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The "Dzirnavinas" café is along the Rīga-Liepāja highway (A9) at the 67th km road marker. Travellers love to stop here for lunch. Latvian cuisine: Sorrel soup, marinated herring with cottage cheese, “Countryside Feast” (potatoes, eggs, smoked meat, marinated pickles), pork steak haché, Kurzeme stroganoff, sautéed sauerkraut with hunter’s sausages, barley porridge with meat, rye bread cream, bread soup with whipped cream. |
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Ligatne history is inextricably linked to Ligatne paper mill. At the end 19th century and beginning of 20th century here was built houses, schools, maternity homes, hospitals, clubs, guest houses and other buildings for workers that have survived to the present. During the Soviet period Ligatne mill produced mainly school exercise books, which was sent to all the Soviet republics. Nowadays, the main raw material is recovered paper used for production of wrapping paper. Ligatne paper mill is the only one functioning Latvian company of this kind, and it can be explored with a local guide. Historic centre of Ligatne paper mill has been awarded the status of cultural monument. In the northern part of Ligatne - Gauja river bank the only functioning Gauja river ferry can be found and the only river ferry in the Baltic States, which is powered by river current. The ferry is vehicle of local scale. In the west of Ligatne, Ligatne nature trails are located; where close to natural environment conditions (the best object of this type in the Baltic States) lives red deer, roe deer, wild boar, fox and lynx. Within the territory of Ligatne nature trail a dense network of hiking trails and paved road - cycling route has been created, during the winter it becomes a cross-country ski track. A modern visitor centre is available here. East of Ligatne at Ligatne rehabilitation centre a unique place on the Europen scale can be found - a former Soviet secret bunker that was built as the main living and working place of Latvian senior military and civilian persons in case the nuclear or chemical weapons were used. Bunker was opened in 2003; therefore it remained intact to this day. On the way from Augsligatne to Ligatne go to see Vienkoci Park, where you can explore boats made of single wood peace by the creator of Park Richard Vidzicka, look at the different building models, sand home, and participate in themed activities. |
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Legendary restaurant Halinga is located on the roadside of Via Baltica half an hour’s drive from Pärnu in the direction of Tallinn. The restaurant is suitable for both busy travellers and organising events, including for large groups. We use as many local ingredients as possible and cook according to local recipes. |
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The mansion of the Gārsene Estate is built in the Neo-Gothic style, and its design was based on a villa in Germany. The building was erected between 1856 and 1860, and from then until 1920, the baronial dynasty of the Budbergs and Beningshausens owned it. The castle was expanded with another wing in 1885. Between 1939 and 1940, the building was rebuilt to become a school, and President Kārlis Ulmanis attended its opening on June 2, 1940, when he was taking his last official trip as the country’s president. There are other buildings and a park on the estate. The mansion today is home to the Gārsene Elementary School, but there is also an exhibition featuring the baronial dynasty, the history of the school, and the town itself. Just wait until you see the pot-bellied stoves! Outside the mansion are the Gārsene nature trails – the cultural and historical trail, the baronial strolling trail, etc. Before setting off, buy a ticket at the mansion. In front of the mansion is a memorial stone to Professor Pēteris Kulitāns (1878-1951), who was an agro-chemist. |
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The church was built in the Neoromantic style between 1936 and 1939 on the basis of a design by the architect Pavlov. It was consecrated before the completion of construction, this happening in 1937. The church honours the Anguished Mother of God, and the central altar is dedicated to her. Icons in the building date back to the early 20th century, and a statue of the Fatima Mother of God is in the yard near the entrance. |
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This is a miniature zoo next to a tributary of the Ogre River, and most of it is taken up by a paddock of rabbits. Children just love the animals, as well as the hutches that were designed on the basis of the architecture of estates and castles. There are also goats, pigs, geese, peacocks, mandarin ducks and pearl hens. Children can help in feeding the animals. |
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This military object ensured radio communications. Now the facility is owned by the Latvian Defence Ministry, and it can only be viewed from the outside.
