Piltene is one of the smallest and oldest cities in Latvia, first mentioned in 1295, and being granted the rights of a city in 1557.  Between the 14th and 16th century, Piltene was the administrative centre for the Bishopric of Kurzeme.  The historical streets that surround the castle ruins feature wooden buildings from the first half of the 19th century.  The bishop’s castle in Piltene was built at the turn of the 14th century and used until the 16th century.  Only its foundations and fragments of its tower on the banks of the Vecventa River survive.

After the death of the Kalnasikšņi oak tree, which was the mightiest tree in the Gauja National Park, the mighty Kvēpene oak tree has taken over that role. It has a circumference of 6.1 m, a height of 20 m, and a crown which measures 28 x 30 m. The beautiful tree is on the right bank of the Gauja River valley and is one of the most excellent trees in Latvia. Near it is the forested Kvēpene castle hill, as is the Svētavots stream, which is reputed to have medicinal waters. To the North of the castle hill is the Rūsiņš hillock, which offers a good view of the surrounding forests, the towers of the city of Cēsis, Ieriķi, and the Rakšupe estuary at the Gauja. There is a bench at the top of the hillock from which lovely sunsets can be seen.

This is Latvia’s oldest nature reserve and, indeed, the country’s oldest protected natural territory. Moricsala is an island in Lake Usma, which is the fifth largest lake in Latvia. The reserve was established in 1912 at the initiative of a group of nature students from Rīga. They wished to protect the deciduous forest of oak trees on the island, along with the local flora and fauna. The nature reserve also includes the Lielalksnīte island. Visits to the reserve, however, are strictly prohibited.

The restaurant in the relaxation complex Vonadzini, on the southern shore of Lake Ludza, not far from the city of Gulbene. On the menu: tasty fish, chicken and pork meals. Contact the venue in advance for tourist group meals, wedding banquets, etc.

One of the buildings of the Kalnmuiža Estate has an oven in which the owner bakes rye bread with seeds, sourdough bread, and bread with dried fruit. Informational tours are available, and you can take part in the baking process. You can taste the bread and buy loaves to take home with you.

Dabas liegumā "Pilskalnes Siguldiņa" ir izveidota dabas taka - kājinieku tūrisma maršruts – t.s. Augšzemes ainavu taka, kas sākas Pilskalnē un beidzas pie Driģeņu mājām. Tā izlīkumo ezeru krastus, šķērso purvu (laipas). Apmeklētājiem, t.sk. arī bērniem, izveidotas arī īsākas - lokālas takas. Pieejami dažādu taku garumi: 1,6 km, 3,8 km, 8 km.

Vairākas salas Zvirgzdenes ezerā, uz kurām saglabājušies platlapju (ozolu, liepu) meži ar bagātīgu zemsedzes floru. Salas var redzēt no ceļiem, kas piekļaujas ezera ziemeļu un austrumu krastam.

This grand hiking tour includes some of the best and most beautiful parts of the Forest Trail in Latvia and Estonia. Hikes in the forest trails and villages 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 and most popular national parks in Latvia and Estonia. You will start the tour in Riga, where you will enjoy the beautiful Old Town included in the UNESCO and Art Nouveau District. Then you will drive to Sigulda and see the most scenic ancient valley of the River Gauja, visit Turaida Museum Reserve, hike in Gauja National Park till the historic Ligatne papermill village. Further on you will visit the famous Lake Āraiši Castle, hike on the Cirulisi nature trails and see the beautiful medieval town of Cesis. On the way to Estonia you will stop at the Sietiņiezis big sandstone cliff to have picturesque views of the River Gauja. Then you will stay in Estonia’s second biggest city – Tartu, and visit the recently opened Estonian National Museum. Further on you will drive to Alutaguse National Park and hike along the picturesque Kurtna landscape reserve among the bright coniferous forests ornamented by the mirror surfaces of its many lakes. At the end of the tour you will hike in Estonia’s oldest national park – Lahemaa, which means the “land of bays” in Estonian. The Forest Trail goes along the bays and peninsulas of Lahemaa National Park, introducing the hikers to its most significant natural and cultural heritage. The forests are rich with blueberries and mushrooms in autumn and the air is very clean. This tour will end with sightseeing in Tallinn, Estonia’s capital city, with the Old Town also included in UNESCO.

The Gardening Institute is the leading scholarly centre for fruit and vegetable research in Latvia.  The institute specialises in selection and introduction of plant cultivars that are suitable for cultivation under the agro-climatic conditions in the Baltic countries, have high nutrition value and are rich in fibre content.