No | Name | Description |
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This is a shallow lagoon-type lake which, along with the area around it, is a wetland of international importance. The presence of 271 species of birds has been found in the area, including 43 birds which are listed in the Latvian Red Book and 15 that are listed in the European Red Book. The nature park includes the Nida swamp and the part of the sea which is alongside the park - newly estabilshed sea protected area "Nida - Pērkone". Between Lake Pape and the Baltic Sea we find Latvia’s oldest bird ringing station, where rings are attached not only to birds, but also to bats. Lake Pape is the first territory in Latvia where livestock adapted to life in the wild have been released for the proper management of the lake’s flood-land meadows. First there were wild horses (“Konik” horses), then aurochs and the European bison. Visitors can use bird and nature observation towers, nature trails, etc. The Ķoņi village is a unique example of a seaside fishing village. Pape is popular among bird-watchers, and the park’s visitors centre is found in the “Nature House” of the Worldwide Fund for Nature. |
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Durch das höchste Dünen-Massiv Estlands und den Moor führt der Lehr-Wanderweg. Blick vom Aussichtsturm bis auf die Insel Kihnu. |
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Produktu izgatavošana no ārstniecības augiem - tējas, sīrupi, augu pulveri, ziedes. Pakalpojumu piedāvājums - ekskursijas, radošās darbnīcas, meistarklases, pirts. |
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Ap 200m garš un līdz 15m augsts ainavisks atsegums upes labā krasta asā līkumā. Tam iepretim otrā krastā (500m) Līgatnes dabas takas.
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The Cheese hut dates back to 1768 and was once part of the Kalnamuiža (Smiltene) Estate. It is the only object of industrial heritage that is still found in Latvia. On the first floor there was the storage of milk and a set of cheese pots. Stairs to the second floor have been lost. The second floor was used to dry cheese, and the process was facilitated by holes in the walls of the hut so that the wind could help in the process. Although the holes have been filled up, their placement can still be easily seen. The Cheese hut is alongside the ruins of the Medieval castle in Smiltene. Sadly, it is in terrible shape and can only be viewed from the outside. |
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“Airītes” is a museum found at the place where the first commander of the Latvian Armed Forces, Col Oskars Kalpaks and other Latvian soldiers (including three officers) fell during a battle on March 6, 1919. The public donated money in 1920 to build a monument, and it was unveiled on September 3, 1922. In 1935, work began on a building that was proposed by the Col Kalpaks Battalion organisation, the plan being to exhibit items related to Kalpaks’ battles. It was opened a year later. The monument was destroyed during the Soviet era, and the building housed a post office and some flats. The memorial was restored during the national Renaissance in 1988 and 1989, and on November 11, 1990, the museum was reopened. During renovations in 2007, the second floor burned down. The museum and exhibition were renewed in 2013. The exhibits speak to Kalpaks’ life during World War I and Latvia’s liberation battles. Employees regularly organise commemorative events in honour of Kalpaks, as well as celebrations of Lāčplēsis (Veterans’) Day. |
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This territory is meant to protect the large hillocks and lakes of the Augšzeme highlands – Lake Svente, Lake Medums, Lake Ilga and others, with their islands, landscapes and species. The nature park which has been established around Lake Svente and Lake Medums is part of this territory, and there are several areas that are restricted for environmental reasons – Lake Bardinskis, Lake Skujine, and the islands of Lake Medums and Lake Svente. There is a viewing tower on Egļukalns Hill, along with downhill ski routes. |
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The owner of the farm was the first to grow bush blackberries in Latvia in 1996, and today he has whole fields of the berries. He sells berries and plants, offers tours with tastings and consultations, designs gardens, and prepares plans for greenery. |
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Kaņieris is a seriously overgrown and
shallow seaside lake. Its water level was
adjusted several times during the 20th
century so as to obtain agricultural lands.
The lake has 14 islands, among which nine
are natural and the rest are artificial and
aimed at attracting nesting water birds.
Lake Kaņieris has one of the richest
diversities of birds in Latvia. An
ornithological nature reserve was
established here in 1964. In 1989, the lake
was placed on the list of major birding
locations in Europe, and in 1995 it was put
on the list of the Ramsar Convention. At
the southeastern shore of the lake is a
boating facility (only rented boats are
permitted on the lake). A bird-watching
tower was erected on the Riekstu
peninsula in 2009
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is seen as the newest village along the Livonian coastline. It was established during the 17th century. Košrags had 78 residents in 1826. The first reading school for Livonian children in the Dundaga seashore villages was opened at the Žoki homestead in 1832. One of the teachers was Nika Polmanis, who was the first Livonian to have completed a professional education. He also translated the Gospel of Matthew into the Eastern Livonian dialect. Košrags had a windmill, water mill and boat building facility. During the spring, job seekers from Saaremaa stopped here. A port was installed in 1932, and a breakwater to collect sea fertiliser followed in 1938. During the 1930s, Košrags was regularly visited by Finnish and Estonian linguists to study the folklore of the Livonians. The Norpiedagi homestead was built by Livonian activist Didriķis Volganskis (1884-1968). His son, Livonian cultural worker and pastor (in Finland) Edgars Vālgamā (Volganskis, 1912-2003) was born there. He translated the Andrejs Pumpurs epic "Lāčplēsis" into Finnish. Košrags today is a cultural monument of national importance. |
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This is a territory which regularly floods when the Lielupe River crosses its banks. These are flood-land meadows of importance to birds. The area can be surveyed from the Rīga-Liepāja highway and the Kalnciems road which runs along it. |
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Atrodas nepilnus 2 km austrumos no Aglonas, Aglonas – Dagdas ceļa malā. Tā ieceres autors ir Ēriks Delpers, kurš 2006. g. uzsāka vietas labiekārtošanu, izveidojot brīvdabas skulptūru dārzu un stādījumus. Kristus Karaļa kalns šobrīd atrodas izveides procesā, taču neskatoties uz to – objekts, ko ir vērts redzēt! |
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This is a large, outstanding and expressive tree, Latvia’s thickest Norway Maple (Accer platanoides).
