This is Latvia’s largest lake island and is found in the middle of Lake Usma. The island is restricted to protect old stands of pine, as well as various plants and birds.

Atrodamas ziņas, ka Rankas muižas pils celta 18. gs. vidū un 19. gs. vidū (nozīmīgi - 1836.-1866.g.) pārbūvēta, kad uzceltas pārējās saimniecības ēkas. 20. gs. šeit atradās dažādas ar izglītību saistītas iestādes: 30. gados - Rankas mājturības skola, pēc 2. pasaules kara - Rankas lauksaimniecības skola. Muižas pils cieta 80. – 90. gadu mijā divu ugunsgrēku laikā. Daļēji saglabājušās kalpu mājas, kūtis, klētis, dārznieka māja, “brūzis” u.c. ēkas.

Kopš 2013. gada ieguldīts milzīgs darbs, lai Rankas muižas kompleksu atjaunotu un izveidotu par sakārtotu, tīru vidi. Teritorijā notiek atjaunošanas darbi muižas ēkām. 2003. gadā par Rankas muiža kompleksa īpašniekiem kļuva Ābolu ģimene un, pateicoties viņiem, Rankas muižas komplekss pamazām atdzimst. Ekskursija pa Rankas muižu iekļauj visu telpu apskati: recepciju, antīko automašīnu un priekšmetu izstādi, mākslas galeriju, bibliotēku un Romas katoļu kapelu, kā arī muižas 8,4 hektārus plašo parku ar trīs dīķiem.

This is a unique small town in a certain sense, and it is the only one in the Baltic States which has remained in place since the 17^th and 18^th century. The town is around the small Alekšupīte River, and in some places the stream runs along the walls of the buildings. Because of this fact and the many bridges that are in town, Kuldīga has become known as “the Venice of Latvia.” Baznīcas, Liepājas, Kalna and other streets are full of interesting cultural monuments.

Jelgavas pils dienvidaustrumu spārna cokolstāvā ir iepazīstamas Kurzemes un Zemgales valdnieku - Ketleru un Bīronu dzimtas kapenes (laika posms no 1569. – 1791. g.), kur apskatāmi 18 restaurētie sarkofāgi. Šī ir Baltijas mērogā nozīmīga vieta, kas noteikti jāapmeklē ikvienam vēstures interesentam.

Kaltene features several homes where shipbuilders used to live – Caurnāši, which was home to the Bertliņi family, Ilmati, where six ailing ships were built, Maizītes, where the Stahl family of ship builders built 16 two-mast and three-mast ships, and Dambekalni, which was once one of the first canned fish factories on the coastline.  To the side of the sea are the old boat piers of Kaltene.  In 1936, a board pier was built by the Freijs family from Roja.  It was 200 m long and had room for some 50 boats.  All that is left are wooden poles that have been eaten away by the sea and time.  If you want to learn about the specifics, difficulties and challenges of fishermen today, visit Ervīns Vilciņš in Ķirķrags.  He will tell interesting stories on the basis of his experience.  You can watch as he fishes in the morning and then taste the fish that he has caught. (Source: Roja TIC)

The Rauna cheese factory is owned by Ceriņš family, and for the past 10 years it has offered high-quality and nutritious products to its consumers – cheese, butter and macaroni.  The most popular product is “Green cheese,” in which one of the main ingredients, fenugreek, grows in the factory’s garden.  Fenugreek is a perennial with five leaves and blue flowers.  While the new shoots are soft, they are dried in a wood-fired drying house.  Then the fenugreek is ground up, sieved and added to a mass of protein that is put in thin layers in special wooden boxes and allowed to dry.  After the fenugreek is added, the cheese gets its typical taste, colour and smell.  Groups of 10 or more can apply in advance for tours of the factory and learn about how the cheese is made.

The ceramicist works in the household building of the Durbe Castle. You can watch her at work, try your hand at ceramics work, order artworks and purchase clay souvenirs. You can also tour the Durbe Castle complex, which is undergoing renovations at this time (2013).

Located in the south-eastern part of Piedruja and on the banks of the Daugava River, the rock can be accessed via the local path or a local land road.  The rock was sculpted by Vilnis Titāns, who engraved the name of the Daugava River in seven languages – Latvian, Livonian, Estonian, Polish, Russian, German and Finnish.  Opposite the rock is Druja, which is in Belarus, as well as a large island that splits the river in two.  A temporary permit is needed to visit Piedruja.

Here you will learn about home-based manufacturers, farms, companies and others in Latgale that produce various dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, ice cream, etc.  Start in Preiļi, which is known as Latvia’s cheese capital.  The route passes along the Teiči nature reserve, with a viewing tower at the side of the road, also crossing Lubāna wetlands, which are of European importance for environmental protection.  Drive on to Rēzekne (churches, a monument to Māra of Latgale, “Gors,” “Zeimuļš”, etc.).  Nature lovers will love the Rāzna National Park with Lake Rāzna, Mākoņkalns hill and the master ceramicist Evalds Vasiļevskis.  From Dagda, head to Aglona, which is a centre for Roman Catholic worshippers, and Lake Rušons before returning to your starting point.

After passing through Sigulda, the Forest Trail follows the River Vējupīte to Paradīzes Hill, where a steep staircase leads down into the ancient valley of the River Gauja and the ravine of the River Vējupīte. It continues to wind down smaller paths through meadows, crossing small rivers whose banks reveal sandstone outcrops. The last six kilometres of this section follow a smaller path down the Līgatne Nature Trails. You can see local wildlife animals and birds on this 5.5 km long trail. Further on the Forest Trail moves up the hills of the ancient valley of the River Gauja, before descending back down into the deep ravine of the River Līgatne, where the village of the former Līgatne paper mill is located. You can explore this attractive small village, visit the Līgatne spoon factory, winery and Līgatne caves. There is also the Līgatne Net Park with 4-7 m high net labyrinths among the treetops.

This part of the Forest Trail and Gauja National Park is characterised by a gradual transition from diverse, deciduous forests (ash, grey alder, oak, birch, linden) to coniferous stands.