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This village is at the place where the Irbe (Dižirve, Īra) River flows into the sea, and it is on both shores of the river (sea side and land side). The name of Irbe was recorded for the first time in a 1310 border agreement between the bishop of Kurzeme and the Rīga Dome Capitol. The name of Lielirbe (Irvemūnde) was recorded for the first time in a document from an arbitration court in 1387. At the end of the 19th century, the small port at Lielirbe was an active centre for the sale and transport of timber materials. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the largest number of sailing ships among villages on the western shore of Kurzeme was built there. In 1939, the village had some 300 residents, more than 70 houses and a Baptist church which is now at the Ventspils Open Air Museum. A narrow-gauge railroad passed through the village, which had a post and telegraph office, two grocery stores, an elementary school, a choir and a brass band. Lielirbe was one of the largest villages to disappear after World War II. Cultural historian Valda Marija Šuvcāne (1923-2007) was born in Lielirbe, and her daughter, Baiba Šuvcāne, is continuing her mother's work by writing important papers about life along the Livonian coastline. By 2019, a bridge is to be reinstalled across the Irbe River. |
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 3 days
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From Riga the route goes to the historic Estonian sea resort and then by ferry to Muhu island. On the way there is ethnographic village of Koguva, the Liiva church and the elegant Padaste Manor. Overnight at Muhu island. 28 km cycling there juniper fields, its small fishing villages, and the magnificent Juigu cliffs, which open up a view of the other small islands in the Monzunda archipelago. Then drive to Saaremaa and stay in Kuressare, the island's capital. There the rooute covers such attractions as Kaali meteorite crater, impressive Valjala church and castle mound, Piretikivi rock and Poide church. Cycle along the Tagameisa Peninsula, up to 30 km. Driving to the ferry take a loop along Viidumae National Park with its viewing tower, Kihelkonna Church, the Odaletsi streams and nature trail and the dolomite Panga cliffs. |
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Grūti iedomāties, ka vēl joprojām Eiropā ir apdzīvotas vietas, kuru sasniegšanai ir labu laika sprīdi jābrauc pa neapdzīvotu mežu ieskautu smilšainu ceļu, kur tikai paretam var redzēt kādu sēņotāju vai ogotāju! Tāpat kā Zervinos ciemam, arī šim ir piešķirts kultūras mantojuma pieminekļa statuss, jo Linežeris ir viens no dažiem nacionālā parka etnogrāfiskajiem ciemiem. Linežerī ir aplūkojamas 19. – 20. gs. mijā celtās ēkas un apskatāms tā laika ciema plānojums. Šejieniešu tāpat kā citu dzūku galvenā nodarbošanās bija mežistrāde un meža velšu vākšana. Nelielā mērā – arī lauksaimniecība. Apceļojot nacionālā parka etnogrāfiskos ciemus, rodas pamatots jautājums: „Ar ko mūsdienās te nodarbojas cilvēki. Kā viņi spēj dzīvot tik nomaļā vietā”? Jāatzīst, ka lielākā daļa te ierodas tikai vasaras laikā. Neskatoties uz to, etnogrāfiskie ciemi ir ļoti sakopti un joprojām „dzīvi”! |
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The Kubalu school was opened in 1843, and for 28 years it was the only school for the children of peasants at the Dundaga Estate. This is the oldest log schoolhouse in
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3 km to the south of the centre of Jūrkalne, near the old (gravelled) road between Liepāja and Jūrkalne, is the place where the three-year Feliksberga Maritime School existed between 1871 and 1902. The building is long gone, and the memorial has involves an oaken boat with two wooden poles on which old ownership signs have been engraved. |
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This is a cemetery that was originated in the Middle Ages and used until the beginning of the 20th century. A mossy stone fence surrounds the cemetery. Interesting elements in the cemetery include the grave of Heinrihs Jakobsons (1832-1911), who was the first schoolteacher in Mazirbe (the old metal cross is to the left of the main gate), a pine tree of national importance and has a circumference of 3.17 metres (during the Soviet Union someone drilled a hole in the trunk of the tree to access honey), the grave of Niks Freimanis (1845-1908), who is said to have been the prototype for a character in a story and play by Marģers Zariņš, and the Werewolf Grave, which relates to countless ghost stories, including the claim that it is the only known gravesite of a werewolf in Latvia. |
