The Slītere National Park (established in 2000) is known, with good reason, as an open-air museum which shows the historical development of the Baltic Sea. Nowadays evidence of geological events is seen in the Blue Hills of Slītere, which stand 20 to 30 metres high above what was the shore of the Baltic lake of ice 10,000 years ago. The Stiebri hills were former 8,000 or 9,000 years ago, while the Littorina Sea formed Europe’s largest set of dune ramparts and damp hollows between those ramparts. This occurred between 4,000 and 7,000 years ago. The gentle climate of Northern Kurzeme is the reason why so many rare plants are found in the park – some 860 in all including Common Yew (Taxus baccata) and Baltic Ivy (Hedera helix var. baltica). Of certain value in the preservation of these treasures was the Soviet military machine, which has left behind army bases and other military objects in the area. The presence of the military meant that the area of what is now the Slītere National Park remained largely undisturbed for 50 years. The park includes one of the most popular tourist destinations in Latvia – the Cape of Kolka, which is visited by more than 50,000 travellers each year. During the spring migration of birds, more than 60,000 birds cross the cape each hour. Along the shore of the Baltic Sea is the so-called Livonian coast, which stretches from Kolka to Sīkrags and Ovīši. Fishing villages and other cultural objects established by the world’s smallest ethnic minority, the Livonians, can be found here. Tourists will enjoy interesting four nature trails, bicycling routes, viewing tower, etc. The visitors centre is located at the Slītere lighthouse. Administration of National park is organising environmental education events on regular basis open to everyone.

The exhibit features information about the history of the Džūkste and Lestene parishes, as well as the events and consequences of World War II.  Donations are requested from those who visit the museum.

Žagare has long since been known for a special type of cherries.  There are various varieties which only differ in terms of when they are ripe and productive.  There are different types of trees.  The cherries grow at nearly home, and that is an exclusive symbol of Žagare. 

This route offers most unusual views.  Seda is the only town in Latvia with Soviet-era planning from the middle of the last century, featuring a central square and streets stretching from it in a star pattern.  The architectural style of apartment and public buildings is rather exotic.  The Seda Swamp yielded peat moss during the first period of Latvia’s independence and is one of the largest industrial and environmental territories of its kind in Latvia and the Baltic States.  Former peat fields have partly become flooded and are overgrown with reeds, thus creating an outstanding environment for nesting water birds and migrating birds which rest at the swamp.  Peat is still being extracted, and perhaps you will be lucky enough to spot the “little peat moss train.”

Route information from Latvijas Lauku forums

This territory is around 9 square kilometres in size and is found to the North of the village of Kūdra, where the so-called old peat quarries are found.  Peat was extracted here during the first period of Latvian independence.  Today the territory is overgrown, preserving the old and flooded quarries which offer a very unusual landscape.  The best way to examine them is on foot or bike, taking the road from the Kūdra railroad station which leads to Lake Sloka.

The castle hill is an island in the reservoir of the Pļaviņas hydroelectric power plant, and it can be accessed by boat.  The ancient Selonian castle hill was settled several times between the 6th and the 12th century.  This was the political and military centre of the Selonian region.  In 1373, the Livonian Order built a stone castle on the hill, as it did on many other ancient hillocks.  The castle was sacked in 1704 during the Great Northern War.  Remnants of a square tower, a guard room and the 12 m embankment that once protected the castle are all that survive.  Approximately 300 m to the North of the Sēlpils castle hill is Oliņkalns hill, which is underwater.

The restaurant is at the bridge across the Salaca River, offering traditional Latvian dishes, as well as dishes from other European countries.

Latvian cuisine: Sprats with egg, fish soup, farmer’s breakfast, cooked butter beans, chicken livers with mashed potatoes, Kurzeme stroganoff, potted farmer’s stew, crepes and potato pancakes with potatoes, stacked rye bread.

Special foods: Homemade sheet pastry.

On this tour, you will see the most beautiful places and towns in the Vidzeme region and Gauja National Park such as Sigulda with the River Gauja valley, the medieval old town of Cēsis, and Valmiera. You will feast on the Miller’s Lunch, visiting a working windmill, explore a herb and vegetable garden by a medieval castle, taste hemp butter, and Valmiermuiža local brewery beer. You will taste the “green cheese”, a sparkling birch sap drink, and can buy delicacies made from locally grown garlic.

Starp cilvēku un zirgu valda īpaša saikne, ne velti zirgs cilvēkam spēj būt gan draugs, gan palīgs, gan sabiedrotais dažādās dzīves situācijās.

Saimniecība “Imanti” piedāvā braucienus zirga kamanās ziemā un ratos – vasaras sezonā.