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Die im 19. Jh. gebauten Mühlen sind vollständig renoviert. Eine Erzählung über ihre Geschichte und einem originalen Arbeitsmechanismus. |
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A restricted area with a set of artificial ponds to the South-west of Saldus. The ponds attract many different kinds of birds during nesting and migration season. The location has not been improved for tourist purposes, but it is still an interesting place for some bird-watching. The forests around the ponds are also home to many protected birds and species of bat. |
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This is one of the most expressive estates built in the style of Romanticism. Dating back to the 19th century, it is on a peninsula in Astravo, which can easily be reached from Biržu along the longest wooden bridge in Lithuania, crossing Lake Širvenos. Covering 18 ha, the mixed-plan park was installed from 1851 until 1862. Local fir trees, linden trees and pine trees grow in the park. |
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Cēsu centrālais laukums – Vienības laukums (20.gs.sākumā – Konventa laukums) – atgādina par Cēsu kauju notikumumiem, kuru nozīme un ikviena dalībnieka ieguldījums aprakstīti devīzē uz pieminekļa “No zobena saule lēca”. Cēsu kaujas 1019.gada jūnijā bija svarīgs Latvijas valstiskuma vēstures pagrieziena punkts, kad apvienotais latviešu un igauņu karaspēks sakāva vācu landesvēru, kas apdraudēja Baltijas valstu pastāvēšanu. Vienības laukums turpina būt par nozīmīgu notikumu liecinieku. 1989.gada 23.augustā daudzu cēsnieku ceļi veda uz Vienības laukumu, kuram cauri vijās Baltijas ceļš. |
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Zirgi un citi lauku iemītnieki. Dažāda veida izklaides ar zirgiem gan saimniecībā, gan ārpus tās, un saimniecībā mitošo iemītnieku apskate. |
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The guesthouse is on the shore of the Ancient Amata River Valley, and it was built with natural materials – local dolomite blocks. It serves ecological foods, including potatoes grown in bio-humus, wild berries and mushrooms, and country treats and greens from the guesthouse’s own garden. Latvian cuisine: Baked and grilled trout, beefsteak, wild mushroom and chanterelle sauce. Special foods: A puffy Eglaine cake made of rural eggs, pecan cake with ice cream. |
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One of the largest castles in Kurzeme, this building has been preserved in fairly good shape. Work on its began in the mid-13th century, and it was commissioned by the heads of the Dome Cathedral in Rīga. In 1434, the estate was bought by the bishop of Kurzeme. The Maidel and Osten-Sacken dynasties owned it from the 16th to the 20th century. The Dundaga Castle burned down twice and has been rebuilt many times. The last reconstruction was in 1905, after the castle was burned down during the revolution. Of interest on both sides of the castle’s door are stone carvings of a knight and a bishop. In recent years, the hotel in the castle has been renovated, as has the second floor hallway and a terrace that is popular for weddings. There are many legends about the castle, including one about a wedding of elves and another about the Green Lady. Today the building houses the Dundaga School of Music and Art, a hotel, party rooms, the Dundaga Tourism Information Centre and various exhibitions. It is worth finding a guide to tour the castle. Groups of tourists can also order tastings of local foods. |
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The history of Cēsis begins at the Riekstu hill, which is 18 m high and the surrounding area. There was a wooden castle built by the Vendian tribe that stood there from the 11th to the 13th century. The hill is in the central part of the castle’s park, and it offers a fine view of the park, a pond and the ruins of the Cēsis Castle. A long staircase leads to the hill. The Cēsis Castle was built in the early 13th century as the residence of masters of the Livonian Order, and it was one of the most fortified forts in the Baltic region. Alongside is the New Cēsis Castle, which was built in 1777 in a place where gate fortifications had been before. The building houses the Cēsis Museum of History and Art, and an annex contains the Castle Visitor Centre and the Cēsis Tourism Information Centre. From the tower of the castle, we get a good view of the castle ruins, St John’s Lutheran Church and the northern stretches of the city. Opposite the new castle is the stable of the Cēsis Castle Estate and a wheelhouse (both from the first half of the 19th century). Today these house the Cēsis Exhibition Hall. Other buildings include a granary, a hut for coachmen and an old brewery. On the other side of the street is the romantic May park, which was installed during the 1830s. Streets in Cēsis include Lielā Katrīna, Mazā Katrīna, Mazā Kalēju, Kalēju and Lielā Līvu streets and Līvu square with wooden