No Name Description
N/A

Die Südspitze der Insel Saaremaa – eine aus Geröll in der Irbenstraße langgestreckte Landzunge. Militärbefestigungen, Leuchtturm (1960), Vogelbeobachtungsort.

N/A

The potter uses the black (smoke) technique to create his artworks, and he uses clay from Latgale. He uses no industrial equipment in his work, and the kiln is fired with firewood. You can watch as he creates dishware on a foot-powered potter’s wheel and talks about the firing process. You can work with clay and purchase finished products.

N/A
3 days

The tour makes a loop through historical regions of Sēlija and Latgale. It starts and ends in Daugavpils, the 2nd largest city in Latvia.
Sēlija tree nursery offers a tour of their apple orchard, apple storage and production facilities. Enjoy a glass of apple juice and stories of vinemakers. On the way, a visit to Berķenele memorial house of Rainis, the distinguished Latvian author and social activist. Grape selection and cultivation was the great passion of Pauls Sukatnieks, and his memorial garden is worth visiting during the harvesting time. At Kaldabruņa you will visit an art gallery housed in a hay-shed together with a hay museum. The romantic landscape park at Asares estate dates back to the 18th century and exposes carefully picked tree and shrub varietes. Riekstiņi is an authentic single-family Selonian farm with a specific spirit and ambience. Nereta Evangelical Lutheran church is one of the oldest stone buildings in Sēlija region dating back to 1584. Sauka Nature Park offers nice landscape views from a viewing tower. Rudzīši wineyard grows about 80 grape varieties. Pick your own blackcurrant berries at Bāniši berry farm. A beautiful landscape garden is open for visitors at Gundegas house.  200 year old oaks adorn the Vārkavas Park.  At Naujene museum of regional studies you will see an exposition showing the house of a wealthy Latvian farmer from the turn of 19th-20th centuries. Vasargelišķu viewing tower is 24m high and offers great views over the meandering Daugava River. Ethnographical Slutišķu village with carefully maintained wooden cabins exemplifies traditional Latgalian architecture. Kurmīši farm grows medicinal plants that are very common in Latvia – oregano, St John’s wort, wormwood, lemon balm, catsfoot, etc. 

N/A
Tiskādi Old-Believers Prayer House was built in 1886 and reconstructed in 1905. The large church was sanctified 100 years ago. It is situated in the district which is mostly populated by Old Believers. The church stands on the hill.
N/A

The small Andrupene swamp is found to the North of the Andrupene Farm Museum in a deep area between hillocks.  It is a high-type swamp with an open central part, and it is 130 m long and 120 m wide.  There are stands of white alder alongside the swamp.  In 2009, the administrators of the Rāzna National Park restored a wooden educational pathway that had been established originally by the Andrupene Elementary School.  Today there are stairs, a viewing platform, wooden pathways, and information stands.

N/A
The Akmeņupīte river starts in the highlands and ends at the Daugava, and it is a rapid river only during the spring or after lots of rain. Otherwise it is a shallow little river with a rocky bottom. On the shores of the river is a nice path with several places to relax or to build a campfire (firewood is available). Water from the local streams is potable.
N/A
This park was established to protect Lithuania’s longest lake, Lake Asveja (> 20 km). The lake is in a sub-glacial valley carved out by ice during the Ice Age, and it actually resembles a wide and curvy river.
N/A
In Aizkraukle, drive down Enerģētiķu Street to the Selonian side (there will be small “pockets” at the side of the road) to see one of the best views of the Daugava River valley, reminding us of what this fateful river was like before the power plant was built. You will see that the river has eroded the steep cliffs on the right bank. The further part of the valley is part of the Daugava Nature Park.
N/A
The coast guard facility is not used at this time. Still there is a monument, a border post, and lavatories with wooden toilet paper holders. A good view of the facility can be seen from the high barrier along its southern edge.
N/A

Igaunijas jūras ūdeņos ir saskaitīta 1521 sala! Salu sarakstā pēc platības (63 ha) ~ 2,5 km garā Mohni sala ieņem 38. vietu. Lai saudzētu salas trauslo veģetāciju (vietām nedaudz atgādina krūmainu tundru), tās vidusdaļā ir izveidotas koka laipas. Salas dienviddaļā atrodas sašaurinājums, kuru tāpat kā blakus esošo jūras krastu klāj viens no savdabīgākajiem Igaunijas akmeņu laukiem. Salas ziemeļos esošās Mohni bākas (Mohni tuletorn) celtniecība pabeigta 1871. g. un tās gaisma ir redzama 10 jūras jūdžu attālumā. Šī ir viena no skaistākajām Ziemeļigaunijas bākām! Līdz Mohni salai var nokļūt ar laivu (iepriekšēja pieteikšanās) no ~ 5 km attālās Vīnistu ostas (Viinistu sadam). Ar jūras laivu vai kajaku piemērotos apstākļos būs ~ 1h ilgs brauciens. Jārēķinās, ka uz salas nav pastāvīgo iedzīvotāju! Vīnistu ciemā apskatāms 2002. g. izveidotais Vīnistu mākslas muzejs (Viinistu kunstimuuseum). Apmeklētājus iespaidos ne tikai tā āriene, bet arī tapšanas vēsture. 

