Pavilosta is a comparatively new city that has formed at the mouth of the Saka River in the Baltic Sea. True is the fact that in the medieval times the harbour of sea ships was located 6 km from the sea – at the junction of the Tebra and the Durbe Rivers. Important period in the life of the harbour was during the ruling of Duke Jacob, when sea ships arrived here. As a result of the Polish-Swedish war the Saka harbour had to be closed. The harbour that's visible nowadays in the mouth of the Saka River was formed in the middle of the 19th century at the so called Akagals fishermen village. In 1878 the river mouth was excavated and piers were built. Here two-masted ships were built. The World Wars destroyed the fleet, but the fishery traditions remained alive. In 1991 the populated area acquired the status of a city. Nowadays Pavilsota is a popular target for yachtsmen and windsurfers, as well as summer recreation place. Yachtsmen are awaited at the yacht harbour.

The first stone castle in Alsunga was built in 1372, starting with the central part of the southern wing. The authorised representative of the Livonian Order, who was subject to a higher-ranking official in Kuldīga, lived here. The guard towers and other parts of the castle were gradually added between the 15^th and the 18^th century. The Baroque castle with its two towers is quite impressive. The castle is unique in and outside of Latvia in that it is one of the rare Medieval castles to have survived to the present day in part, but in its original historical appearance.  The castle offers an exhibition about its history.  Visitors can look at a Suiti kitchen, write a letter with a fountain pen in Barbara’s boudoir, or celebrate a special event in the romantic venue of the castle’s round tower. Renovation of the castle began in 2018, and it is closed to visitors.  Still, you can look at its exterior and tour its garden.  

The saloon is located near the Kuldīga ring road. This is a slow-serve saloon with foods cooked on alder wood on the basis of the slow food principle. The saloon offers “meals in the garden”.

Latvian cuisine: Bean salad, sprats with cottage cheese, oatmeal with smoked meat, false goose, pike-perch sautéed in cream, cod with onions and tomatoes, potted mutton, beef with onions, hunter’s style pig liver, potted sautéed vegetables, hot dumpling soup with blackberries, wild berries with whipped cream, apples caramelised in honey, cottage cheese desserts.

Located in the Mežotne Castle, the saloon offers fine and tasty dishes and beverages. Tours of the ornate castle are available, and the location has one of the loveliest English-style landscape parks in Latvia.

Latvian cuisine: Potato pancakes, rolled marinated herring, trout with potatoes in their jackets, blood sausage with lingonberry sauce, grey peas with bacon, stacked rye bread with cranberry jam and whipped cream.

Special foods: “Bauska Thaler” – pork in the form of a thaler with a sauce made with Bauska beer.

Jau no seniem laikiem Cesvainē zinājuši alu, vīnu un brandvīnu. Pirmais krogs minēts jau pirms 1520.gada. Cesvaine var lepoties ar savulaik lielāko un svarīgāko krogu Vidzemē - Šļākas krogu. Barona Vulfa pils pagrabi vienmēr bijuši pilni ar labām vīna, liķiera un brandvīna pudelēm.

Balstoties uz senajām dzērienu baudīšanas un darīšanas tradīcijām, 2015.gadā tika dibināts uzņēmums SIA "Cesvaines Vīns", kas savu mājvietu ir atradis senajā Cesvaines Brūzī un kas no jauna pildīs barona Vulfa pagrabus ar klasiskiem dzērieniem.

Here you will learn about home-based manufacturers, farms, companies and others in southern Vidzeme that produce various dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, ice cream, etc.  From Rīga, take the Vidzeme Highway and turn toward Mālpils.  On the way to Ērgļi and Jumurda, you’ll be delighted by the hillocks of the Vidzeme highlands and the lovely landscape that they represent.  Near Ērgļi you will find Braki, the home of the classical Latvian author Rūdolfs Blaumanis, Meņģeļi, home of the Jurjāns brothers, and the Jumurda Estate.  Drive on through Cesvaine, stopping to look at its impressive castle, and on to Madona, where you can have a delicious meal.  From Madona, follow the lovely banks of the Daugava River to Koknese (Destiny Island, the Koknese castle, park and church), and on to Skrīveri, where the author Andrejs Upītis was born.  There’s a homemade ice cream place and the factory that produces the universally known penuche candy that is sold under the “Gotiņa” brand name in Latvia.  Then drive to Ogre for some Sierštelle cheeses and then back to Rīga.

Home producer Elma Zadiņa prepares sklandraušs, which have rye flour bottoms, as well as an old Latvian lunch dish - a porridge, using ground wheat and rye flour. The products are produced in small quantities at home. Tasting of porridge and smoothies is possible.

You can go fishing in five fish ponds and then dry the fish. The owner prepares hot-smoked trout, dried carps, and fish soup cooked on a campfire. You can also buy chicken eggs.

Viens no jaunākajiem Latvijā celtajiem mūra tiltiem. Tā akmens margas ir barona Karla fon Manteifeļa dāvinājums (celts 1907. gadā) Aizputei. Tilta ziemeļu puses margās ir iemūrēta granīta plāksne ar Manteifeļu dzimtas ģerboni, kas ir vāji izšķirams.