The Baltic Way was a unique demonstration at the Baltic, European and global level.  Never before had the residents of three countries joined hands in a single chain to link the capital cities of the three nations – Vilnius, Rīga and Tallinn.  The historical event occurred on the evening of August 23, 1989 and involved some two million people to recall events that had happened 50 years before – the conclusion of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact that allowed the two superpowers of the day, Germany and the USSR, to divide up spheres of influence in Europe before the new world war.  The Baltic States lost their independence as a result of the pact.

The chain of demonstrators was some 600 km long, marking out the Baltic Way from Bauska to Rīga and then on to Sigulda, Cēsis, Valmiera and Rūjiena.  The route was known and used in the 14th and 15th century, or even earlier.  Testimony to this is given by the mighty castle hill at Mežotne and the ancient port alongside it.  The Bauska Castle was an important fort during the age of Livonia and, later, one of the residencies of the dukes of Courland.  Sigulda was well fortified on the banks of the Gauja River, with three stone castles nearby.  It was also a health spa.  Līgatne is important in industrial terms because of the paper factory that is there.  Āraiši is another ancient trade crossroad with a lake castle, ancient church, castle ruins and a famous windmill.  Cēsis is one of the historical diamonds of Vidzeme with its old town, the old and new castle, and the majestic views of the ancient Gauja River valley at the cliffs of Ērgļi.  Valmiera boasts of his St Simon’s Church, the Dāliņš stadium, its own theatre and the youthfulness of its own university college.  In Rūjiena, there is a monument to the Bugler of Tālava, which was carved by Kārlis Zemdega and installed in 1937 to commemorate the liberation of Rūjiena.  The monument survived all of the years after the war.  The engraving, “the bugler had to die, but the Latvians heard his call,” is very much in line with the Baltic Way on August 23, 1989.

The Ferris wheel that is in Sigulda is on the corner of Leona Paegles and Cēsu streets, and it is only open during the summer. If you ride the wheel, you can take lovely snapshots of the ancient Gauja River valley.

The “Dabas zirgi” centre for horse and human welfare is in the historical Mežinieku neighbourhood in suburban Rīga, and it will be a revelation to those who wish to have a sense of belonging related to Latvia and its environment.  Touch the forest, enjoy the cool water of the Misa River, encounter a swamp or see the breath of a horse on a foggy morning.

You’re welcome to spend a longer amount of time at this venue with new glamping opportunities in a lovely forested area next to the steep shores of the Misa River.  This offers complete silence with only the woods and the river nearby.  Along with the horses, of course.

“Dabas zirgi” offers strolls with a horse, tours involving feeding the animals, as well as horseback rides.  Family celebrations are perfect here with a lean-to, a grill, and a pot on a campfire.  Contact the venue in advance to arrange for prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner.  There is also a sauna with a jacuzzi.
 

Iespēja patīkamā atmosfērā baudīt ļoti gardu ēdienu. . Starp tiem arī Lietuviešu tradicionālo ēdienu. Ir dienas un vakara īpašie piedāvājumi.

The Strauti farm is on the eastern edge of hillocks in Embūte.  The southern edge of the farm neighbours large forests with many wild animals.  Alongside is a former fowl farm.  The farm breeds rabbits, sheep, fowl, two horses and a pony.  It has a herd of cows, including Latvian Blue cows.  The farm offers tours for schoolchildren and others.  Contact the farm in advance to purchase rabbit meat, wool and vegetables.  The farm is biological.

Jaanihanso Cider House makes cider from natural Estonian apples. Here there is a special technique applied to making the cider – the cider clears and matures as same as the best champagne in the world does. Here it’s possible to try different ciders and for additional fee, snacks to with it, as well as take a tour around the Cider House. In this case, registering one week in advance is necessary.

The botanical garden was established in 1993 in the lovely Dane River valley.  It covers approximately 9.3 hectares, and in 2002, it was given the status of a dendrological park.

The Mežotne castle hill is on the left bank of the Lielupe River and opposite the Mežotne Castle. This was one of the largest Semigalian fortified castle hills during the 9^th to the 13^th century, and an ancient town alongside the hill covered 13 ha of land. The castle hill has been improved. A pontoon bridge across the Lielupe allows hikers and bikers to reach the castle (between May and October). Vīna Hill is approximately 500 m to the South of the castle hill, and a wooden pathway leads to it.

The trail climbs up and down along the bluffs of lower River Pilsupe and reveals a fascinating sight of three white dune exposures (the largest is called the White Dune). The dune range has formed in the period of the Littorina Sea several thousands of years ago. The time required to walk the trail is ~0.3 h. Evidence of Stone Age settlements have been found in the vicinity. 

The castle was commissioned by Baron Alexander von Fittinghof and built between 1859 and 1863 in the late Tudor Neo-Gothic style.  It is one of the most important monuments to this style in Latvia and has an ornate limestone façade.  The 7th Sigulda Infantry Brigade was housed in the castle from 1921 until 1940.  Today it is home to the Alūksne Museum with a permanent exhibition and an “environmental labyrinth.”  One of the most unusual exhibits is a set of fluorescent minerals that can be viewed under lights with various spectrums.