Located in the centre of Dikļi, the 1896 castle was renovated into a four-star hotel in 2003. The castle offers a look at antique furnishings, fireplaces and ovens, as well as paintings by Latvian artists. Two restaurants (summer and winter) offer fine dining and an individualised approach. The castle works with local farms.

Latvian cuisine: Beefsteak, grilled trout, smoked wild board bacon, filet of pike from Lake Burtnieki, seasonal mushrooms and berries.

Special foods: Venison chop, candied fruit in syrup, onion marmalade.

“Airītes” is a museum found at the place where the first commander of the Latvian Armed Forces, Col Oskars Kalpaks and other Latvian soldiers (including three officers) fell during a battle on March 6, 1919.  The public donated money in 1920 to build a monument, and it was unveiled on September 3, 1922.  In 1935, work began on a building that was proposed by the Col Kalpaks Battalion organisation, the plan being to exhibit items related to Kalpaks’ battles.  It was opened a year later.  The monument was destroyed during the Soviet era, and the building housed a post office and some flats.  The memorial was restored during the national Renaissance in 1988 and 1989, and on November 11, 1990, the museum was reopened.  During renovations in 2007, the second floor burned down.  The museum and exhibition were renewed in 2013.  The exhibits speak to Kalpaks’ life during World War I and Latvia’s liberation battles.  Employees regularly organise commemorative events in honour of Kalpaks, as well as celebrations of Lāčplēsis (Veterans’) Day.

10 km garais pārgājienu maršruts iepazīstina ar vienu no vēl retajiem, cilvēka mazāk ietekmētajiem Daugavas senlejas posmiem. Tā sākums – Aizkraukle, finišs – Skrīveri. Gar upes krastu izvietotas atpūtas vietas. Maršrutu var braukt arī ar velosipēdu.

The tour combines the most beautiful southern parts of the Forest Trail in Lithuania and Latvia. The route starts in Druskininkai, Lithuania, and for the next day you will walk through forests of the Dzūkija National Park. After getting to Vilnius and Kurtuvėnai Regional Park, two sections of the Forest Trail will take you from Dengtiltis to Šaukėnai. Since it is among the most forested areas of Central Lithuania, the Kurtuvėnai Regional Park with its glaciated valleys is a wonderland of forests, waters and wetlands. The Forest Trail will run along small forest paths, tourist trails, beautiful tree alleys and wetlands. Next you will take public transportation to reach the Žemaitija National Park, where you will taketwo sections of the Forest Trail from the pilgrimage town of Žemaičių Kalvarija along the lakes of Plateliai, Ilgis and Beržoras to the town of Plateliai. It is one of the most beautiful towns of Samogitia taking pride in its manor park and the viewing platform on Lake Plateliai. Žemaitija National Park takes pride in its old pine and fir forests, as well as mixed forests.
Next, you will drive through Klaipėda and Liepāja to reach Kuldīga in Latvia. The trip starts in Kuldīga – a jewel among the old towns in Kurzeme. The town centre is home to historic buildings dating back to the 17th – 19th century, Venta waterfall, the old bridge over the river Venta, gourmet restaurants and a local farmer’s store in the centre of the town. 

From there on the Forest Trail takes you along the riverside promenade in Kuldīga, continues through the nature park “Abavas senleja” from Renda to the wine and cider town Sabile and Kandava. The section along the Abava River Valley Nature Park is the most diverse river valley in Kurzeme in terms of landscapes and terrain. The final section of the tour takes you to the Ķemeri National Park, which is an important place for the protection of wetlands. As to the town – Ķemeri – it is the former balneological and sulphur springs resort.

The tour ends on the seaside – the village of Bigauņciems, from where you can easily get to Rīga. Optionally, one can take a detour along the Lake Sloka trail with its bird-watching tower or pay a visit to the “Forest House” – the visitor’s centre of the Ķemeri National Park.

The Limbažu Cheese factory has more than 90 years of experience with dairy processing.  It only uses milk from local farmers in Vidzeme, while the dairy processing technologies have been brought in from Switzerland.  Limbažu Cheese exports 95% of its output.  Alongside the company and on the other side of the street from the ruins of the Limbaži castle is a little store where the company’s products can be bought.

The church was built during the rule of Baron Otto Hermann von Fittinghof and built between 1781 and 1788 by the architect Christoph Haberland.  Built in the style of Classicism, the church has elements of the Baroque style and a set of colourful rocks in a mosaic on the façade.  The organ was built in 1855 by August Martin, and the bell was evacuated to Russia during World War I.  The congregation replaced it with a much older bell (1530).  The altar painting, “Baptism of Christ” was pained by an unknown artist and was restored in 2000.  During the mid-19th century, there were many Estonians in the congregation, so worship services were held in Estonian, too.  The church was restored in 1934, and now it dominates the city with its 55.5 m high tower.

There are records to show that there has been a church at this location since the 17th century, and the current one was built between 1792 and 1794 by the chief construction specialist of the city of Rīga, Christopher Haberland.  He designed the cupola-shaped building, with the cupola ensuring good acoustics inside the building.  The altar is opposite the entrance door.  Between the columns of the building is an altar painting showing Christ and St Peter on a storm-ravaged sea.  Other important objects include chalices from the 18th or 19th century, candelabras, etc.  The building was restored in 2014.  To the South from it is the Katlakalns cemetery, which is the final resting place of the distinguished Baltic German writer Garlieb Merkel (1769-1850).  He was of great importance in ensuring the end of indentured servitude in Latvia.

На маршруте сможете узнать особую культурную среду Латгалии, людей, которые ее создают, порадоваться красивым ландшафтам, пройтись по природным тропам и искупаться в каком-нибудь из прославленнных озер Латгалии. В Ливаны узнаете о работе стеклодува, в Даугавпилсе побываете в крепосте 19-го века, где теперь расположен центр всемирно известного художника Марка Ротко. Дорога будет виться по живописным излучинам Даугавы.
По пути в музей хлеба и белую Аглонскую базилику – цель паломничества – можно насладиться полезными травяными чаями «Курмиши». Лудза порадует старинными деревянными строениями и богатейшим отражением местного ремесленничества в ремесленном центре. В Резекне внимание привлечет Латгальское посольство «GORS». У озера Лубанс стоит отведать рыбный суп и подняться на смотровую вышку понаблюдать за птицами и полюбоваться просторами.

Информация о маршруте от Latvijas Lauku forums​​