Day 1 Daugavpils – Birķeneļi – Ilūkste – Dviete – Kaldabruņa – Aknīste
- Tree nursery "Sēlija" (Lauces parish) visit and the enthusiastic narrative of the owner of Mendrik's apple tree breeding. Excursion around the apple orchards, apple warehouses and production workshops. Visitors can enjoy apple juice and listen to wine makers life's stories while drinking a glass of wine.
Rainis house in Berķenele - This is the homestead where the distinguished Latvian author and social activist Rainis (1865-1929) spent his childhood. He wrote about his childhood impressions in a compendium of poems, Five Sketch Notebooks from Dagda. The home offers tours, creative workshops, exhibitions, etc.
At the house of the painter Paula Sukatnieka "Apsites" you are invited to get acquainted with the numerous collections and talents of P. Sukatnieks, to get acquainted with the secrets of growing grapes, look at garden plants in the summer, taste various varieties of grapes and to attend events.
Kaldabruņa is a unique place for art in Latvia - the Shed art gallery. The Hay Museum and the story of about it all is also interesting.
- The romantic dendrological landscape park of the Asare Manor was built in the 18th century, and extended in the second part of 19th century. There are many interesting shrubs and tree species in the park: Siberian halibut, European larch, duglasia, chopped white whales, Swedlera maples, shrubberries, various herbs. In ''Liepu aleja'' - 2 veteran trees. In the Temple Hill restored gazebo - nobleman tea drinking place with view of the castle.
Day 2 Aknīste – Nereta – Sauka – Vārnava – Daudzeva – Jēkabpils
- “Riekstiņi” is a farm 6 km away from Nereta at which the outstanding Latvian writer and painter Jānis Jaunsudrabiņš (1877-1962) spent six years of his childhood. The people of the farm became prototypes for characters in his “White Book”, in which he called this farm “Mūsmājas.” A museum was opened at Riekstiņi in 1967, and it is in an authentic single-family Selonian farm with a specific spirit and scent.
Sauka Nature Park with Boriskalns Tower (renovated)
Vārnavas Wine Hill "Rudzīši" - Evalds Pūpols has been engaged in grape growing and breeding for over 40 years. In the hill covered place of the forest, an appropriate environment for the cultivation of warm-cutting grapes in the wild was created and developed, and today almost 80 hectares of vineyards grow 80 different varieties of grapes. This garden is one of the largest and has the most variety of grapes in Latvia within the North-Atlantic area.
Sunākstes Church - Old Stender places
Blackberry garden "Bānīši" islands occupy more than 3 ha, and the owner of this holding has for many years been practicing a popular method from abroad, that the fruit and berry creators themselves arrive on the farm and collect the necessary amount of berries for their own needs.
Fine garden "Gundegas" - Beautiful, harmonious and, of course, incredible - that is in few words the Daudzeses parish "Gundegas" gardens. Farmer Agrita Laizane devotes much of her day, and most of her attention to her dearest possesion, which requires the most attention in spring, when with inspiration she has sown, spiked, planted; and in autumn, when sketching next year's work, collecting seeds and preparing the garden for winter.
- Jēkabpils city sightseeing
For accommodation in Jēkabpils we suggest:
Day 3 Jēkabpils – Vārkava – Višķi – Naujene – Kurmīši – Krāslava
Nature monument - protected dendrological plantations "Vārkavas parks" is located in Upmalas parish, with an area of 2.7 ha. The park was made in the start of 19th century, and judging by the larger oaks (about 200 g.), the rest of the plantations were planted at the end of the 19th century. The park is home to the trees and shrubs of the region - maple ash, spruce, ashes, oaks, delicate willow, linden, horns, stick, European spindle; and also more than 10 exotic species of trees and shrubs - maples, ashes, spruce, ashes, oaks, delicate willow, linden, horns, hazel, European leggings, leafy maple, sugar maple, mock-orange, Mongolian poplar, silver lobster, Hungarian lilac, Crimean linden, broadleaf linden.
Dendrological plantations of Višķi
The Naujene Local History Museum is located in Naujiene, on the side of the Daugavpils - Kraslava (A6) road. The museum's ethnographic collection displays the exhibition "The rich Latvian farmer's room" from the 19th-20th centuries household items. Around the road, the well-equipped Juzepova Park, in which once was built the Count Bogdan Šahno Manor House, that has not survived until present times. The park has many old, beautiful trees - mostly oaks, lindens, conifers, and two cedar pines (Pinus cembra). A pear tree (Pyrus piraster) grows nearby.
A viewing tower in Vasargelišķi - The tower offers one of the loveliest views in Eastern Latvia – one of the eight curves of the Daugava. This is the Rozališki curve. Here you will get a whole new sense of the Daugava River and its mighty valley in a place where the waters of a hydroelectric plant bubble away in our present day and age.
The Slutišķi village - The Slutiški village is a very ethnographic village with a layout and buildings typical of the Latgale region, complete with decorated windows and facades. The Slutiški Old Believers House features a museum focusing on the cultural environment and traditions of the Old Believers. One of Latvia’s most unusual landscapes can be seen from the ancient banks of the Daugava River.
The farm “Kurmīši” grows medicinal plants that are very common in Latvia – oregano, St John’s wort, wormwood, lemon balm, catsfoot, etc. You can take an informational tour and taste and purchase tea mixtures.
Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Center residences
