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Mud ponds for regeneration are used by
the spa and the rehabilitation centre. The mud
is purified from biological additives over the
course of a longer period of time, after which it
can once again be used for the famous
treatments offered at Ķemeri.
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The Vilce Nature Park is small in size and exists alongside the deep valleys of the Vilce River and its tributaries. Biotopes include visible sandstone cliffs, rapids on the rivers, forests typical of such areas, and the plants and animals that are found therein. The well-appointed Vilce castle hill is next to the Zaķu meadow, which is a nicely appointed and popular place for recreation. |
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Kuldiga is deservedly considered the most beautiful small town of medieval times in Latvia. Instead of it already in the 13th century the Bandava centre of the ancient Cours land was located. In 1242 construction of stone castle was begun at Venta Falls by the Livonian Order. Populated area formed beside the castle, which was the first to acquire the rights of a city in Kurzeme (in 1378). Significant was also its participation in the Hanza Union. From 1561 until 1795 Kuldīga was the capital city of Kurzeme Dukedom. Naturally, in the first half of the 17th century it experienced rapid economic growth, which was terminated by the beginning of the Northern War and plague epidemic. The pride of Kurzeme residents and the lack of larger industrial objects was the reason, why during the Soviet times larger masses of immigrants did not flood the city, therefore today Kuldiga is one of the most Latvian cities in Kurzeme. It is worth to visit Kuldiga and stay there for more than one day, because there is plenty to do here. Nature fans may observe the flying fish, but for researchers of cultural history a really vast field of work opens here. |
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Līčiem, pussalām un salām bagāts ezers ar izrobotu krasta līniju, kas savienots ar Zvejnieku un tālāk - citiem Latgales augstienes ezeriem. Ozolu un platlapju meži, kas aug uz ezera salām un pussalās ir ne tikai aizsargājami, bet arī Latvijas mērogā nozīmīgi biotopi. Tiesa, to vērtību apzināsies tikai vides speciālisti. No Jašas ezera var uzsākt laivu braucienu pa vienu no Latgales ezeru "kēdēm". Ezera austrumu krastā atrodas Geļenovas parks.
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 2 days
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The Forest Trail follows small roads and trails through the woods. Along the route you will see the Ērģeļu Cliffs, where the observation terrace provides a great view of the impressive 700 m wide sandstone cliff and the beautiful natural landscape in the ancient River Gauja valley. One of the most beautiful places on the banks of the River Gauja is at “Caunītes” tourist lodging, where you will end the first day of the route. Further on the trail leads through pine forests and wetlands, across and around hills and slopes. One of the most beautiful views of the River Gauja opens from Sietiņiezis Rock, a 15 m high sandstone cliff where a circular 1.5 km trail has been constructed. Coming to Valmiera, you will reach the so-called “Dzelzītis” bridge (a narrow-gauge railway bridge) and continue walking along the River Gauja to Valmiera Centre. Sites of interest in Valmiera: St. Simon’s Church, ruins of the Livonian Castle and Valmiera Museum. There is also an adventure park “Sajūtu Parks” (“Park of Senses”), where you can walk on the barefoot trail, the tree-top trail and enjoy other activities. |
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One of the highest dunes in Latvia, located between Bernāti and Jūrmalciems villages. It is 37m high and offers a magnificent view of the sea and natural pine forests. The highest dunes in Latvia stand to the South of Jūrmalciems village: the Pūsēnu hill, the Ķupu hill, the Mietragkalns or Tiesas hill, the Pāļu hill, the Garais hill, the Ātrais hill, the Lāvas hill. The Pūsēnu dune is the highest of these dunes which are all called hills by the local people. The Pūsēnu hill developed between 1785 to 1835 when shifting sand became extremely dangerous. Several homesteads were buried in sand, among them „Pūsēni”, where a forester’s family lived. The family is said to have moved to Bārta. The dune was named after the buried homestead. Jēkabs Janševskis, a Latvian writer, wrote in his book „Nīca”: “In olden times, large pine trees were growing in the dunes on the coast of Nīca and they stood steady and firm. But i Swedish times (around 1650), the Swedes built a large kiln for charcoal and tar. Pine wood and stumps provided an excellent