The Lašu castle hill is 0.2 km from the Vecumnieki-Ilūkste road at Laši. It is an ancient Selonian castle hill, and it was populated between the 1^st millennium BC and the 10^th or 12^th century. Very little remains of the old Veclaši (Tiesenhausen) Estate, which had an impressive mansion designed in the Neo-Gothic style in the late 19^th century. What remains are an ancillary building, the foundations of the mansion, fragments of the gates, and a park. Until 1920, the estate belonged to the Pshezdzetski dynasty, and before that it was owned by the Tiesenhausen and Fittinghoff dynasties. Before visiting the location, look for photographs of the old mansion on the Internet. Sadly, the important cultural monument has not experienced any major improvements over the past 20 years.

The nature reserve “Plieņciema kāpa” is founded in 1987 and covers 60.6 hectares of land. Since 2005 it is a Natura2000 site. The nature reserve protects a 150-200m wide and 3.5km long part of a distinct, continuous dune rampart. The dunes shelter Plieņciems village protecting from sea winds. The key natural values here are rare and protected biotopes of national and European significance: “Wooded dunes of the coast 2180” in the area of 61.8 ha, “Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation, 2130 (grey dunes)” in the area of 8.27 ha, “Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (white dunes) 2120 in the area of 3.20 ha”, “Black alder swamp forests 9080”, ) in the area of 2,68 ha, as well as rare and protected species of Latvian and European significance including eastern pasqueflower (pulsatilla patens), Rolling Hen-and-chicks(Jovibarba sobolifera), Nothorhina muricata, Wryneck (Jynx torquilla), Woodlark (Lullula arborea).

In the nature reserve, there is a “Vabu square” – a deflation in the dune where for centuries local fishermen have been drying nets. In the 18^th and 19^th centuries ships were built here. Nine ships have been built here in 1882 - 1925. The four-masted gaff-rigged schooner with hoisting engine “Eurasia” was completed in 1925, the largest ship built by the Kurzeme fishermen. It was one of the works of Martin Morgenstern (1866-1945), a famous shipbuilding master.

Thanks to dunes, Plieņciems village was a popular holiday resort and has been mentioned in written sources already in 1738. Clergymen and landlords with their families used to stay here. In 1808, a merchant from Riga bought the local pub and replaced it with a massive two-storey building with a large ball-room and dining hall. On July 15, 1810, a sea bathing facility was opened for health treatment. For arrival of the empress Elisabeth Alexeievna, the wife of emperor Alexander I of Russia, who was a grandson of Catherine the Great, the road from Tukums town was repaired, the two highest hills were levelled, a road passage was dug across the Plieņciems dune, and a lime-tree alley was planted to facilitate access to the beach and bathing spot. Later, in 1920ies, the resort circles consisted mainly of the Kurzeme region landlords. There was a dance-floor in the park of Plieņciems village, and a special orchestra played music for resort guests three times a day.

Tāpat kā Ventspils Rātslaukums, arī Tirgus laukums ir uzskatāms par pilsētas vēsturiskā centra nozīmīgu daļu, kura apkaimē ir saglabājies senais ielu plānojums. Kādreizējā Rātsnama vietā tagad slejas kariljonu zvana pulksteņu tornis. Tas zvana katru stundu, bet 12:33:44 un 00:33:44 ar īpašu melodiju ieskandina astronomisko Ventspils laiku. Tirgus laukumā ir aka, kas saulainā laikā darbojas arī kā Saules pulkstenis. Monētu automātā var izkalt īpašu piemiņas monētu.

The potter embodies traditional pottery skills. He offers candlesticks and two-prong lighting elements, and he uses milk in his work. You can take a tour, purchase products, and take part in the opening of the kiln.

The Varakļāni Estate has a mansion which is known as one of the most outstanding monuments to Classicism in Latgale. It was built between 1783 and 1789 and designed by the Italian architect Vincento Macotti, and it was owned by Earl Michael Johan Borch. Late in the 18^th century, the same architect designed the estate’s lovely and romantic landscape park, which was one of the first parks of its kind in Latvia. The Varakļāni Administrative District Museum is housed in the mansion today.

Professional agricultural tour with visits to local farms typical of the region. We will meet and greet you in Vilnius and have a city sightseeing tour. Next day we go to Kaunas, for professional meetings and sightseeing of the city. On the way to Riga, we visit picturesque Trakai Castle situated on a lake. At Panevezys we have a visit to a professional apple grower. In Riga we have an Old Town sightseeing tour as well as a visit to the impressive Central Market. In Bauska we have a professional visit to a farm specilaizing in implementing innovative farming (grains, vegetables, potatoes). From Riga on the way to Tallinn, we visit Sigulda town and medieval Turaida Castle with great panoramic views to the ancient Gauja Valley. In Tallinn we have an Old Town tour through narrow cobbled streets followed by a professional visit to a dairy farm in Saku, meeting with the Estonian Farm Union and visiting another cattle and crop farm near Tallinn.

When you travel along the northern shore of Lake Sauka where the road to Klauce crosses your road, you will see the Sauka Lutheran Church among the trees. This is the third church at this location. It was opened in 1827 and can mostly be viewed from the outside. The altar is decorated with sculptures of St Peter and St Paul, as well as the altar painting “Jesus on the Cross with Mary and John,” which is by J. Doering. The organ was built by craftsmen in Jelgava, and the pipes were manufactured in Sauka.

Setomaa has been inhabited for about 8,400 years, which makes it one of the oldest human settlements in Estonia. It is located on the border of Eastern and Western civilisations, bordering Russia, Latvia and Estonia. Setomaa is famous for its well-preserved traditions and culture. For centuries the local handicraft skills have been passed down within families. Seto polyphonic singing (Seto leelo) is inscribed on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Setos have distinctive national costumes, rich in detail and unique to each family. Perhaps most impressive is the distinctive array of Seto jewellery. These visually striking pieces not only reflect the social standing of the wearer but are also worn as a safeguard from misfortune. To this day, the Seto lifestyle remains closely tied to nature. It is common practice for the Seto not only to enjoy the natural beauty of the forest but to also use its gifts. Berries and mushrooms are picked freely in their seasons.

It is best to start the tour from Võru and finish in Tartu.

The G.F. Stender Museum is at the former Laši pastoral estate, 500 m to the Northeast from the Nereta-Ilūkste road. Gotthard Friedrich Stender (1714-1796), also known as Old Stenders, was the author of the first broader Latvian language grammar book (1761), the first Latvian-German and German-Latvian dictionary (1789), the first Latvian primer (1782), and the first illustrated primer, “ABC of Pictures” (1787). He worked as a pastor in Sēlpils and Sunākste and was born at the Laši pastoral estate, at which one of the buildings now contains a small museum. A memorial stone (sculptor I. Folkmanis, architect N. Tamane) is alongside the Nereta-Ilūkste road.

Viena no augstākajām Latvijas celtnēm ar vienu no augstākajiem skatu laukumiem (65 m). Paveras izcila Vecrīgas un Rīgas ainava, kā arī Daugavas (līdz Rīgas HES dambim) un Pārdaugavas skati. Labi redzami blakus esošie Rīgas centrāltirgus paviljoni.