Latvian blackhead sheep are in a clean environment at the Ances farm, which is in the Northern Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve near the border with Estonia.  It is in the Naukšēni Parish, where chemical plant protection substances and mineral fertilisers have never been used intensively.  The sheep roam freely during the winter and summer, with fencing to protect them against wolves and wild boar.  The farm only uses female sheep born as twins or triplets, including animals for genetic resources.  All of the sheep come from German blackhead sheep and are only mated with high-quality LT rams in January, February, August and September.

The manor’s castle was built in the middle of the 18th century (belonging to the noble kin of baron Medem) as a huntsmen castle. Later, in the 19th century, it was rebuilt by adding a second floor. The kitchen was situated in the vaulted basements of the castle and when the food was ready, it was brought upstairs in the elevator. The gantry entrance of the castle (late baroque) and marble buttons above it picturing the coat of amrs of the union of Medem and Keizerling noble kins, is one of the most valuable example of arts monuments of the 18th century. To this day there are various  outhouses preserved- a  threshing barn, a granary and a smithy, as well as the park. In front of the castle one can see a magnificent oak, which was supposedly planted by K.Ulmanis. From 1837 the manor’s castle has also served as a place for Vilce primary school. 

The owner offers honey made of various flowers, forest plants, heather and linden blossoms, pollen, bee bread, propolis, and other beekeeping products. He will be happy to give you a tour and tell you about his work.

“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.

Atrodas t.s. Baznīcu kalnā - Tautas ielā 2. Šo uzskata par vienu no krāšņākajiem Latvijas pareizticīgo dievnamiem, kura ārējo veidolu izrotā daudzo torņu kupoli. Tā celta 1905. g. kā Dinaburgas garnizona baznīca ar daudziem nozīmīgiem mākslas pieminekļiem interjerā, t.sk. 19. gs. ikonām. Dievnams ir ikdienā atvērts un apskatāms no iekšpuses.

The Baltic Coastal Hiking Route leads around the Pakri Peninsula, from whose rocky shores you will discover the most beautiful coastal landscapes in northwest Estonia. It goes through the centre of Paldiski and, after having reached the fortress bastions of Peter I, it turns towards the Pakri Lighthouse going across the upper part of the impressive Pakri Cliffs. Further on up to Kersalu, there are both ups in the shape of rocks and downs where the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route meanders along a sandy and rocky seacoast and a beautiful pine forest.

Found in the northern part of Cesvaine, the church was built of fieldstones in the Neo-Gothic style in 1879 by the architect Paul Max Bertschy.  The church was restored in 1929 and again in the early 1990s.  The altar painting, “Christ on the Cross” (1923) is by Jēkabs Bīne.

Located in the centre of Madona, the café offers foods based on fruit and vegetables from its own garden.
Latvian cuisine: Cold beet soup, sorrel soup, chanterelle soup, grey peas with bacon, herring, barley porridge with crickets, mushroom sauce, seven types of jams, raspberry or strawberry desserts, crepes filled with potato, pumpkin, apple and rhubarb, cottage cheese pastry, juices, herbal teas, ice cream cocktails.
Special foods: Homemade biscuit cake with fresh berries.