also available from the online shop www.ievassiers.lv/veikals, as well as from larger and smaller shops throughout Latvia. 

The potter offers tours of his workshop, a chance to use the potter’s wheel to produce your own clay dishes, opportunities to draw, and a chance to manufacture drums and dolls. You can buy the finished products and listen to the craftsman playing his drums.

The farm grows herbal tea plants such as blue dragon, purple cornflower, peppermint, and lavender, as well as other plants. It also offers cosmetics such as the Beāte line of facial creams, as well as cornflower eau-de-toilette. You can take an informative tour, taste delicious teas, and purchase the cosmetics.