1339. g. Livonijas ordeņa mestrs (no 1328. – 1340.) Eberhards fon Monheims pašu zemgaļu 1286. g. nodedzinātās pils vietā uzceļ jaunu - mūra pili. To sešus gadus vēlāk nodedzināja lietuviešu karaspēks. Pili gan atjaunoja Kurzemes hercoga Ketlera valdīšanas laikā, taču Ziemeļu kara laikā - 1701. g. to atkal noposta zviedru karapulki. Līdz mūsdienām ir saglabājusies tikai no laukakmeņiem celtās pils sienas atliekas.

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.

Historians say that the Livs or Livonians lived in the territory of Latvia long ago, starting in the 10th century.  They populated Northern Kurzeme and the river banks of the Daugava and Gauja rivers.  They asked the first German tradesmen who appeared in the area about the price of textiles at the market in Visby.  This means that they were familiar with the island of Gotland.  The Livonians were courageous and spiritually strong seafarers, because only strong men can live with the sea, go fishing and seal trapping, and take root in the by no means fertile sands of the seashore.

The territory between Ģipka and Ovīši is known as the Livonian coastline.  There are still romantic seashore fishing villages of Livonian origin, as well as Cape Kolka, where the great Latvian activist Krišjānis Valdemārs insisted that it was the centre of Europe.  Livonians all along the seashore responded to his call by taking part in building sailing ships all the way up to Ainaži, where there was a maritime school.  That allowed the ships to sail to the far corners of the world, thus creating a century of sailing ships.  This wasn’t possible without the Livonians.  Also on the coastline are the oldest lighthouses in Latvia, with the one at Ovīši still serving as a star that shows the route for seaborne ships that are heading for Rīga.

The Livonian heritage is also seen in the tradition of fishing for lamprey eels – something that is still very much in place in Carnikava, Svētciems and Salacgrīva.  Old-time fishing equipment that cannot be seen anywhere else is on display in the latter town.

The Latvian nation emerged when the Livonians flowed together with the Lettigalians, the Livonians joke.  It may be that there is some truth in the anecdote.  Liv or Livonian culture, lifestyles and history are closely linked to Latvia and cannot be separated from it.

Ķekavas novadā, Daugmales pagastā atrodas jauka atpūtas vieta - Lejas ezers. Ezeram var apiet apkārt, taka nav marķēta un iešana ir pa mazām meža taciņām. Slapjākā laikā taciņas vietām var būt mitras un dubļainas. Pastaiga aizņems aptuveni stundu. Pie ezera ir iekārtotas vairākas piknika vietas.

The space is on the second floor of the Jūrkalne library, featuring traditional objects from Jūrkalne and the Suiti people, as well as several looms where locals organise creative workshops.  Contact the chamber in advance to arrange for a guide who will tell you all about the culture and traditions of the Suiti and present a film about them.  

Approximately one kilometre to the west of the former Vārnava school, you will find the Rudzīši homestead, which is owned by Ēvalds Pūpols and his family.  Ēvalds has spent most of his life cultivating grapes and developing new varieties thereof.  On the hilly territory, he has established a beautiful and well-tended area to grow grapes that love warmth.  The vineyard has approximately 60 types of grapes.  Facing south-east, this is one of Latvia's largest and most diverse vineyards.  There are many trails to learn about the garden and its beautiful surrounding area.  The owner will offer guide services, and you can learn all about the growing and selection of grapes.  You can purchase plants, and if the season has been productive, you can taste the grapes as such.  Rudzīši hosts a harvest festival and other events.

In the 400-year old manor’s cellars (possibly the oldest in Latvia) one is offered to taste the home-made wines produced in Kurzeme (3-7 different wines), as well as the special wine of Shlokenbeka manor with the indigenous countryside goods (you are promised a suprise!)

Stupeļu Hill is 3 km to the South of the Vecumnieki-Ilūkste road. There are no signs, so the castle hill might be difficult to find. The Great Stupeļu Rock, which is discussed further on in this guidebook, is also hard to find when there is vegetation. Stupeļu Hill is approximately 30 m high, and it was one of the highest castle hills in the historical district of Selonia. Archaeologists say that it was first abandoned at the beginning of our era and then populated again during the late Iron Age. It is interesting that iron was extracted and processed near the castle hill. Archaeologists believe that this is the site of one of the earliest “cities” in the region. To the West of the hill is the Great Stupeļu Rock, which is 6.7 m long, 5.6 m wide and up to 2.7 m high. Above ground, it is 35 m³ large, and it may have been a cult location. During archaeological digs in the late 1970s, antiquities from the 10^th to the 13^th century were found here.