Country Holidays
2981-3000 / 4340
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Kolka Evangelical Lutheran Church. A story has survived of one Danish trader saved in a shipwreck at Kolkasrags who in gratitude built a church in Kolka. The church had changed its location for three times in Kolka. The foundation of the church visible nowadays and built of boulders was laid by Karl Ludwig Ferdinand von der Osten-Zaken, the former owner of the Dundaga estate. It was built instead of the wooden church (or close to it) which was heavily damaged during the Crimean War. The first construction works were started in 1885 by the construction foreman Otto Sievert (Architect: T. Zeiler). In the Soviet time, the church was vandalized and it was used as a warehouse. It is worth to see the modern- style altarpiece
(a donation of the artist Helen Heinrihson) which does not have a counterpart in any other church. Before in its place there was placed a cross.
Kolka Orthodox Church. Data on the Liv turning to orthodoxy are provided by a document found in the tower of the Kolka Orthodox Church (see also below) during restoration works (the nineties of the last century) that was placed there during building of the church in 1885. It says that the Liv turning to orthodoxy or the so-called emperor's faith "has nothing to do with the religious belief but it is a means to get the earthly benefits or pleasures." In 1885, the orthodox congregation purchased land from baron Osten-Zaken. In 1890, a church, priest's house and school building were built on it. All the buildings have survived until now. The church has its own congregation and worships are held once a month. Information is found that Kolka is the only Liv coastal village where in the nineties of the 19th century there was built an orthodox church. The church bell is place "occupied" in 1936. In the Soviet time, the Church was used as a chapel but nowadays it performs its original role.
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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.

 

 
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Neliels, bet ļoti ainavisks un ar lieliem laukakmeņiem klāts zemesrags. No raga iztālēm redzamas Veczemju klintis.
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The Šilute Estate is often described on the basis of its last owner, Hugo Scheu, who bought the estate in 1889.  He restored the estate's buildings and territory, also installing two parks, one for the estate, and the other one known as the "raven forest." Alongside the estate is an English-type park with strolling trails.  The park is used by local residents and is on both sides of the curvy Scheu River, with the banks connected by pedestrian bridges.  He park stretches to an old railroad bridge and has approximately 150 types of plants, including 40 types of trees and shrubs.
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The largest NATURA 2000 territory in Latvia covers 6% of the country’s area. It is located in parts of the Limbaži, Valmiera and Valka districts, and it is a place of an enormously diverse range of landscapes, biotopes and species. The Salaca River is one of the most important rivers in the entire Baltic Sea region in terms of spawning grounds for salmon. The river valley and its sandstone cliffs attract many visitors. It is no accident that this is the second most popular river in Vidzeme for water tourism. The shore of the Bay of Rīga, which is not very long, also features a great diversity in landscapes and biotopes. At the northern end, we find the Randu meadows. In the central part there are sandy beaches, but at the southern end – 22 kilometres of rocky shoreline. The so-called Northern swamps are found on the border with Estonia, while the Seda heath is one of the most important places in the region for birds to rest and feed during migration. The reserve also features a diverse forest in which one can find all of the types of forest which are common in Latvia. Nature trails and viewing towers or platforms are found in the Randu meadows, on the banks of Lake Burtnieks, along the Planči and Niedrāji-Pilka swamps, on the banks of Lake Dziļezers and Lake Lielezers, and elsewhere. The Skaņākalns park in Mazsalaca is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Northern Vidzeme. The territory boasts many important cultural monuments, including one of the earliest known settlements in Latvia – a fishing settlement and burial ground which date back to the 5th to the 2nd millennium BC.
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The viewing area on the Ērgļi (Ērģeles) cliffs offers an impressive view of Latvia’s most monolith sandstone cliffs (up to 22 metres high) – this is the highest location in the Gauja River valley. Please be very careful and don’t go anywhere near the edge of the cliff!
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This company has, for the past 16 years, produced classical candies of honey, peppermint, ginger and buckthorn, as well as other products. It also offers juice made of the common stinkhorn mushroom – a medicinal substance well known in Latvian folklore. You can purchase the products that are on offer.
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Atrodas netālu no Biksēres muižas, blakus muižas parkam. Ozolkalna klēts saimniece Līga Kuba aušanas prasmes pirms pāris gadiem apguvusi Sarkaņu amatu skolā. Šeit radusies iecere par privātas aušanas darbnīcas izveidi, kas arī īstenota. Saimniece savas aušanas prasmes nodod jebkuram interesentam. Apmeklētāji var iegādāties šeit darinātos suvenīrus.
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Visitors are welcome to this ecological cattle farm to learn about its history and operations.  The farm offers the "Aubraki" breed of cattle, oats, spelt and forest berries.  You can buy fresh and aged beef that is ecological, as well as the berries.
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Viens no parka neparastākajiem vēstures objektiem, kas apvīts ar daudzām leģendām un noslēpumiem, par kuriem vēl joprojām nelabprāt izsakās ar to saistītie cilvēki. Zināms, ka bāzi laikā no 1960. – 1962. g. ļoti stingrā slepenībā cēla ~ 10 000 kareivji no citām padomju republikām. Pazemes ejas bija būvētas tā, lai pa tām varētu pārvietoties tikai maza auguma cilvēki. Zem zemes atradās 4 šahtas, no kurām varēja palaist vidējā rādiusa ballistiskās raķetes R – 12 U ar kodolgalviņām. Blakus atradās apkalpojošā personāla telpas, elektrības ģenerators, sakaru centrs u.c. Līdz 2010. g. bāzi varēja apskatīt vietējā gida pavadībā. Tagad to rekonstruē un 2012. g. plāno atklāt Aukstā kara muzeju. Bāze atrodas austrumos no Plateļu ezera, liela meža masīva vidū.
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The building was erected during the first period of Latvian independence, and it maintained its functions for a long time.  The building is located at Tukuma Street 30.  Beginning in 1940, the post office had an automated telephone central.  The Postal Service no longer uses it, and the building can only be viewed from the outside.
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The Saltupju sacred stream is 1.3 km to the Northwest of the centre of Aknīste, near the small valley of the Dienvidsusēja River. The stream has been known as a source for medical treatments since antiquity. It is said that streams which flow to the East always have medicinal water, particularly on Easter morning for those who rinse their eyes in it. The water contains iron compounds, which is seen in the brown sediment (the result of iron bacteria). Alongside the stream is a stone with a small indentation, and it is thought to have been a cult stone long ago. A sacred linden tree grows at the edge of the valley. The stream can be seen with good reason as one of the most outstanding streams in all of Latvia.
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Kīdevas muiža rakstos ir minēta 1614. g., taču pašreiz redzamā divstāvu kungu māja, ir celta 19. gs. beigās. Ēkas sienas ir klātas ar koka šķindeļiem, kas viens otru pārklāj kā zivs zvīņas. Šāds kungu mājas sienu pārklājums Igaunijas mērogā ir unikāls. Laikā no 1919. – 1951. g. tajā atradās skola. Blakus muižai atrodas neliels parks. Diemžēl turpat pusgadsimtu ilgās pamestības rezultātā ēkas atrodas ļoti kritiskā stāvoklī. Tas ir arī pietiekams apmeklējuma iemesls.
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The church was built in the Neoromantic style between 1936 and 1939 on the basis of a design by the architect Pavlov.  It was consecrated before the completion of construction, this happening in 1937.  The church honours the Anguished Mother of God, and the central altar is dedicated to her.  Icons in the building date back to the early 20th century, and a statue of the Fatima Mother of God is in the yard near the entrance.
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This is one of the most outstanding Catholic churches in Latvia.  The current building was built in 1761 in the Polish Baroque style.  The interior from the 18th century is original and very ornate.  Each year there are spiritual music events and Polish cultural festivals here.  The guide will give you a tour of the church and of other tourism destinations along the frontier line of the EU (please be sure to bring along your passport!).
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13 days