buildings from the late 18th and early 19th century. Torņa Street stretches along the walls of the Medieval castle. Outside the church is a sculpture, “As the Centuries Pass By,” and legend has it that anyone who rubs the lantern of the Old Time Man can see the future. One of the most impressive buildings in Cēsis is St John’s Lutheran Church, which was built in the late 13th century by the Livonian Order. The Roman-style three-segment basilica has elements of Gothic design and a 65 m steeple that was installed in 1853. The building was reconstructed several times during the 20th century and contains grave plaques relates to masters of the Livonian Order and local bishops. The pulpit dates back to 1748, the oak altar was manufactured in 1858, and the altar painting “Crucified One” was painted in 1862. The windows of the altar part of the church contain artistically valuable stained glass. The organ was manufactured in 1907 by the E.F. Walker firm, and it is one of the best concert organs in Latvia. The solar clock with the number 1744 is in the south-wester corner of the church. It is worth scaling the viewing tower of the church. At its foot is Rose Square, which was a market square from the mid-13th century until 1927 and was restored in 2008. This is the central square in the city. During the Middle Ages, a punishment pole and the city well were here. Rīgas Street has been the main street in the old part of the city from the very start, and here we find most of the architecturally distinguished buildings from the 18th and 19th century – the former city hall, the Fābers house and the Princess house. At one end of the street is Liv Square, where there a church, cemetery and the Rīga gate in the city’s walls existed in the 13th century. Today the square is decorated by a lighted fountain at a place where a well was found in the 13th century. On the other end of the street we find a reconstruction of the foundations of the Rauna gate from the 14th and 15th century, offering a good look at Medieval walls and the size and strength of the gates. It is commonly claimed that the national flag of Latvia was born in Cēsis, but it must be emphasised that the flag that is mentioned in chronicles was designed in Cēsis in 1279 as the ideological prototype of the current Latvian flag, while the story of the first national flag actually comes from Valmiera, where it was sewn in 1916. |
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The Berķenele semi-estate is a historical monument of national importance, known as the place where the distinguished Latvian author and politician Rainis (1865-1929) spent his childhood. The house was restored in 1995, and since 1996 it has been the Rainis house in Berķenele. Rainis recorded his childhood impressions in a poetry collection called "Five Sketch Notebooks from Dagda." Today the managers of the house offer tours, creative workshops and exhibitions. Visitors can don the clothing worn by the lord and his servants. Around the house is a large orchard, featuring a programme called "Route of Apples." The house also has a lovely landscape that is interesting to see. |
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Pilsētas rajons dienvidos no Ventas grīvas, kura mūsdienās redzamā mazstāvu koka apbūve sāka veidoties 19. gs. vidū. Ostgala pirmsākumi meklējami 1836. g., kad Krievijas valdība, solot priekšrocības, aicināja apkārtnes zvejniekus apdzīvot smilšaino un kustīgo kāpu pārņemto piekrastes daļu. Ostgals ir atzīts par valsts nozīmes pilsētbūvniecības pieminekli. |
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Embūtes dabas parks, saukts par Embūtes senleju, ir viena no skaistākajām, interesantākajām un noslēpumainākajām Kurzemes vietām. Nav Latvijā otras tādas vietas, kur ieejas vārtus dabas parka teritorijā simbolizē stilizēti zobeni ar vairogiem ceļa abās pusēs, radot mītisku un cienījamu noskaņu. Par Embūtes apkārtnes vēsturi stāsta daudzas teikas un leģendas. Viena no pazīstamākajām ir romantiskā teika par kuršu vadoņa Induļa un vācu komtura meitas Ārijas mīlestību. Vietā, kur viņi pirmoreiz tikušies joprojām atrodas Ārijas un Induļa ozoli. Embūtes dabā parkā ieteicams apskatīt - ekotūrisma taku, Embūtes viduslaiku pilsdrupas, Embūtes luterāņu baznīcas mūrus, Induļa pilskalnu, Pilskalna avotiņu, Induļa un Ārijas ozolu. Dabas parks aprīkots ar labiekārtotu pastaigu taku, skatu platformām, skatu torni, labierīcībām un atpūtas vietu. |
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The old narrow-gauge railroad. You can still see the station, the baggage
warehouse, the house where the station commander lived, and the path along
which the little train ran back in the day.
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The beautiful wooden building, located right at the entrance of Gulbene, provides a place for guests to have a meal, enjoying the perfect atmosphere for relaxation and well-being. Home cooking and Latvian dishes. |
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