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The Baltic Sea gave this territory one of the old names of Jūrkalne – Felixberg, and people still talk about the interesting legend that is the origin of the name. Several wrecked ships have been found in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Jūrkalne. An exhibition in the museum visualises the underwater world as the deck of a ship that has sunk into the depths of the sea. The exhibition focuses on the cultural and historical heritage of underwater Latvia, allowing visitors to learn all about the history of sailing ships, steamships and other objects that have been raised from the depths. Small children will start to learn about the underwater world, and researchers with broader knowledge will find something new here. |
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Holy Jesus Heart Roman Catholic Church of Bikova
(Gaigalava). Enjoy the Gothic forms and architectural design of the church. The church and the altar are
decorated with the icons of Zebedee sons – James and John (the apostles of Jesus) and other saints.
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In Metsanurme Village Centre you can see restored old threshing barn, limestone barn oven and few tools that were used ages ago. You could be also interested in seeing an outdoor exhibition which focuses on historical agricultural tools. All of this is made to look interesting to not only locals but also visitors. |
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Since ancient times bread has been our staple food, and formed part of breakfast, lunch and our evening meal. We bake bread from rye, wheat, buckwheat and barley. Both fine-ground and wholemeal flour is used. Bread baking is one of the most honoured traditional skills in Latvia. Caunītes country house keeps Latvian traditions alive and demonstrates them to visitors. The house is designed and decorated in the traditional Latvian style and exudes an authentic ambience while having modern facilities. Under the guidance of the hostess, visitors will bake their own loaf of sweet-and-sour bread in a wood-fired bread oven. In Latvian families it was traditionally one of the main duties of the lady of the house to bake a week’s supply of bread for the whole family every Saturday morning. Every woman was proud of her own unique recipe and passed it down to her daughters and granddaughters through the generations. There are many traditional beliefs, sayings and riddles linked with bread in Latvian folklore. Today, there is great interest in the old recipes, bread-baking methods and the use of organic ingredients as many families are opting for a healthy lifestyle. |
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This is one of the oldest Livonian villages, recorded in documents for the first time in 1387. The old road from the Dundaga Estate to Sīkrags existed in the Middle Ages. During the 17th century, Sīkrags was one of the most important small ports in Northern Kurzeme, receiving ships from England, Holland and Lubeck that carried coal, grain and other products. Before World War I, there were five sprat smokehouses in the village, and some 55 fishermen lived there during the 1920s and 1930s. Among those to have been born in Sīkrags was the Livonian cultural activist Hilda Grīva (Cerbaha, 1910-1984), seafaring captain Kārlis Anbanks (1884-1937), Baptist preacher Kārlis Lāceklis (1904-1970), linguist and tradition specialist Pēteris Dambergs (1909-1987), and graphic artist Baiba Damberga (b 1957). Today the village is a cultural monument of national importance. It is crossed by a bike route, with a commemorative stone where the narrow-gauge railroad station once stood. Sīkrags, like neighbouring villages, is in the Slītere National Park. |
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Mushrooming is one of the most popular autumn activities in Latvia. The tour is lead by a professional mycologist and combines the mysterious world of funghi with local historic heritage and mushroom preparation traditions. Mushrooming starts at one the most popular mushroom pickers' sites in the suburbs of Riga. Then it's on to try various locations in the mushrooming paradise of the Gauja National Park, walk nature trail along the Amata river and have a picnic at picturesque outcrop Zvārtes Rock. Further on, the route reaches charming Ungurmuiža Manor park with its ancient oak trees and some specific fungal species. Next the tour visits a shiitake mushroom grower and mysterious Zilaiskalns hill featuring a highland landscape as well as the flatlands of Lake Burtnieks. Zīle Forest is a rare European biotope with ancient oak forest and park type meadows while the natural coniferous forest at Mežole is one of the richest interms of biological diversity. Here you can find mushrooms which are indicators of natural forest. You also visit oyster mushroom growers along the route. Then it's Āraiši reconstructed Bronze Age settlement built on a lake where there are good examples of how mushrooms can damage and destroy man made objects. At one of the guest houses the chef will demonstrate how to cook your collected mushrooms the local way. |
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The artist Agris Liepiņš was the initiator of the project to recreate a 12th-century Ancient Latvian wooden castle. The building was erected in 1997 on the basis of samples from the remnants of castles found at various castle hills in Latvia. This is an idealised version of the residence of Uldevens, who was once the senior official of the Lielvārde region.