This tour can be done with your own or rented car and it includes driving, some hiking parts and transfers with the public transport. This grand Forest Trail and Baltic Coastal Hiking Route tour includes some of the best and most beautiful parts of the Forest Trail and Baltic Coastal Hiking Route in Lithuania and the southern part of Latvia. Hikes are combined with trips and excursions in cities, as well as other popular tourist sights in both countries. You will get a detailed impression about the forest diversity, coastal landscape and most popular national and regional nature parks in Latvia and Lithuania.


You will start the tour in Rīga, where you will enjoy the beautiful Old town included in UNESCO and Art Nouveau district. Then you will drive to Ķemeri National Park, where you will have some small hiking along the Forest Trail till the place Bigauņciems, where the Forest Trail meets the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route. After that you will hike along the Forest Trail in the beautiful Abava River valley and see Sabile - the wine and cider town. Then you will reach the most charming Kurzeme town - Kuldīga with its old town streets, the bridge over river Venta, the promenade and waterfall. Afterwards you will drive to the coast and have some hike along the most outstanding bluffs around the Baltic Sea.


Then you will also see Liepāja - the windy city and hike in the Pape Nature Park. Further the tour will bring you to Lithuania and its Baltic Coastal Hiking Route part. You will see the resort town Palanga, Klaipėda and hike in the Curonian Spit from Pervalka to Juodkrantė to see the interesting sand dunes. Further you will drive from Klaipėda to Paplatelė and enjoy a 1 day hiking in Žemaitija National Park. Then you will drive to Telšiai and explore the Lake Germantas and landscape reserve along small forest paths and wooden footbridges.

At the end of the tour you will go for a 1 day hike in Kurtuvėnai Regional Park which is one of the most forested areas in Central Lithuania with very pronounced glacier-shaped terrain forms spread in the Eastern Žemaitija Upland.
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The first building of the church was built in 1641. The fourth building of the church was only built in 1856 – during the times of Pastor Johann Wilhelm Knierim. Its altar painting – The Crucified Christ (Golgotha) was painted in 1856 by Jozeps Millers, who was influenced by the altar piece in Munich Louis Church created by his teacher Peter Cornelius. An epitaph of Baroness Auguste Amalija von Pistohlkros, the sister of the owner of Bīriņi Manor and the patroness of the church, was immured in the memorial wall. Construction of the tower was completed on 11 June 1856, as evidenced by a memorial plaque on the wall of the church with an inscription “Erbaut von August Pistolkors 1856”. The church was consecrated in 1864. And a year later an organ by Martin Company with 8 registers, which was extended to 14 registers in 1903, was installed in the church. Unfortunately, the organ was destroyed in WW2. Saulkrasti (Pēterupe) Evangelical Lutheran Church survived both World War 2 and the Soviet period. The Soviet era was one of the most difficult times for the church, because many churches in the area were destroyed, pastors were discharged and the congregation fell apart. The Pēterupe congregation remained. As an architectural monument the church was lucky enough to undergo roof repairs of the tower even during Soviet times. Funds were granted by the Chairlady of the Executive Committee Ņina Manzūrova. 
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This tree is in the park of the Sēja Estate and is one of the four trees in Latvia that have a circumference of more than four metres.
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Zilais (Blue) Hill is the highest point in the Idumeja highlands – it is a very distinct hillock covered by forest, and from it there is a “narrow” landscape featuring the northern part of the highlands, as well as the Burtnieks flatlands. The restricted area is there to protect habitats such as gullies, hillsides and the boreal (northern) forest of the area. Zilais Hill is a popular tourist destination.
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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.”