Back when the Baltic Sea was part of the ancient Littorina Sea, the coastline emerged as a small and shallow shore that was formed 4,500 to 5,000 years ago.  The coastline has little rocks and gravel that have preserved typical examples of fauna from the Littorina Sea.  The ancient cliff is best seen at the Dobeļi homestead in Kaltene.  This is one of a few parts of the shore of the Bay of Rīga where there was an abrasion coastline during the era of the Littorina Sea.  The shallow bay is popular among birds which feed and rest here during migrations. (Source: Roja TIC)

Starp cilvēku un zirgu valda īpaša saikne, ne velti zirgs cilvēkam spēj būt gan draugs, gan palīgs, gan sabiedrotais dažādās dzīves situācijās.

Saimniecība “Imanti” piedāvā braucienus zirga kamanās ziemā un ratos – vasaras sezonā.

Many farms in Latvia and Lithuania grow their own produce, offer culinary masterpieces and develop traditional recipes to the best degree.  Because of limited output, these delicacies seldom are found in supermarkets, and that is why we have organised this gourmand tour for those who enjoy new tastes.

You will start your tour in Vilnius and then travel to Trakai, where the local ethnographic museum will offer local dishes from the Karaite ethnic minority.  A look at Lithuanian farm life from the 18th to the 20th century will be available at the Rumšiškes Ethnographic Museum.  After travelling through Kaunas, you will visit a honey farm that offers honey and wax candles, as well as tastings of honey beer.  The Pakruojo Dvaras estate is a place where you will feel like a nobleman from the 19th century and enjoy a real banquet at the estate's restaurant.  Further along, you will visit Cross Hill, which has countless crosses that have been planted there by people who express their Christian fervour in that way.  Next you will visit an alpaca farm where you will be able to pet, feed and take photographs with these unusual animals.  The day will end at a farm that will serve traditional Lithuanian foods for dinner.  When you arrive in Latvia, the first destination will be a farm that produces seven kinds of cheeses.  Along the way you will find the Tērvete Ancient History Museum and the Tērvete Nature Park.  After the tour, you will enjoy a fine meal at a countryside saloon.  A bakery near Svēte offers tasty cookies and pastries.  After a stroll through the town of Jelgava, you will visit the Caunītes farm, where you will learn how to bake bread and bake your own loaf to take along.  Along the way to Rīga, visit "Garlic World."  Latvian garlic has a particularly strong aroma and taste, and the lady of the house prepares many unusual dishes with garlic.

This is a homestead that is three km from the centre of Vecpiebalga and is in a lovely place – the Incēni hill.  There is a museum here featuring the author of the legendary fairy tale “Pussy’s Mill” by Kārlis Skalbe (1879-1945).  The poet and prose writer built the building in 1926 and spent summers there from that year until 1944.  The museum was opened in 1987.  The western slope of Vaktskalns hill right alongside the museum offers a lovely view of Lake Alauksts.  The cremated remains of Skalbe and his wife, Lizete, were reinterred at the location in 1992 from Sweden, where the poet died.  There is a unique monument to them in the form of a stone boat.

Pilsrundālē pa ceļam uz Rundāles pili var apmeklēt Retro auto kolekciju, kur apskatāmi 1939. g. automobiļi un dažādu laiku motocikli. Starp automobiļiem ir arī pasaulē šodien reti sastopami modeļi. Šī ir īstā vieta vēsturisko spēkratu cienītājiem!

This arboretum was established in 1996, when dendrologists Raimonds Cinovskis and Ināra Bondare joined with the local government in Rucava in experimenting with plants on the Rucava castle hill.  The first plants were planted in 1998, and ever since then the collection has been expanded in the town centre and outside the Rucava Elementary School.  Each year new and exotic plants are brought in from all around the world.  A traditional garden festival is held each year in May, when rhododendrons and magnolias are in full bloom.

The first stone castle in Alsunga was built in 1372, starting with the central part of the southern wing. The authorised representative of the Livonian Order, who was subject to a higher-ranking official in Kuldīga, lived here. The guard towers and other parts of the castle were gradually added between the 15^th and the 18^th century. The Baroque castle with its two towers is quite impressive. The castle is unique in and outside of Latvia in that it is one of the rare Medieval castles to have survived to the present day in part, but in its original historical appearance.  The castle offers an exhibition about its history.  Visitors can look at a Suiti kitchen, write a letter with a fountain pen in Barbara’s boudoir, or celebrate a special event in the romantic venue of the castle’s round tower. Renovation of the castle began in 2018, and it is closed to visitors.  Still, you can look at its exterior and tour its garden.  

The second biggest city in Lithuania and from 1920 – 1939 - a temporary capital. The Old Town, The Town Hall (16th century), St. Peter and Pavil cathedral - basilica (15th century), Thunder building (15th century), Laisves alley, Ciurlionis Art and Devil Museum.

If you enjoy an active lifestyle, this tour is the perfect way to enjoy the culinary heritage hidden in Gauja National Park. The cycling route starts from Strenči and first passes two local breweries at Brenguļi and Valmiermuiža with nice cafés and good beer. On the way to Valmiera you will also stop at Trikāta Village to taste locally made chocolate. From Valmiera, the route goes through a beautiful forest to Cēsis with its charming medieval Old Town. In Cēsis you will visit the local bakery and distillery to taste their production. Also, you will see what a herb and species garden looked like in medieval times. You’ll experience a canoeing trip from Cēsis to Līgatne, one of the nicest parts on the River Gauja with its sandstone banks, remote farmsteads and old-fashioned water-powered ferry. The historic centre of Līgatne Town is linked with the development of its paper mill. Here you can also visit local wine and handicraft producers in one of the artificial caves typical of the area. Cycling the hilly, winding roads of Sigulda, you’ll see Turaida and Sigulda medieval castles, Gūtmaņala Cave and other picturesque views. In Sigulda you will enjoy Latvian traditional meals in the restaurants ”Bucefāls”, ”Aparjods”, and will taste 80 kinds of jam in the Mauriņi guest house.

The first building of the church was built in 1641. The fourth building of the church was only built in 1856 – during the times of Pastor Johann Wilhelm Knierim. Its altar painting – The Crucified Christ (Golgotha) was painted in 1856 by Jozeps Millers, who was influenced by the altar piece in Munich Louis Church created by his teacher Peter Cornelius. An epitaph of Baroness Auguste Amalija von Pistohlkros, the sister of the owner of Bīriņi Manor and the patroness of the church, was immured in the memorial wall. Construction of the tower was completed on 11 June 1856, as evidenced by a memorial plaque on the wall of the church with an inscription “Erbaut von August Pistolkors 1856”. The church was consecrated in 1864. And a year later an organ by Martin Company with 8 registers, which was extended to 14 registers in 1903, was installed in the church. Unfortunately, the organ was destroyed in WW2. Saulkrasti (Pēterupe) Evangelical Lutheran Church survived both World War 2 and the Soviet period. The Soviet era was one of the most difficult times for the church, because many churches in the area were destroyed, pastors were discharged and the congregation fell apart. The Pēterupe congregation remained. As an architectural monument the church was lucky enough to undergo roof repairs of the tower even during Soviet times. Funds were granted by the Chairlady of the Executive Committee Ņina Manzūrova.