Duke Jacob of Courland was a ruler of the Duchy of Courland and Zemgale for 40 years (1642-1682).  There were great changes during his rule, with the ship building industry developing rapidly, the first factories appearing, and agricultural output improving.  The duke had a large fleet that brought grain, meat, butter, wool, timber and all that was manufactured at baronial estates in Zemgale and Courland to Western Europe.  The fleet was so big and strong that its ships sailed not just to Europe, but also all the way to Tobago and Gambia, where colonies were established to bring sugar, coffee and spices to Europe.

The duchy built ships, manufactured paper and saltpetre and wove textiles, brocade and tapestries.  Iron manufacturing was highly developed, and ore was imported from Sweden.  This made it possible to forge nails, anchors, bells, cannons and other firearms.  The duchy produced vodka, vinegar and gunpowder for which there was great demand in Europe, because there were attacks and defences that required it.  As much as 25 tonnes of gunpowder were produced each year.  One of the gunpowder towers is still in Kandava, though it has been rebuilt many times.  The duchy manufactured sails and ropes, as well as hemp ropes.  It was said that the fleet of the Queen of England would not have existed without those ropes.  The duke also thought about selection of grain, bred livestock, improved land with land reclamation and tried to expand output from his fields.

Jacob did not manage to do everything that he wanted to do.  A canal to avoid the Venta rapids was not finished, and plans such as the colonisation of Australia were not finished.  Yet the era of Duke Jacob was a period of great change in the territory of Latvia, and it has not gone unnoticed that the great achievements of the duke occurred on a small plot of European land.  That proves that wise management can ensure lots of progress.

Maizes un konditorejas izstrādājumu ceptuve “Re:Maize” gatavo kvalitatīvus produktus, kas ir ne tikai vizuāli pievilcīgi un garšīgi, bet arī ilgtspējīgi un organismam veselīgi. Nosaukums “Re:Maize” ietver sevī ilgtspējības filozofijas principus un to var definēt kā renovāciju kulinārijā. Tas saskan ar cirkulāras ekonomikas principu definīciju - “Raw to recycling”, kas šajā gadījumā pamatā attiecināms uz maizes un mīklas izstrādājumu ražošanu un patēriņu. Latviskojot šo filozofiju, izvēlēts sauklis, kuru izmanto uzrakstā uz izkārtnes un citos materiālos – «Rūpēs par ēdienu», kas pēc saimnieces domām pilnībā atbilst uzņēmuma principiem un ir saprotams arī viesiem.

Re:Maize piedāvā katru dienu svaigi ceptu maizi un konditorejas izstrādājumus līdzņemšanai vai baudīšanai uz vietas, kafiju, vīnus un Straupes piena produkciju. Tiek piedāvātas arī meistarklases - praktiskas klientu apmācības par Zero waste principiem.

A beautiful part of the Rēzekne-Dagda-Krāslava road – along two km or so, you can see Lake Rāzna and Mākoņkalns hill, which is 10 km away on the other shore of the lake.

Atrodas Skuķu ezera ziemeļaustrumu krastā. No torņa labi saskatāms aizaugušais Skuķu ezers ar nelielām ūdens lāmām un ūdeņiem bagātos pavasaros pārplūstošā Dvietes paliene. Laba putnu vērošanas vieta.

Находятся в 100 м к юго-востоку от Приекульского замка. Символ Приекуле, изображенный на гербе города. Ворота (1688 г., отреставрированы в 1954 г.) служили в качестве сторожевой башни сквозных ворот Приекульской господской усадьбы, где проводился досмотр торговцев (таможня), отправляющихся или приезжающих из Литвы. Интерес представляет родовой герб баронов Корфов выполненный в XVIII веке из голландского песчаника, с серебряным ядром и своеобразный маскарон в центральной части фасада. Во времена баронов в нишах по обеим сторонам стояли двухметровые, выполненные в камне, грозного вида фигуры стражников - солдат. Сегодня на их месте стоят деревянные фигуры стражников.

This farm produces raspberries (6 ha), herbs, medicinal plants (more than 100 types), vegetables (red peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, chili peppers, onions, garlic) and bees. The owner produces salads, jams, lecho and chutneys. You can purchase vegetable products, pick your own raspberries and strawberries, taste teas, buy honey, and receive valuable consultations.

This professional tour will look at fruit farms that selection, breed and grow breeds that are appropriate for Latvia’s weather conditions.  During the introductory day, participants will tour Rīga, which is part of the UNESCO List of World Heritage, and also visit a health food store.  On the second day, it is off to Kurzeme, where we will visit a farm that has developed a special technology for the processing of sea buckthorn in a way that preserves all of the vitamins and minerals that are in the berries.  We will visit Wine Hill in Sabile, where grapes have been grown since the 16th or 17th century.  Some 15 types of grapes that have been adapted to Latvia’s climate are grown here now.  Next we will visit the Kukši Estate, which offers a look at the cultural environment of baronial estates in the 18th and 19th century.  We will return to Rīga via the Jūrmala spa and have dinner at a Latvian saloon.  The next morning we will travel to Vidzeme to look at a former peat swamp where large cranberries are grown now.  The farm has its own processing technologies to manufacture candies, syrups, juices and teas.  Next we will visit Latvia’s first blueberry farm for a tour and tastings.  At the end of the day, we will visit a farm that grows cranberries and blackberries, emphasising successful and healthy food products and their marketing.  On the morning of the fourth day, we will visit the Medieval Cēsis castle, which was the residence of the masters of the Livonian Order and one of the most fortified fortresses in the territory of the Baltic States.  We will visit an agricultural technical school in Priekuļi to meet with faculty members.  At the conclusion of the day, we will go to Ungurmuiža Estate, which is one of the most outstanding examples of 18th century Baroque wood construction in Latvia.  The mansion (1732) is the only early 18th century wooden building of this type that has been preserved to this very day.