Ancient trade routes distributed not just products, but also knowledge, culture and everything that was new and unknown.  Pastor Ernest Glück, for instance, may have already started work on a translation of the Bible into Latvian when he travelled from the Daugavgrīva fortress near Rīga to Alūksne.  There he finished his masterpiece and planted two oak trees alongside the manse that are still there.  Glück also established the first school in Vidzeme for Latvian children.  He was a pastor, translator, author and teacher.  Thanks to him, the Hernhutian movement of brethren flourished in Vidzeme after the Great Northern War.  It directed spiritual and political development and brought Latvians closer to their national awakening.

Of great importance in the Path of Light is Piebalga, which became very important in terms of culture in Latvia.  Culture, science and even politics took on new meaning and sounds.  This is where Kārlis Skalbe, the Kaudzītes brothers, Jānis Poruks, Antons Austriņš and other major figures from the national awakening lived and worked.  The very spiritual aura in this place has not disappeared to this very day.

The fantastic Cesvaine castle has been renovated, and the narrow-gauge railroad between Gulbene and Alūksne is still rolling alone.  The ruins of the Marienburg castle in Alūksne conjure up visions of the hidden wealth of the Order of Templates and the young woman who was bricked into the castle’s walls.  No less intriguing is the story of Marta Skovronsky, who would rise to become Empress Catherine the Great of Russia.

The Madona Regional Research and Art Museum offers a look at the past and present, while the Ate windmill at Kancempji offers a look at more than 4,000 unique items from the history of our countryside, complete with buildings that are more than 100 years old.

The owner of the Russian farm (Vene talu) prepares delicious Russian national dishes according to her grandmother's recipes. Guests learn traditions and enjoy plenty of food. There is also a tea salon, and masterclasses for Russian cuisine.

The number of types of peonies in this garden is close to 400, and collect Dagnija Voika is  proud of one of the largest collections in Latvia.  There are 30 types of shrub peonies, and other flowers that grown there include bearded irises, Siberian irises, daylilies, as well as less common plants such as yuccas and eremurus.  The garden is open in June, when the owner organises a peony festival and offers tours.  The valuable peony roots are used to produce the PEO series of cosmetics, and plants can be purchased.

Puises ragā (Puise nina) ir uzcelts divstāvīgs atpūtas nams, kas apvienots ar putnu vērošanas torni. No tā paveras skats uz piekrasti, kas ir iecienīta migrējošo zosu atpūtas vieta. Šī ir privāta teritorija, kuras apskati vēlams saskaņot ar īpašnieku.

Kale is a traditional wooden sailing ship for trawling nets on Lake Võrtsjärv, but its graceful appearance with two triangular sails often inspired pleasure trips too. Võrtsjärve Foundation supported the building of the ship Paula, completed in 2005 and Liisu in 2009. Trips aboard a kaleship are a genuinely memorable experience.
When booked in advance a sailing trip may include eating fish soup and freshly smoked fish.

Šūpošanās ir veselīga nodarbošanās, šūpoles ir enerģijas uzkrāšanas avots. Kad dabā veidojas spēcīgs enerģijas maksimums, šūpojoties iespējams saņemt īpaši daudz. Šūpoles ļauj atrauties no zemes, kaut uz mirkli.

Parka teritorijā ir brīvdabas pavarda vieta un pirts. Saimniece piedāvā profesionālus pirts rituālus un nakšņošanas iespējas.

The Slocene River flows through Lake Valgums and Lake Mazezers before flowing into the western part of Lake Kaņieris.  It is part of a branched and swampy delta in which there are seasonal restrictions aimed at protecting birds.  The wetlands which are alongside the river are difficult to access in many places.  Before the Starpiņupīte was dug between Lake Kaņieris and the Bay of Rīga (the water level is regulated with sluices), the water from the river flowed along what is now the Vecslocene River all the way to Sloka, where it ended at the Lielupe River.  The Vecslocene can be used by canoe boats only when the water level is high and then from the Old Ķemeri road to the place where the river enters the Lielupe.  Between Milzkalne and Lake Valgums, the river is not navigable because of many fallen trees.  During the springtime, the estuary of the Starpiņupīte is a good place for bird watching.

Neliela ziepju un dažādu citu ķermeņa kopšanas produktu darbnīca. Pašu audzētos un saimniecības pļavās ievāktos ārstniecības augus iestrādā ziepēs un skrubjos, gatavo no tiem izvilkumus augu eļļās, kurus iekļauj lūpu balzamos un krēmos. Ziepes tiek vārītas tā, kā to darīja agrāk - no sārma un taukvielām. Apmeklētājiem iespēja ielūkoties “Ezervanna” mazajā darbnīcā, paklausīties stāstā par ziepju vārīšanu, iemēģināt roku un radošumu skrubju gatavošanā vai “pamīcīties” ar ziepju veidojamo masu un pagatavot savu ziepju gabalu.

One of the oldest buildings at the Pope Estate is the old hunting castle that was built in 1653. The mansion was built in 1608 or 1620. The Neo-Gothic porch was added in 1840. The interiors of the mansion have been preserved since the 18th century and the 3rd quarter of the 19th century, including wood panelling, original decorated ceilings, a front door in the style of Classicism, and a Rococo stove.  Sadly, one of the oldest buildings - the home of the estate's governor - burned down in 2018, but the rest of the estate did not suffer and retained its beauty.  Visitors will be delighted about the aromatic garden of phloxes, as well as the impressive oak trees. Worth a look is the hillock behind the main building of the estate, near which there used to be a narrow-gauge railroad (the Pope Station).  The other buildings cover a fairly extensive territory, and so it is worth spending a few hours to tour the village of Pope.

The Pope Estate and its park are among the best-preserved estates in the area.  Since March 1941, it has housed a school.  Most of the trees in the park are common, but there are a few rare ones.

The farm "Veckūkuri" in Jērcēni parish of Strenči district is included in the top of the most productive herds in Latvia. "Veckūri" is a milk processor that produces non-traditional dairy products from the milk obtained on its farm. The farm is also ranked among the companies that have been awarded the State Export Council awards “Latvian Export Product 2015”.