This facility is in the historical village of Pape in Southern Kurzeme.  Accommodations are available in an historical granary with a roof made of reeds.  It is appropriate for inhabitation during the late spring, the summer and the early fall.  There are three bedrooms, a small front room and a kitchen, with two floors in all.  The building will fit eight people.  This is an ideal location for creative camps, plenary sessions, master workshops and other activities.  There are tenting areas for as many as 80 people.  The Mikjāņi farm observes local traditions and offers traditional foods such as “herring on coals,” white butter with boiled potatoes, fish soup, etc., for visitors who apply for a meal in advance.  This offer is only available to groups which register in advance.

The farm breeds more than 150 sheep. There is a location to feed lambs, and the owners organise animal auctions and “Sheep Days” events. You can take a tour of the farm and purchase pedigreed sheep and sheep-related products.

Garlic growing and processing, farmers’ market. A story about the value of garlic in health and cooking. Offers various garlic spices, teas, pickles, snacks, tasting of food with garlic. For children - garlic painting on canvas, garlic games.

The Vienkoči Park features one-log objects manufactured by its originator.  You can examine mock-ups of the Nurmiži Castle and other buildings including the Sand House, and you can also take part in thematic events.  Men can produce equipment to drain birch juice from trees, wile women can try their hand at jewellery making from natural materials.  People manufactured one-log objects during the Mesolithic Era, and one-log boats have been used since the 9th century (several of them can be seen at the park).

Andris Roze is one of very few kokle makers in Latvia who manufactures the instrument and helps others to do so at master’s classes.  Roze also manufactures other traditional musical instruments, demonstrates them, offers consultations about them, collects them and gathers together historical information.  He works at the Drabeši Crafts House, where people can learn traditional skills such as weaving, processing of leather, felting, pottery and construction of musical instruments.

The museum at Egļava has an exhibition about forestry in Latvia before and after World War II.  The exhibit features forestry tools and equipment, as well as textiles from the former Balvi District along with samples of ceramics and woodworking.  The former forest ranger house has rooms to provide accommodations to guests.

Lāči brand bread is popular in Latvia and abroad, because the bakery uses ancient mastery and skills. Baking traditions are supervised by 2 master bakers and 4 journeymen. You can take a tour of the bakery, knead and bake your own little loaf of bread, have lunch at a cosy saloon and purchase the bakery’s products. Lāči uses its own ingredients for its dishes, combining them with seasonal products from local farms. The bakery shop offers a wide range of products from bread to confectionery.

Latvian cuisine: Cream of mushroom soup, various hot potted dishes, bread soup, baker’s dessert.

The watermill processes wool with equipment that is 100 years old and is used to produce handmade blankets and pillows that are stuffed with sheep wool, as well as souvenirs that can be commissioned and purchased.  The watermill offers tours and fresh-baked bread.  A wool pulling and wrapping machine that dates back to the 19th century and was manufactured at the Šūberts Rudītis & Co company in the 19th century is still used, as are a unique weaving apparatus from Germany and a grain mill.

Latvian cuisine: Marinated herring with vegetables, porridge, mashed potatoes a la Vidzeme (with fried onions), pancakes with jam made of Latvian berries and honey, homemade bread.

Special foods: Water pretzels and local soup with six types of fish.

True Latgalian Apple Cider from Malnava Manor

Our Story
The cider is produced in the historic distillery of Malnava Manor, dating back to 1827. In manor times, this distillery produced the traditional Latgalian strong drink, šmakovka.

Apples
The apples for the cider are harvested in the manor’s old orchard.

Cider
They produce both dry and semi-sweet cider under the name “Malnovys Uobuļu Sidrs,” as well as apple brandy (calvados), and the traditional šmakovka.

For Visitors
Guided tours are available, where visitors can discover how true, traditional Latgalian šmakovka is crafted, along with cider made from local apples. The tours include tastings with snacks. Malnava Manor is notable for having served as the headquarters for the Wehrmacht’s Army Group North during World War II, visited by Adolf Hitler on 21 July 1941. Two reinforced concrete bunkers in the manor park mark the location of this historic meeting.

Where to Buy
The drinks can be purchased on-site.

2003.gada decembrī folkloras kopa „Atštaukas” izveidoja folkloras centru „Namīns”, kurā svin svētkus, organizē Jāņu ielīgošanu, Lieldienu iešūpošanu, Miķeļdienas tirgu, Annas dienas Saimnieču svētkus, tautiskos Ziemassvētkus. „Atštaukas” palīdz saglabāt un popularizēt dažādus latviešu tautas godību rituālus, gan kāzu, gan arī bēru tradīcijas. Folkloras centrā „Namīns” darbojas arī skola, kurā bērniem tiek mācīta folklora un tautas tradīcijas.