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The pizzeria is situated in Talsi, not far from Talsu lake. Stender’s pizzeria with its nice comfortable setting offers special Stender’s pizzas which are baked according to the old traditions of pizza-making, incorporating the best of nowadays’ recognitions. Undoubtedly, it is impossible to do without pancakes and pots, as well as second-course dishes. Number of seating places:30 |
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The Lašu castle hill is 0.2 km from the Vecumnieki-Ilūkste road at Laši. It is an ancient Selonian castle hill, and it was populated between the 1st millennium BC and the 10th or 12th century. Very little remains of the old Veclaši (Tiesenhausen) Estate, which had an impressive mansion designed in the Neo-Gothic style in the late 19th century. What remains are an ancillary building, the foundations of the mansion, fragments of the gates, and a park. Until 1920, the estate belonged to the Pshezdzetski dynasty, and before that it was owned by the Tiesenhausen and Fittinghoff dynasties. Before visiting the location, look for photographs of the old mansion on the Internet. Sadly, the important cultural monument has not experienced any major improvements over the past 20 years.
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Energia (Energy) Farm beside the Navesti River is the largest Estonian company to ecologically grow and process herbs. There is a big herb centre with herbal trails, a modern teahouse, a seminar centre and an eco-spa; the farm’s accommodation features all modern conveniences. |
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Olustvere is one of the best preserved manor estates in Estonia. The building complex is set in landscaped grounds in English style with avenues of old trees. Collections of stuffed birds, hand-carved wooden horses with tools and antique furniture are exhibited in the complex. Other buildings and facilities include a distillery, a smithy and handicraft, wool, clay, ceramics and glass workshops where visitors can try their hand in various crafts. The mansion now houses a tourism centre. |
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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. |
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Of the many islands in Lake Rušons, ten are restricted natural areas so as to protect the broadleaf forests which are on the islands and the endangered plants found therein. An ancient cult location – the Rušons Sacrificial Rock – is found on Upursala island.
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 4 days
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The route leads through beautiful flower gardens of Kurzeme and Žemaitija. The largest in Latvia collection of Dwarf Bearded Iris is found in Kandava. Mierkalni is the largest daylily garden in Eastern Europe, with more than 1000 varieties. The owner also produces fruit and berry wines. In the Talsi Hillocks Nature Park there is the Kurzemnieki apple growing and processing apples (dried apples, apple chips, juices). It also grows Roman snails. The Upmaļi environmental and health farm produces teas, herbs, plant oils, special balms, cosmetics, plant-based soaps, etc., under the brand name AnnA Bermans. Latvia’s oldest magnolia, 50 years old, is found at Sauleskalni arboretum. Over 100 varieties of peonia are grown in Ziedoņi peony garden. The owners of Maras Manor offer stories of historical German manors in the area. Milk Estate Berghof houses a milk museum. Exotics flower and tree cultivars are found in Māra Lindes dendrological gardens. Turaidas farm produces herbal teas and sacks thereof as souvenirs or gifts, using lemon balm, raspberry, tansy, alchemilla, Plantago major and linden. In Nīca village, 7 decorative gardens maintaining the local gardening tradition are open for visitors. Rucava arboretum displays a collection of magnolias. The largest Japanese garden in Europe (16 ha) is a home to collection of traditional aromatic plants and vegetables. Palanga Manor housing the Amber Museum and Birutė Park is one of the best-preserved manor complexes in Lithuania. Kretinga Manor Park is one of the oldest surviving 16th–18th century manor parks in Lithuania. Klaipėda University Botanical Garden has a coastal ethnographic garden with flower arrangements characteristic of this area. Klaipeda, the most popular seaside resort town in Lithuania. The Sea Museum and Dolphinarium are among the most famous attractions there. Šilutė Manor has two parks – an English landscape park with walking paths and the forest park known as Varnamiškis, or “Crows’ Forest”. Pakalnė is a unique traditional fisherman’s homestead with garden plants typical of the Lithuania Minor region. |
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Neliels, bet ļoti ainavisks un ar lieliem laukakmeņiem klāts
zemesrags. No raga iztālēm redzamas Veczemju
klintis.