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There are ancient cheese-making traditions in Cesvaine, where the Cesvaines Dairy was established on the basis of the historical Cesvaine Estate dairy operation. The company produces butter, cottage cheese, cheese, home cheese and soured cream. The “Pie Arkas” store that is alongside the dairy sells those products. |
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Atrodas Kokneses tūrisma centra telpās (1905. gada ielā 7). 160 cm garais un 120 cm augstais makets ir Vittingenas (Vācija) dāvinājums Koknesei, atzīmējot 10 gadu sadraudzības jubileju. Šāda Kokneses pils izskatījās ap 1701. gadu. |
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The fisherman offers you a chance to engage in string-based fishing at the seashore near Nida and Pape, fishing out in the sea (1-2 people), and ice fishing during the winter. You can smoke what you catch or cook fish soup with it. |
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After the establishment of the Livonian state, the pope consecrated this land in honour of the holy Virgin Mary. This created Terra Mariana or Māra’s Land. The road between Ludza, Rēzekne and Daugavpils runs along an ancient trading route that once connected Vilnius and Kaunas to Pskov and, later, to St Petersburg and Warsaw. Very beautiful and poetically picturesque with rivers and lakes that are in Latvia’s forested land and among hillocks that offer a wonderful look at the distant horizon – that is Māra’s Land, which is also known as the Land of Blue Lakes. Lake Rāzna is the second largest in Latvia, and when the weather is clear, Mākoņkalns Hill or Padebešu Hill is reflected in its water. Atop the hill are the oldest ruins of fortifications in Latgale, dating back to the Livonian era. Rēzekne is known as the heart of Latgale, because it has always been the centre for Lettigalian culture and education. People contributed donations for the 1939 construction of a monument to Māra of Latgale. It is dedicated to those who fell during Latvia’s independence battles and the liberation of Latgale. The monument also speaks to the Catholic identity of Latgale. The monument was rededicated on August 13, 1992, the date of the assumption of the Virgin Mary. A Catholic festival at Aglona and the monument to Māra of Latgale – these are integral components of this part of Latvia. The present day is marked out clearly by the new Gors concert hall in Rēzekne, and well as the Zeimuļš student interest education centre. Daugavpils is Latvia’s second city and an important centre for industry, culture, education and sports. The Daugavpils pellet factory is unique, and the oldest pellet casting tower in Europe is now open to visitors, as are the restored Daugavpils fortress and the new Rothko Museum. Not far from Daugavpils are the small Birķeneļi semi-estate and the Rainis Museum. Latgale was the “land of new days” for the poet, and the museum now hosts gatherings of young artists and craftspeople. The ancient tradition of ceramic art that is typical specifically of this part of Latvia is still thriving. |
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St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church of Pilcene (Piļcine) is the oldest wooden church in Latgale, built
in 1670. It is prominent because of its half columns, hexagonal tower, semicircular windows, and a dome
with a cross and antique interior.
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Latgale rehabilitation centre „Rāzna”. The rehabilitation centre „Rāzna” is built on a small hillock at
Lake Zosna. Sanatorium „Rāzna” is surrounded by many trees. Originally, the house was built as a summer
house for artists. The centre is an architectural monument of local importance.
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This farm offers tours for children who can become friends of horses, look at Angus cattle and learn about a dairy farm. The children are transported in a specially adapted cart that is pulled by a tractor. The farm plans to purchase some alpacas in 2018. |
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Saimniecība nodarbojas ar 15 veidu vīna darīšanu no Latvijas augļiem, ogām un citām dabas veltēm, kā arī vīna destilāta ražošanu. Vīna darītavā vīndaris pastāstīs par vīna izgatavošanu un dalīsies savā pieredzē. Uz vietas iespējams nobaudīt dažādus izsmalcinātus augļu un ogu vīnus, meklējot sev tīkamākās garšu un smaržu nianses. Vīna darītava sadarbojas ar vietējo zemnieku saimniecībām, tēdēļ pie vīna iespējams nobaudīt sieru no govs vai aitas piena un Bauskas pusē ražotus saldumus. |
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Metsavenna Farm organises forest brethren (or brothers) expeditions for visitors to search out forest brothers in their hideouts, visit an underground bunker, hear true stories of life after WWII, have a taste of home-brew and sing old songs along with the master. The more adventurous can stay a night in the bunker, while in winter a sledding hill is opened for snowy downhill rides. |
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This partly forested hillock stands 40 metres above the surrounding area and offers impressive views. The fact that this was once a castle hill is attested by the presence of a moat and remnants of defensive fortifications. It is thought that Lettigalian tribes settled here in the 10th century AD. You can climb the hillock to take a look at the surrounding landscapes. |
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In Vecslabada, there is a peninsula among Lake Dziļezers, Lake Audzeļi, and Lake Istra. From the highest point on the peninsula, you will see a truly unusual view of the land of the blue lakes – lake islands, as well as the village of Vecslabada with its church towers. The Lake Istra nature reserve is nearby.
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The estate is in the centre of Ineši, 5 km to the south of Vecpiebalga. The estate dates back to the latter half of the 17th century, when an ornate castle for the noble Sheremetyev family was built here in the style of Classicism and on the banks of the little Orisāre River. The castle was built down during the 1905 Revolution, but restored four years later. Around the castle is a lovely landscape park. The castle served as the prototype for the Slātava Estate in the famous novel “Age of the Surveyors” by the Kaudzīte brothers. In 1992, the Piebalga Administrative District Museum was opened in the wine cellar of the castle, which is home to the Ineši Parish Council and a porcelain painting studio. Organised tours of the estate and its surrounding area are available. |
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Here you can taste the best flavours of the beer kitchen Pihtla, traditional Saaremaa house beer, and also Saare cheese, Fresco ice-cream, apple lemonade and other local delicacies. |