This territory is on both sides of the central section of the Raķupe River. On the banks of the river, there are many different meadow habitats, as well as massive oaks growing in the places of former farmsteads which are uninhabited by now. This is an important place for rare plants and animals. There is no tourism infrastructure for visitors in the area. Visitors who are especially interested in the environmental cognition are advised to visit the territory in attendance of experienced local guide. Raķupe is not usable for water tourism because of tilts of trees and beaver dams.

The saloon is on the shore of Lake Alūksne and the Jaunsētas country tourism and leisure centre.  The log saloon’s interior is based on the style of the 17th century, when a girl was born in the area who was raised by her foster father Ernst Glick and would later become Empress Catharine the Great, Wife of Peter the Great of Russia.
Latvian cuisine:  Pike or pike-perch soup with fish from Lake Alūksne, pork tongue, fried egg in a coat of flour, stacked rye bread with loganberry jam and whipped cream.
Special foods:  Lunch a la Maliena – stock with profiteroles.

A very impressive ensemble that is in terrible shape.  The estate dates back to the 18^th and 19^th century, with the castle being built in the early 19^th century.  Half a century later it was rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style with symmetrical towers and bricks in the cornices.  The estate belonged to the Manteufel-Stzege dynasty.  The vestibule, stairwell and second floor hall still have ornamental ceiling paintings, but visitors are not allowed to enter the building, so they cannot be seen.  Valuable interior design elements include a fireplace from the early 19^th century that is decorated with marble elements.  After the expropriation of the castle in 1920 and until 1951, the building housed a forestry school and then an agricultural crafts school.  Opposite the castle was the stable of the state that was built in the style of Classicism with a pediment and mighty columns.  Built in the early 19^th century, the stable is no longer used and can only be viewed from the outside.  A very much overgrown park surrounds the complex, and the hillock is the grave of one of the baron’s dogs.

Located in one of the most untouched corners of northern Latgale. Already from the spring they offer worker bee and later both, young and producing bee, propolis and wax mixture candles, pollen bread and propolis in butter. The workshop produces bee hives and other apiary equipment.

This company is proud of more than 100 years of history.  Today it is the third largest cheese manufacturer and sixth largest dairy processing company in Latvia. It partners with some 150 Latvian providers of high-quality milk.  Smiltenes Dairy is the only one to manufacture “Latvian Cheese.”  The company’s products have been awarded the “Green Teaspoon” award.  Smiltenes Dairy exports products to five countries in the world and has a nearby store where you can purchase its products.

Lielbātas dabīgais dzidravots ir lielākais Latvijā un viens no retajiem Ziemeļeiropā, kas zemes virspusē no dzīlēm iznes bioloģiski aktīvu un pareizi strukturētu ūdeni. Lielbātas dzidravots tek no rietumiem uz austrumiem pretī saulei, tāpēc jau izsenis tiek uzskatīts par maģisku, pat svētu, kam piemīt dziednieciskas spējas.

Vēstures materiālos Lielbātas avots pirmo reizi pieminēts 1253. gadā un līdz šim brīdim turpina savu plūdumu.

 Lielbātas avots atrodas sakoptā un ekoloģiski tīrā vidē. Laikam ritot, avota ūdens plūsma nav mazinājusies, bet tieši pretēji, tā ir pieņēmusies spēkā un ar apbrīnojamu jaudu avots turpina dot unikālu dabas velti – tīru, bioloģiski aktīvu, pareizi strukturētu ūdeni, neapstājoties ne dienu, ne nakti, ne ziemu, ne vasaru. Netālu no avota atrodas vēsturiskā Vaiņodes jeb Lielbātas pils, kuru 19. gs. vidū būvēja barons Osten Sakens. Vēstures liecības liecina, ka šī vieta pils būvniecībai nav izvēlēta nejauši. 1923. gadā pilī tika izveidota sanatorija, kas ne tikai bija priekšzīmīgākā Latvijā, bet varēja cienīgi līdzināties ārzemju sanatorijām. Tam par iemeslu bija dabiski tīrā un dziednieciskā vide, kas saglabājusies līdz pat mūsdienām. Lielbātas pils ir privātīpašums un apmeklētājiem nav pieejama, taču Lielbātas avots ir brīvi pieejams, un katram ir iespējams nogaršot avota ūdeni.

Adrese: Vaiņodes pils, Vaiņodes pagasts, Dienvidkurzemes novads LV-3535

The Daugava is the largest river in Latvia and the river of destiny for the Latvian people.  Since the end of the Ice Age, plants and animals travelled into what is now Latvia along the Daugava River valley, followed then by humans.  The shores of the river have some of the oldest settlements in Latvia, as well as a true wealth of different kinds of plants.  The density of outstanding cultural and historical monuments is why tourists love the shores of the river.  The Rīga-Daugavpils rail line offers comfortable travel between Rīga and Jēkabpils.  Below, find other train stations where it is worth disembarking to take circular hikes that last for a few hours or half a day before returning to the station.

Route information from Latvijas Lauku forums

This is another place (at A. Brodeles Street 7) which must certainly be visited by those who are interested in the cultural environment of the historical region of Selonia. The museum was established in 2000, and much of its exhibition can be found at the depot of the former narrow-gauge railroad (the depot was built in 1948, and the railroad operated between 1916 and 1972). There you can see a restored locomotive, a passenger wagon, a trolley, etc. The exhibits reflect the lives of major personalities in and around Viesīte, also looking at events and the cultural heritage. There are wood processing and textile workshops at the museum. Outside the building is a fragment from the narrow gauge railroad, along with a water pump.

The restaurant is situated in the guest house Liedags alongside the Liepaja-Ventspils highway, 4,5 km away from Jurkalne on the banks of Enavite river.

The open kitchen of the restaurant allows the guests to experience an exciting performance by its chefs, who cook various fish and meat dishes on a fiery charcoal grill. Chef: Lauris Aleksejevs. Three-time consecutive winner of the Best Restaurant in Jūrmala title.