material for this. Once a big fire rose, and the charcoal kiln burned down as well as the whole pine forest. The remaining stumps and bare trunks in the vast burnout could not hold the storm-driven sand; it flew further and further burying not only the burned-out forest, but also the nearest fields. In wintertime, when the vast, low marshy grasslands were covered with ice, jets of sand drifted further over its surface, and soon most of the grasslands and large meadows turned into sandy heath-land and dunes.” To reconstruct Liepāja, severely damaged during WWII, a silicate brick factory was built in the town. The main raw material was white sand and it was taken from the Bernātu forest. In the 1960-ies they started to dig off the Green Dune and the White Dune, later also the Pūsēnu hill. The excavators used to work day and night, in three shifts. The work stopped at around 1980, as there was no more sand suitable for production of brick. A trail is set up to facilitate walking in the Pūsēnu Dune in the Bernātu Nature Park. |
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Was mentioned in 1387, where it was called Domesnes. That was the name until the early 20th century. A ledger at the Irbe-Ģipka church states that there were four farms in Kolka in 1770 -- Krogi, Ūši, Vecvagari and Kabriki. In 1844, a school for vergers was established, and Nika Polmanis worked there as a teacher. Kolka's first school was built in 1881, and Livonian Kārlis Bernšteins (1881-1951) worked there for nearly half a century as a teacher. The Dundaga riots that began in 1859 were led by Livonian Nika Šūbergs (1833-1884), the son of the owner of the Sārnasti farm. At the end of the 19th century, there were 392 residents in Kolka, and in 1935, 145 of the 343 residents were Livonians. During the mid-1980s, 13 Livonians spoke their language freely. Kolka is the only coastal Livonian village that continued to develop during the frontier regime of the Soviet Union, because it was the centre of a fishing kolkhoz. The number of residents increased rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s because new homes, a school, a people's centre, a kindergarten and several fish processing factories were built there. Today Kolka has 700 residents and is the largest village along the Livonian coastline. The "Līcis-93" fish processing factory is there, and local fishermen and smokers of fish work in the village. The Kūolka Livonian Centre and the Livonian ensemble Laula operate there, as well. The Ūši farm offers tastings of Livonian foods. |
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This 1995 sculpture by Oļegs Skarainis is at the corner of Dinsberģa and Talsu streets in Dundaga, near the local dairy. It is dedicated to the strong men of the town, including former Dundaga resident Arvīds Blūmentāls (1925-2006), who lived in Australia, was a great crocodile hunter (some 10,000 in all), and served as a prototype for Paul Hogan in the famous movie “Crocodile Dundee.” |
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This is an important territory to protect the little gull during spring migration. It is opposite the Salacgrīva, Limbaži, Saulkrasti and Carnikava administrative districts, with a total area of 58,600 hectares.
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Drinks are made from fruits and berries grown in Kurzeme region and hand-picked. 100% handmade. Our Story Apples Ciders Visitors Where to Buy |
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The White Dune is one of the landmarks of Saulkrasti, on the Vidzeme gulf coast. The dune offers a splendid view of the sea, the mouth of the Inčupe River and the vast beach. The White Dune formed as the wind drove beach sand over the clay silt of Baltic Ice Lake. Its white 18 meters high sand outcrop once helped local fishermen find their way home. The dune got its name from its white, hardened layers of sand which look like sandstone. |
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The Apriķi Lutheran Church is, for good reason, known as one of the most beautiful churches in Kurzeme. It was owned by the Osten-Zacken dynasty in the past, built in the 17th century, and rebuilt in 1710. The wooden interior is in the Rococo style with elements of the Baroque, and it dates to the mid-18th century. It is amazingly ornate. The beautiful ceiling paintings, which were produced by a Prussian painter called Rode, were painted between 1744 and 1746. |
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In Soviet years, Ventspils was the site of tank training. The facility has been degraded, and only the former tank repair facility and some outbuildings are still being used. The rest of the territory is not used or guarded any more.
