Nature parks, arboretums and gardens

This arboretum was established in 1996, when dendrologists Raimonds Cinovskis and Ināra Bondare joined with the local government in Rucava in experimenting with plants on the Rucava castle hill.  The first plants were planted in 1998, and ever since then the collection has been expanded in the town centre and outside the Rucava Elementary School.  Each year new and exotic plants are brought in from all around the world.  A traditional garden festival is held each year in May, when rhododendrons and magnolias are in full bloom.

Lēdurgas dendroparks ir viens no bagātākajiem parkiem Latvijā. Parkā var iepazīt vairāk kā 1000 koku un krūmu sugas, pasugas un varietātes. Gadu gaitā Lēdurgas dendroparks kļuvis par dabas un kultūrvēsturisku aizsargājamu objektu. Piedāvājumā - skuju un lapu koki, dekoratīvie un ogu krūmi, vīteņaugi, ziemcietes, tējas augi u.c.

This is a natural monument of protected dendrological plants.  The park is in the Upmala Parish, covers 2.7 ha, has been protected since 2001 and is managed by the Vārkava Administrative District Council.  Judging from the oldest oak trees (approximately 200 years old), the park was established in the early 19th century, with other plants from the latter part of the century.  Local species of trees, including maples, elms, fir trees, aspens, oak trees, willow trees, linden trees and hazelnut trees grow in the park, as do more than 10 exotic types of trees and bushes, including various types of maple, aspen, willow, lilac and linden trees.

This guesthouse and dendrological garden are found near Kuldīga, and its pond has trout and carps.  The Sauleskalni arboretum is alongside the guesthouse.  It was established in 1960 and features some 100 types of plants and bushes, including 25 local types and 16 types of rhododendrons.   Unique samples include a 50-year-old magnolia tree, a 45-year-old smoke tree, a maidenhair tree, and others.  Donations are accepted.  The owners will discuss history and the gardeners who created the garden.  Various plants are available.

Pāvilostā ir trīs parki. Pāvilostas centrā (pie kultūras nama) atrodas Piecdesmitgades parks, kuru 1929. g. iekopa skolotājs un novadpētnieks Ernests Šneiders. Vienu ozolu tajā esot iestādījis Latvijas Valsts prezidents Gustavs Zemgals. Simtgades parks ar piemiņas akmeņiem tapa Sakas labajā krastā jau kā turpinājums iesāktajam. Vecākais no Pāvilostas parkiem - Upesmuižas parks (19. gs.) atrodas tuvu Liepājas – Ventspils šosejai. Upesmuižas pils nav saglabājusies (nodedzināta 1905. g.). Parkā apskatāms sens akmens sols (perimetrs 5,55 m) un Upesmuižas parka Lielais akmens. Domājams, tas ir kultakmens.

Established in 1900 at the place where the Pērse River flows into the Daugava (now the reservoir of the Pļaviņas hydroelectric power plant), the park offers a look at 17^th century Swedish cannons and monuments from Medieval graves.  Next to the high school in the park is a restored fountain, “Head of a Faun,” which was near the legendary Pērse waterfall during the 1930s.  The waterfall is now underwater, but its location is indicated by a stone sculpture, “Girl of Pērse,” which was created by the sculptor Juris Zihmanis.  A path leads to an 11 metre high wooden sculpture, “For Eternity,” by the sculptor Ģirts Burvis, and another sculpture, “Little Owl,” which is the work of the Rurāns brothers, both of whom are sculptors of wooden sculptures.

Dundagas pili ieskauj parks, kura pirmsākumi ir meklējami jau 17. gs. Tam cauri tek Pāces upīte, kuras uzdambējums veido Dundagas dīķi. Tajā atrodas senatnē (vēl pirms pils būvniecības) mākslīgi veidota sala - Kalnadārza pilskalns. Tam iepretim (dīķa austrumu krastā) atrodas Dundagas pilskalns. Parkā joprojām zaļo (daži lielākie zari ir nolūzuši) t.s. “Rubļa ozols”, kura attēls bija uz 1919. g. izdotās Latvijas simts rubļu naudaszīmes. Parkā uzcelta estrāde.

The Rubeņu (Rubenes) park dates back to the mid-1950s and is toward the north of Rubeņi, on the banks of the little Dzirnavupīte River. There are beautiful ponds, a stage, a rock garden and a playground for the kids. The cultural centre that is alongside the park features a monument to the poet Rainis which was unveiled during Poetry Days in 1969 and was produced by the sculptor Kārlis Baumanis.

Work on the park began in end of 18th century, when it was a landscape park with trails for strolling and a system of pathways, benches and bridges.  The 196-ha park is one of the largest estate parks in Latvia, and in dendrological terms it is one of the richest ones, with more than 200 varieties of trees and bushes, including 127 foreign ones.  The park encircles the village of Kazdanga, including the Kazdanga Castle and the territory to its north, where you will find the burying grounds of the Manteuffel family.  These were established at the very beginning of the 20th century, but the work was interrupted by World War I.  The park features leisure areas and decorative elements.  The castle was built around 1800 by the European-level architect Johann Gregor Berlitz after a design by architect Giacomo Quarenghi.  The ensemble included a Cavalier House, a granary, a residential home, a stable, a bridge across the valley and other structures.  An agricultural school was opened in the castle in 1924.  Today it is the Kazdanga Museum, with the local Tourism Information Centre..

features an open-air stage in a lovely place.  During the summer there are concerts, theatrical performances, parties, Summer Solstice celebrations, etc.  The International Bourdon Festival is held once every four years, and the next one will be in 2020.  This brings together bourdon singers from many countries in the world.  

Mūsdienās redzamais parks starp Rīgas un Parādes ielu tapa vairāk nekā pirms 100 gadiem un tā patrons bija pilsētas pirmais mērs - Pāvels Dubrovins (1839. – 1890.). Pilsētas „zaļā saliņa”, kuras centrā atrodas strūklaka, ir iecienīta atpūtas un pastaigu vieta. Atraktīvs ir no bronzas veidotais piemineklis (2007. g., tēlnieks A. Tartinovs),kas veltīts pilsētas pirmajam mēram.

To the North of the Cesvaine Castle is a park that is crossed by the rapidly flowing Sūla River.  The Cesvaine castle hill is on the northern bank of the river, is around 15 m high and is covered by trees today.  The grave of the owner of the castle, Adolf von Wolff, is there.  It is said that he wanted to have his casket dragged to the gravesite on a sled.  He died during the summer, but that was done anyway.  The park features a wide diversity of trees and bushes, some of which the owner brought home from his extensive travels.

This is an artificial body of water that was dug in the 1960s to obtain ice for fish processing plants in Kolka.