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This museum is devoted to the career of the ceramist Polikarps Čerņavskis. His work featured light, yellowish and very bright glazing. Guided tours of the museum are available. There are demonstrations of the use of the potter’s wheel. Ceramics can be purchased, and visitors can attend the opening of the kiln. Special works can be commissioned.
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Kulnevskaya (Ilzeskalns) Orthodox Church was built in 1832 by Kulnevs, the landlord of Ilzenberg
(Ilzeskalns) manor house. He was also the brother of Jacob Kulnevs. The Church has an iconostasis with
icons of the 19th century. The rectangular building has semicircular niches at its sides. The members of Kulnevs
family are buried here. The place of tomb is a rare phenomenon in Orthodox churches of Latvia.
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The cosy land road along the sea is 1 km long, and it offers a look at the wonderful aspects of the village. To the right are rocks from the sea, as well as miniature flower gardens on the seashore with tempting benches and overturned boats. On the side of the shore is the Kaltene library, which is more than 100 years ago. It was initially a summer home for Baron Nolken, and it was built in 1899. Later it was rebuilt several times and took on new roles. An elementary school was installed here in 1926, after which it became a club and then, in 1992, a primary school once again. The path runs along beautiful seashore homesteads, among which one can find the former homes of old fishermen and ship builders such as Burliņi. At one time, the Žulnieki portage at Smilgas was the site of the kiln of blacksmith Pēteris Valdemārs. He was the main blacksmith for ships between Kaltene and Upesgrīve. (Source: Roja TIC) |
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The theme park of wise men of Gotham (Kilpla) is located in Müüsleri village; the park’s attractions arise from legends told in Germany some 400 years ago. Gothamites are funny characters famous for their irrational, impractical and foolish actions. Fun-packed tours and activities are on offer along with craft workshops, themed souvenirs, catering (groups should book in advance), and grounds for pitching tents. |
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Divas mazas apdzīvotas vietas nacionālā parka dienvidrietumu daļā. No kādreiz piecām Kolski ciema saimniecībām līdz mūsdienām ir saglabājusies tikai viena. Kolski iedzīvotājus līdzīgi kā citviet Baltijas valstīs pēc 2. pasaules kara deportēja uz Sibīriju. Kolski apkārtnē redzamie mājdzīvnieki „apsaimnieko” šejienes pļavas, neļaujot tām aizaugt ar mežu. Tādējādi tiek uzturēta apkaimes vēsturiskā ainava. 3 km dienvidrietumos meklējams Kobasāres ciems. Tā nosaukums (koopa no igauņu valodas nozīmē ala, saar – sala) atgādina par Ziemeļu kara notikumiem, kura laikā cilvēki slēpušies pašu raktās alās. Kobasārē un tam blakus esošajā Apjas (Apja) ciemā var izbaudīt patiesi 21. gadsimtam nepierastas lauku ainavas. |
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Temple Hill is steep (with artificially created steepness) and about 30 m high, and it is opposite Marijas Island. It is an ancient Lettigalian castle hill, 80 m long and 40 m wide, with several artificial ramparts. One of the oldest objects found in the region is an axe from the 2nd to 3rd millennium BC. Archaeologists believe that the island was populated at that time. There was a Lettigalian castle on the hill during the 10th and 11th century, but it was sacked by the Holy Crusade. The surface of the castle hill was transformed comparatively recently in 1807, when a granite rotunda was built there in honour of Russian Field Marshall Sheremetev and Swedish captain Wulff. The view of Lake Alūksne and the town is one of the most beautiful ones in all Vidzeme. The Sun Bridge (1937) is also worth a look. A wooden viewing platform is nearby. |
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Nahe der Beerkopfdüne ist im Frühling 2006 „ein Brand der Jahrhunderte” gewessen. Es wurde der hundert Jahre alte Wald in der Fläsche von 235h ausgebrannt. Ein Pfad mit Holzbelag. |
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Stupeļu Hill is 3 km to the South of the Vecumnieki-Ilūkste road. There are no signs, so the castle hill might be difficult to find. The Great Stupeļu Rock, which is discussed further on in this guidebook, is also hard to find when there is vegetation. Stupeļu Hill is approximately 30 m high, and it was one of the highest castle hills in the historical district of Selonia. Archaeologists say that it was first abandoned at the beginning of our era and then populated again during the late Iron Age. It is interesting that iron was extracted and processed near the castle hill. Archaeologists believe that this is the site of one of the earliest “cities” in the region. To the West of the hill is the Great Stupeļu Rock, which is 6.7 m long, 5.6 m wide and up to 2.7 m high. Above ground, it is 35 m3 large, and it may have been a cult location. During archaeological digs in the late 1970s, antiquities from the 10th to the 13th century were found here. |
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Origins of Livani as a bigger place of population are linked to the 1533, when the then owner of the land Lieven established the manor and called it after his own name Lievenhof. The 1678, the first Catholic Church was built here. The city suffered considerably during the two world wars. Name of Livani is associated with the glass. In 1887 a glass factory was founded here, which today has ceased operation. |
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You can access ÕUNA farm (ÕUNA puhketalu) by Piibe Road, behind the old horse post and pub. Here you can spend the night, have some food and enjoy various entertainment activities. Menu includes only Estonian national foods. |