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The farm grows and collects more than 80 types of medicinal plants, including peppermint, marigold, chamomile, oregano, St John’s wort, wormwood, oats, creeping thyme, broadleaf plantain, field penny-cress, meadowsweet, etc. You can take a tour and learn all about medicinal plants and how they are used. During autumns, you can purchase medicinal teas. |
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This is the most impressive and colourful set of cliffs along the Vidzeme coastline. Waves have created the steep shore that is as much as 6 m high, with several hundred meters of red sandstone cliffs with narrow caves, niches, grottos and other formations. The nearby Veczemu farm is where the Rīga Film Studio shot the films “Long Way into the Dunes” and “The Nest of the Old Fisherman.”
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The Ukri forest on the border of the Dobele district is what is known as a vast forest. It has oak trees (including many huge ones), linden trees, oak trees (large stands of oak are uncommon in Latvia), and other deciduous trees. A small area of the forest can be toured in the company of a guide to look at the animals of the area and their importance in the flow of nature. The restricted area protects forest habitats, plants and animals, including many that are typical of the southern areas of Latvia. |
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The ancient Abava River Valley between Kandava and the place where the river flows into the Venta River is the most expressive river valley segment in Kurzeme in terms of landscape and terrain. The valley is 30 to 40 metres deep and as much as 300 metres wide. The territory is distinguished by great diversity of a biological nature (more than 800 kinds of plants), featuring many different biotopes and natural monuments such as streams, waterfalls, cliffs, huge rocks, and many cultural and historical monumentssmall towns such as Kandava and Sabile. In both cases, the town centres are national monuments of urban construction. Popular tourist destinations include Vīnakalns hill in Sabile, where wine-making grapes are grown, as well as the open-air art museum at Pedvāle. To protect cultural treasures, a cultural and historical territory, “Abava River Valley” has been established. Wild livestock live at Drubazas and Tēvkalni to “maintain” the landscape. There are nature trails for tourists, and the Abava is the most popular river for water tourists in Kurzeme. Information is available at the tourist information centres in Kandava and Sabile. such as castle hills, churches, ancient burial grounds, and
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This is one of the largest vineyards in Latvia, with more than 50 types of grapes. The owner will take you on a tour and offer consultations about growing grapes, tastings of grapes and an ability to purchase the plants. |
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The castle hill of Milka is situated near Lake Sālaja and River Malta; 27m above the lake level. Local
businessman cleaned the hill and placed the statue of Mother of God there. It is a a symbol of Latgalian
strong faith into God and Virgin Mary.
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 7 days
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We strart the tour from Riga by bus and proceed along the Baltic Sea coast, passing through many different landscapes - white sandy beaches, coastal meadows, dunes with pine forests and steep banks. Many beaches are wild and completely deserted. Access to these territories were highly restricted during Soviet times. The route leads through ethnographic fishermen villages at Nida, passing Pape nature reserve where wild horses graze. The bustling city of Liepaja impreses with its lively promanade and music scene. The city also has a long military history which can cleary be seen walking among the naval fortifications and visiting the former millitary town. Well-maintained Ventspils has a pleasant market, castle and numerous parks. A restored narrow-gauge railway with working steam engine is well worth a visit as well as the Craft House - ideal for local handmade souvenirs. On the way back the tour goes through the pretty provincial town of Kuldiga with well- preserved wooden architecture. The tour includes two of the most interesting national parks: Slitere which holds the geological history of former ages and Kemeri with its great heath trail and sulphur springs. |
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