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For the first time Valmiera is mentioned in the historical sources in 1323. Until the 13th century this place was in the composition of Talava, inhabited by Latgalians. Construction of Valmiera medieval castle began in the beginning of the 13th century, but in 1283, between the Gauja River and Rate River towered church. Location near to the Tartu-Pskov and Novgorod trade routes greatly facilitated the economic development of the populated area. During the 14th-16th century Valmiera was a part of the Hanseatic League. It suffered greatly from wars, epidemics and fires in 16th to 18th century. In the second half of the 19th century the economic boom started again. It was also facilitated by the building of wooden bridge across the Gauja in 1866 and Riga-Pskov railway opened in 1899. Historic centre is destroyed in 1944. During post-war years, large industrial companies such as - Valmiera glass fiber factory (to this day) are opeating in the town. Today, Valmiera is economic, educational and sports centre of Vidzeme. |
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The Grey Dune of Pāvilosta nature reserve covers 42 hectares of land and has been designated to protect Latvia’s widest dune (1.5 km parallel the seacoast, and 812m in the direction from the sea to inland) and the biotopes and species found there. A two-storied watching platform is built to savour the scenery. In Soviet time, local fishermen used to dry seaweed in dunes for production of agar, and thus rich vegetation developed in the dune. The Gray Dune is part of a unique landscape with the sea view, the traditional architecture of Pāvilosta fishing town, and biotopes, including protected, which border the nature reserve: pine forest, embryonic dunes, white dunes, and wet beech where once can find springs. Biotope 2130, “Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes)” is found here. At present, pines are taking over the biotope, therefore some maintenance activities are required. The Grey Dune is most beautiful in the second half of July and in August when the blossoming Breckland Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and Narrowleaf Hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum) colour the dune in shades of yellow and violet. The most typical species here are Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla pretense), Grey Hair-grass(Corynephorus canescens), Blue Hair Grass (Koeleria glauca), Sand Pink (Dianthus arenarius). The Gray Dune earned wide recognition when a group of enthusiasts actively campaigned for six years to achieve the status of the nature reserve. Guna Grimsta, a group representative remembers that they organised events and activities throughout Latvia involving large part of the society, prominent personalities, church parishes, NGOs, school youth and university students. The activists were writing letters, making videos, doing research articles, composing music, collecting signatures and submitting proposals to achieve official status of the Grey Dune as an especially protected nature site. They organised seminars, concerts, art plenaires and exhibitions, educational excursions, joint-work, musical church services, meetings with high officials and their on-site visits to the Gray Dune. In 2006 the group received the title „Proudness of Latvia” awarded by the national TV3 broadcasting company and daily paper „Diena”. |
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The Centre promotes sustainable lifestyle and the great outdoors, there you can plant trees and make and install nest boxes. Canoeing, bog walks, bow and crossbow shooting ranges are available for the more adventurous. There is a log house for functions and accommodation and a sauna with a hot tub. |
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Approximately 200 metres to the North-East from the Liv People's Centre, along the Mazirbe-Košrags road, there is the Seppes homestead. The little log granary was built in the 1920s and 1930s by an Estonian fisherman and builder who arrived in Mazirbe from Saaremaa. He was called Jēkabs Jaga. On the other side of the road is the Kalši home, which was built in the early 20th century. It has been restored, but the bricks that were made in a local kiln were preserved for its walls. |
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Zilais (Blue) Hill is the highest point in the Idumeja highlands – it is a very distinct hillock covered by forest, and from it there is a “narrow” landscape featuring the northern part of the highlands, as well as the Burtnieks flatlands. The restricted area is there to protect habitats such as gullies, hillsides and the boreal (northern) forest of the area. Zilais Hill is a popular tourist destination.
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These are the ruins of World War II fortifications near what is now the Ķegums hydroelectric power plant. One blockhouse was found on the left bank of the Daugava River, approximately one kilometre to the South-Southeast from the plant’s dam. A second is also on the left bank of the river, opposite the Rēzijas campground. It has slid down the abraded shore of the reservoir and is partly underwater. It is mostly accessible by boat.
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Onions, fish, villages that stretch out for several kilometres where the buildings are lined along the main street, ornate Old Believers' churches, small harbours with fishing boats and wooden houses, each painted in a different colour! Cafés, shops and a view of Lake Peipus, which looks more like a sea than a lake. This could be the description of this tour. This tour is a very interesting part of the Forest Trail, which will give you an opportunity to see and enjoy the Lake Peipsi region, the culture and lifestyle of local people as well as the nature. The tour will start in Tartu – Estonia’s second biggest city. You will go by bus from Tartu to Varnja where you will start to hike. During the tour you can visit Kostja’s onion farm, where the host welcomes guests and presents onion cultivation. It is also worth visiting the Chicory Museum in Kolkja to get acquainted with the history of chicory cultivation in row villages near Lake Peipus. You will also see Alatskivi Castle. In Avinurme we suggest visiting the Avinurme wooden handicraft centre and get acquainted with the local woodcraft, spend quality time in woodworking workshops and taste or even prepare yourself a selection of Estonian traditional foods. At the end of the tour you will return to Tartu by bus. |