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One of the oldest buildings at the Pope Estate is the old hunting castle that was built in 1653. The mansion was built in 1608 or 1620. The Neo-Gothic porch was added in 1840. The interiors of the mansion have been preserved since the 18th century and the 3rd quarter of the 19th century, including wood panelling, original decorated ceilings, a front door in the style of Classicism, and a Rococo stove. Sadly, one of the oldest buildings - the home of the estate's governor - burned down in 2018, but the rest of the estate did not suffer and retained its beauty. Visitors will be delighted about the aromatic garden of phloxes, as well as the impressive oak trees. Worth a look is the hillock behind the main building of the estate, near which there used to be a narrow-gauge railroad (the Pope Station). The other buildings cover a fairly extensive territory, and so it is worth spending a few hours to tour the village of Pope. The Pope Estate and its park are among the best-preserved estates in the area. Since March 1941, it has housed a school. Most of the trees in the park are common, but there are a few rare ones. |
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The tour from Rīga to Tallinn combines natural and cultural heritage and includes lovely landscapes and 15 nature trails which cross marshlands, meadows and forests along the shores of the Baltic Sea, including several protected nature reserves. Many trails are equipped with viewing towers for birdwatching. Randu meadows near Ainaži contains one third of Latvia’s entire plant species. A boardwalk leads through reeds to a viewing platform with views over the meadow and the sea. Saaremaa island is interesting with very different natural attractions to the mainland - dolomite cliffs, juniper heaths, a meteorite lake and rocky sea shore. The tour passes rural farms and traditional villages typical of the coastal areas. Hiiumaa island is a laid back place and retains a very Estonian atmosphere with an important bird reserve at Käina Bay, unusual Sääre Tirp as well as several small islets off its south-eastern coast. Back on the mainland, Paldiski peninsula gives a glimpse of the recent history with its former Soviet military base |
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The Lejenieki homestead is 1.1 km north of Bangas. Vilis Plūdons (1874-1940) was an outstanding Latvian poet, a representative of the style of National Romanticism, and a schoolteacher. His real name was Vilis Lejnieks, and he was born in at the Lejenieki homestead in the Bauska region. His father was Jānis Lejnieks. As a boy, Vilis was enchanted by fairy tales told by his granny and by folk songs that she sang. Plūdons is buried nearby in the family cemetery. Lejenieki offers an exhibition about the poet’s life and work. The local sauna features sculptures of rabbits, thus recalling Plūdons’ poem, “Rabbit Sauna.” |
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In the small town of Pļaviņas, at the place where the Skanstupīte River flows into the Daugava (Friendship Park), there are the remnants of a set of small and low fortifications known as the Swedish bastions. This was a place of military and political importance, because here was the place where the boundaries of Vidzeme (under Swedish rule), Latgale (under Polish rule), and the Duchy of Kurzeme (on the opposite side of the river) all came together. In 1625, the Swedes were defeated by the Poles here, and Swedish King Gustav Adolf almost lost his life. Medieval bastions of this kind can be seen in some other places of Latvia, as well.
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The Centre promotes sustainable lifestyle and the great outdoors, there you can plant trees and make and install nest boxes. Canoeing, bog walks, bow and crossbow shooting ranges are available for the more adventurous. There is a log house for functions and accommodation and a sauna with a hot tub. |
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Muiža rakstos pirmoreiz minēta 17. gs. sākumā, taču klasicisma stilā celtās pils veidols tapis 1835. gadā. Penijē muižas būtisks likteņa pavērsiens (atšķirībā no daudzām citām muižām) bija apstāklis, ka tajā izveidoja Matsalu rezervāta (pirms nacionālā parka izveides) apmeklētāju centru. 2000. gadā muižas pili restaurēja un tajā ierīkoja nelielu ekspozīciju. Apmeklētāju centrs te pastāv joprojām, tādēļ šeit var iegūt nepieciešamo informāciju. No ārpuses var apskatīt arī citas muižas saimniecības ēkas. |
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In the house that was renovated due to the initiative of the Craftsmen society of Beverina, it is possible to buy the products of both the district craftsmen and those from further territories, to visit creative workshops and events in order to learn the techniques of differnt handicrafts. The house is both a teaching centre and a marketplace, as well as the centre to popularise the cultural, folk and Latvian lifestyle of the Beverina district. |
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The café is located 200 m south of the Stāmeriena Castle in Vecstāmeriena. It is in one of the historical buildings of the local baronial estate and has an antique interior. It is possible to try out dishes typical for Gulbene district. |
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This is one of the most colourful and architecturally interesting parks in Lithuania. It was rebuilt and expanded between 1898 and 1900 by the renowned dendrologist G.F. Kuphaldt. The park had more than 200 types of plants, more than 100 of which are still growing. There are various roads and pathways that offer a sense of the mightiness and beauty of the park. A dendrological trail with markers offers information about 15 rare trees. |
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Territory is not attractive for a visitor without environmental knowledge and is very hard to find and reach through swampy forests on the North from Riva village. Area is not intended and appropriate for visits.
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