The Gauja National Park, established in 1973, was Latvia’s first national park, and it has a wealth of tradition in environmental protection and tourism. Indeed, the GNP is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Latvia. The main “artery” of the park is the ancient Gauja River valley, which was left behind when Ice Age glaciers receded. The valley is 95 kilometres long, with many tributaries that are also in deep ravines with massive sandstone cliffs from the Devonian period. The deepest part of the river valley is at Sigulda, where it is 85 metres deep.

The territory has a great diversity of species – some 900 plant species in all. The Gauja is Latvia’s most popular river for water tourism, and many tourist accommodations are found along its shores. The Gauja National Park is one of the best-appointed protected territories in Latvia in terms of nature trails and tourism routes. Nature trails at Līgatne pass along paddocks of wild animals – the largest and most complete object of its kind in the Baltic States. The park also features cultural monuments of pan-Baltic importance – the Turaida Museum Reserve, the medieval old town of the city of Cēsis with its famous castle ruins and St John’s Church, the lake castle at Āraiši, etc. Visitors centres are found in Sigulda, along the Līgatne nature trails, and at the Zvārte rock. The administration of the GNP is building a new and modern visitors centre in Sigulda.

Mūsdienās redzamais iespaidīgais dievnams tapis ilgākā laika posmā. Jau 1870. g. latviešu draudze sāka vākt ziedojumus neogotiskās baznīcas celtniecībai, ko pabeidza 1904. gadā (V. Neimaņa projekts). Ēkas iekšpusi rotā dekoratīvi zvaigžņu velvju griesti, bet tās altārdaļā izvietotasmākslinieka J. Šķērstena veidotās vitrāžas (1940. g.) un 17. gs. kristāmtrauks. Baznīcu ieskauj plašs dārzs.

The first Mālpils dairy began operations in 1923 and manufactured butter and cheese.  During the 1970s, the first soft and unfermented cheese in Latvia, “Mālpils Cheese” was produced here.  Apply in advance for a tour of the company and a tasting of its products.  You can purchase the products from the company’s warehouse.

The saloon is on the corner of two historic roads – the Rīga-St Petersburg road and the Cēsis-Vecpiebalga-Madona road. It uses ingredients from local farms and vendors.

Latvian cuisine: Grey peas with bacon, dumpling, beet or wild mushroom soup, bean salad, herring with boiled potatoes and cream, farmer’s ramekin, roast pork, potato pancakes, crepes, bread soup, strawberry dessert, homemade ice cream.

To the North of the Cesvaine Castle is a park that is crossed by the rapidly flowing Sūla River.  The Cesvaine castle hill is on the northern bank of the river, is around 15 m high and is covered by trees today.  The grave of the owner of the castle, Adolf von Wolff, is there.  It is said that he wanted to have his casket dragged to the gravesite on a sled.  He died during the summer, but that was done anyway.  The park features a wide diversity of trees and bushes, some of which the owner brought home from his extensive travels.

The fisherman’s homestead that is alongside the Kolka Lutheran Church offers a look at how fish are smoked and prepared. You can taste the fish and purchase fish that were caught in the sea (mostly plaice).

The single-storey wooden building, located in the centre of Ventspils, boasts an antique interior that repurposes various household and craft items from the past. Latvian cuisine: lamb soup, fried bull testicles, grilled pork, pork ribs, oven-fried pork shank, pork chop, rye bread cake, cottage cheese cream.

Kuģīša piestātne atrodas Ostas ielas malā, kur tai piekļaujas Tirgus iela. „Hercogs Jēkabs” ekskursantus izvizina 45 minūšu garā braucienā (no maija – oktobrim) pa Ventas grīvu, piedāvājot aplūkot Ventspils ostas un vecpilsētas ainavas no citiem skatu punktiem.