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A Latvian traditional farm with a herd of some 150 goats, offering tours of the farm and cheese for sale. They offer also home-made ice-cream from the goat milk and a soup made on open-fire. Also latvian traditional sauna is available. The products can also be bought at the little market in Straupe. |
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It is said that after a shipwreck near Cape Kolka, a rescued Danish tradesman financed the building of a church in Kolka in thanks for his rescue. There are several churches in Kolka which have changed their location. The stone worship house that can be seen today has foundations that were laid by the former owner of the Dundaga Estate, Karl Ludwig Ferdinant von der Osten-Zaken. The church was built at or near the site of an old wooden church which suffered much damage during the Crimean War. The work on the church was begun by builder Oto Zīverts in 1885 on the basis of a design by the architect T. Zeiler. During the Soviet era, the church was vandalised, and a warehouse was installed there. It is worth looking at the modernist altar painting by Helēna Heinrihsone. It is said that there is no similar painting in any other church. Before the painting was hung, a cross hung at its location. |
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Atrodas Gatartas centrā uz reljefa virsmas paaugstinājuma. Muižas pili cēla laikā no 1823. - 1824. g. (fasāde - klasicisma stilā). Tās ieeju vēl pavisam nesen rotāja divi (postīti) lauvu tēli. Par muižas kompleksa varenību liecina vēl 20 citas ēkas (dažādā stāvoklī, g.k. – sliktā!) – ļoti iespaidīgs ledus pagrabs, dārznieka un kalēja māja, klēts, magazīna, alus brūzis, Kundziņkrogs, kas atrodas plašākā teritorijā. Daļēji saglabājies 19. gs. veidotais parks. Drustu muižas īpašnieks – vācbaltietis un pētnieks Ludvigs Kārlis Augusts fon Hāgemeisters (1780. – 1833) 1806. g. organizēja un vadīja Krievijas ekspedīciju uz Aļasku. Šobrīd muižas pils ir privātīpašums un apskatāma no ārpuses. |
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The Mežotne castle hill is on the left bank of the Lielupe River and opposite the Mežotne Castle. This was one of the largest Semigalian fortified castle hills during the 9th to the 13th century, and an ancient town alongside the hill covered 13 ha of land. The castle hill has been improved. A pontoon bridge across the Lielupe allows hikers and bikers to reach the castle (between May and October). Vīna Hill is approximately 500 m to the South of the castle hill, and a wooden pathway leads to it. |
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AS Agrofirma Tērvete is the largest multi-sector farming company in Latvia, operating in crop farming, dairy farming, horse breeding, public dining, biogas manufacturing and brewing of beer. Visitors can tour a brewery and the farm. The brewery produces popular Tērvete beer and kvass. Visitors can taste the products and take a small tour of the facilities. All of the types of beer can be tasted with delicious snacks. The Tērces farm is a dairy farm with modern technologies and 3,000 dairy cows. Visitors can tour the facility and have lunch at the company’s dining hall. |
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St. Cross Honouring Roman Catholic Church of Malta (Rozentova) is national architectural
monument. The church has a promiment „St. Mary Magdalene beside the Cross of Jesus” and three big
altars. The wooden log building was constructed in 1780. It was sanctified in 1782.
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