Work on the Valmiera Castle began in 1283.  The castle was burned down in 1702 during the Great Northern War, and the city’s walls were torn down in the late 17th century.  Ruins of the castle and remnants of other Medieval fortifications have been preserved.

The first mention of Pēterupe Rectory goes back to the late 17th century. The Manor Park and the buildings have partially survived to the present day, including a linden alley at the end of Smilšu Street, planted by the pastor Jānis Neilands in 1879 and the grand oak planted by Johann Wilhelm Knierim in 1869. After the fire of 1908, the Rectory was restored and partially rebuilt. In Soviet times, the property was removed from the parish and the house was named “Līgotnes”. During German times the Rectory was occupied by legionnaires. After the war, the building of the Rectory was turned into a hospital, then into a secondary school and later it was transformed into a block of flats for teachers. Now the building again belongs to the parish and it is inhabited by a priest of the parish and his family. 

Here you will learn about home-based manufacturers, farms, companies and others in northern Vidzeme that produce various dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, ice cream, etc.  You’ll start out in Cēsis with its Medieval old town, castle ruins, St John’s Lutheran Church and other destinations.  Wind your way through the Gauja National Park (Ungurmuiža, Lake Ungurs, the Medieval castle and church at Straupe).  You’ll hit the seashore at Saulkrasti and then drive along it to Tūja, where you will turn inland again.  In Limbaži you will find Medieval castle ruins, a monument to the great folklorist Krišjānis Barons and other objects.  Drive on to Valmiera (St Simon’s Church, castle ruins, a museum, Emotion Park, etc.), Rūjiena and Naukšēni (the Naukšēni Estate).  Along the “Northern Pathway” you will reach Kārķi and then Smiltene and legendary Rauna (the Raunas Staburags cliff) before returning to your starting point.

The flat surface of this large hillock (247 m above sea level, ~60 m above the surrounding area) offers one of the most beautiful landscapes in Latgale, complete with Lake Rāzna. During the 13^th century, the Livonian Order built the Volkenberga Castle on the hillock, and it was thought to be practically impenetrable. Fragments of the castle’s walls remain visible today.

The number of types of peonies in this garden is close to 400, and collect Dagnija Voika is  proud of one of the largest collections in Latvia.  There are 30 types of shrub peonies, and other flowers that grown there include bearded irises, Siberian irises, daylilies, as well as less common plants such as yuccas and eremurus.  The garden is open in June, when the owner organises a peony festival and offers tours.  The valuable peony roots are used to produce the PEO series of cosmetics, and plants can be purchased.

The "Baltic Way" route is in honour of a unique demonstration on August 23, 1989, when residents of the three Baltic States joined hands in a chain of participants that stretched along a nearly 600 km distance to link the three capital cities of Vilnius, Rīga and Tallinn.  In historical terms, this route was used from the 14th or 15th century or even earlier than that.

Grain-based foods in this region have a long history.  Tasty and yeasty rye bread is common, and in Vidzeme, try it with some hemp butter.  Barley is used to bake buns and for porridges.  Wheat is used to bake water pretzels with caraway seeds.  Visit farms and restored windmills to track the route of grain.

A special cheese is part of Summer Solstice celebrations, and on a daily basis you can enjoy other tasty cheeses made of cow and goat milk.  Various river and lake fishes are popular, as are local meat and fowl dishes and wild game with tasty sauces.  A roast or a pot of soup cooked on a live campfire will have a lovely aroma, and it will be served with vegetables, greens, beans, peas and mushrooms.  Wild plants such as sorrel, dandelion or young nettle leaves are added to soups and salads.

Treat yourself with fresh honey, bacon pies, sheet cakes, pastries, rye bread desserts, honey cakes and gingerbread.  You will find simple and traditional dishes, romantic meals in castles and estates, as well as a special knighthood repast with spices typical in the age of the Livonian Order.  Slake your thirst with herbal teas, birch juice, berry beverages, tasty beer or wine or a glass of something stronger.

The first Mālpils dairy began operations in 1923 and manufactured butter and cheese.  During the 1970s, the first soft and unfermented cheese in Latvia, “Mālpils Cheese” was produced here.  Apply in advance for a tour of the company and a tasting of its products.  You can purchase the products from the company’s warehouse.

The Aknīste Regional Research Museum is at the corner of Skolas and Miera streets in Aknīste. It is another location which will very much help you to learn about the culture and history of the Selonian region. The museum was established in 1998 and featured antiquities from the Iron Age and Bronze Age, as well as objects which speak to distinguished people from the region and Selonian culture. It is worth looking at the collection of ancient Selonian dishware.

The Zasa Lutheran Church is in the northern part of the Zasa park, was built in 1750, and is a small Lutheran church. The organ, which was produced by the distinguished organ builder Andrejs Sūnākslis, was recently restored. The graves of German soldiers who fell during World War I are near the church.