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.

Already in the 10th century, an ancient village was located at the Sabile hill fort. After the division of Course land, Sabile was won by the Livonian Order, which built a stone castle (not preserved) here. Sabile is first time mentioned in written sources in 1253. During the 15th century an urban area started to develop at the castle. Town right was awarded to Sabile in 1917. Today Sabile is a small town, surrounded by many notable monuments. Roma culture is an integral part of Sabile and therefore, Sabile is also known as the Latvian capital city of Roma. Sabile has long been known for its wine-growing and oenological traditions, which have been reborn and enjoyable during the Sabile wine festival.

You can watch blacksmiths at work at this smithy, and you can order metal decorations, fences and other products on the basis of individual agreement with the blacksmith.

The owner will tell you about wild plants and help you to cook tasty meals with them. You will receive valuable advice about how to use these gifts from nature for nutritional purposes and to improve your health.

This is the most impressive and colourful set of cliffs along the Vidzeme coastline.  Waves have created the steep shore that is as much as 6 m high, with several hundred meters of red sandstone cliffs with narrow caves, niches, grottos and other formations.  The nearby Veczemu farm is where the Rīga Film Studio shot the films “Long Way into the Dunes” and “The Nest of the Old Fisherman.”

Participants in this tour will learn about Latvia’s most modern crop farms that are typical in Zemgale.  During the first day, participants will meet with specialists from the Latvian Agriculture Ministry and agricultural NGOs.  They will also tour Rīga, which is part of the UNESCO List of World Heritage, and the Rīga Central Market, which is one of the largest closed markets of its type in Europe.  Participants will visit a health food store and have dinner to enjoy traditional Latvian foods and beers.  The next day we will go to Jelgava, where the 18th-century castle of the Duchy of Courland and Zemgale will host a meeting with faculty members from the Latvian Agricultural University, which is housed in the palace.  We will visit a biologic bakery, as well as a farm that engages in crop farming, livestock breeding and manufacturing of biogas.  An artificial wetland is used to purify runoff water.  Dinner will be served at a modern leisure complex.  On the third day, we will visit one of the largest multi-sectoral farms in Zemgale.  It specialises in plant farming, livestock breeding, horse breeding, biogas manufacturing and beer brewing.  During the afternoon, we will visit the largest and technologically most modern grain farm in the region, after which we will tour the most outstanding castle in the Baltic States – the Rundāle Castle.  Built as a summer residence for Duke Ernst Johann Bieron, the castle was designed by the distinguished Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli.  Dinner will be served at a venue that has an historical windmill and an exhibition related to grain farming.  On the morning of the fourth day, we will visit a farm that grows grains for seed, and then a biological farm that produces wheat, barley, peas, beans, rapeseed, herbs and herbal teas.  Lunch will be served at a farm that will offer dishes made of home-grown grains and rough-milled flour.  Then we will return to Rīga.

The memorial stone to Augusts Muižulis,a recipient of the Lāčplēsis Military Order, is placed in the Lapmežciems, at the edge of the road (P 128, Jūrmala-Talsi) at the marker for the 9th kilometre. A. Muižulis, (189 –1941) was a lieutenant colonel in the No. 4 Valmiera Infantry Brigade. The adjacent Tuteņi homestead is his native home.

Vienu kilometru garā lokveida taka, kas ved pa lielāku nacionālā parka meža masīvu, uzskatāmi attēlo Žemaitijas augstienes un tuvākās apkārtnes reljefa veidošanās vēsturi. No takas augstākā punkta – Mikitai kalna, kas ir sens pagānu upurkalns, paveras (ainaviska stiga) tālākas apkārtnes skats. Kā takas interesantākie apskates objekti ir jāmin teikām apvītais akmens ar Velna pēdu un ar akmeņiem izliktas akas paliekas.

You can go fishing on Lake Usma and then the lady of the house will cook tasty fish soup and smoked fish from what you catch. You can rent a boat, take part in fishing and casting of nets (in the winter, too), or take a cutter trip on the lake. You can also taste canned smoked bream and go horseback riding.