N/A

Madona is probably the only town in Latvia, in whose area a lake settlement was located around the 9th century. Its residues are preserved in the northern part of Salas Lake (Baznicezers) under water. Until the end of 19th century, a small estate with the same name (Madona) was located in place, where present town is located, Latvians called the place Bizi. In 1898 construction of narrow gauge railway between Stukmani (Plavinas) and Valka was started. The development of railway helped the development of the town. Today Madona is well maintained Vidzeme town with its own charm typical for small town. Interestingly that it can also be considered as one of the most highly placed towns in relief of Latvia.

N/A

The farm grows fruit trees and raspberries, and it makes homemade wines from various fruits and berries, including raspberries, black currants and apples. You can purchase products, and groups of up to 25 people can attend wine tastings in a very fine hall.

N/A

“Saules veltes” ir mājas vīna darītava Salaspilī, kas nodarbojas ar mājas vīnu, liķieru un degvīnu gatavošanu. Alkoholiskie dzērieni tiek ražoti no dabīgiem dārza augļiem un ogām, tostarp upenēm, avenēm, cidonijām, pīlādžiem un pat mārrutkiem. Apmeklētājiem ir iespēja aplūkot saimniecību (uzņem arī 15-20 lielas tūristu grupas), kā arī degustēt konkrētos dzērienus, kurus arī turpat ir iespējams iegādāties; piedāvājumā lieli un mazi tilpumi, dāvanu un suvenīru komplekti.

 

N/A

The trail climbs up and down along the bluffs of lower River Pilsupe and reveals a fascinating sight of three white dune exposures (the largest is called the White Dune). The trail is 900m long, and the White Dune is ca 20m high. It has formed ca 6000 years ago, in the period of the Littorina Sea which is a foregoer of the Baltic Sea. Here the first Stone Age settlement on the North Western coast of Latvia has been found in 1934 by geologist S. Burhards. In the sand, some 500m from the sea, he found some pottery fragments, a sandstone hone, a piece of flint, parts of bones and an amber bead. He handed the findings over to the National Museum of History. In October 1934, the site was checked by archaeologist E. Šturms, who found the archaeological layer, typical for such settlements, in the landslides of the Pilsupe riverbanks. In 1936 he started larger excavations to continue by 1938. Totally seven, chronologically different settlements were detected and many artefacts found, including fragments of the so called Sārnate and pit-comb pottery, as well as some pieces of corded pottery. Based on these findings, the settlement is dated back to the beginning or middle of the 3rd millenary B.C., and it has been inhabited till the beginning of the 2nd millenary B.C. Especially remarkable are three clay figures in human shape which have probably been used for some religious cult purposes.

Since 1993, archaeologist Ilzes Loze has discovered several pit-comb ware culture settlements in large area around Pūrciems village. They are known in research literature as „the Ģipka settlements”.

N/A

The saloon is on the corner of two historic roads – the Rīga-St Petersburg road and the Cēsis-Vecpiebalga-Madona road. It uses ingredients from local farms and vendors.

Latvian cuisine: Grey peas with bacon, dumpling, beet or wild mushroom soup, bean salad, herring with boiled potatoes and cream, farmer’s ramekin, roast pork, potato pancakes, crepes, bread soup, strawberry dessert, homemade ice cream.

N/A
10 days

During this trip you will visit the workshops of craftspeople, farms that breed horses, as well as various destinations where you can enjoy country goodies.  Ancient skills are now a modern application.

First you will stop in Ikšķile, and at the very beginning of the trip, you will visit a cellar that stores birch juice wine and taste sparkling wine.  In Skrīveri, you will be surprised by the transformation of milk.  A cosy café on the main street of the small town offers outstanding homemade ice cream featuring strawberry, anchovy and horseradish flavours.  In Koknese, you can supplement your wardrobe with a new leather belt, bag or stylish leather jewellery.  A farm that grows hemp will offer a small tour, as well as hemp delicacies.  The work of black ceramics masters in Latgale fits into modern interiors.  The Aglona Bread Museum offers a chance for visitors to bake their own loaf of bread.  The visit to the next farm will allow you to add tasty cheese that has been made from milk from Latvian brown cows.  The last stop in Latvia will be Daugavpils, which features an art centre featuring the work of the globally known abstractionist Mark Rothko, as well as the Daugavpils fortress, that was built in the 19th century and is an impressive military building.  This is one of the most popular tourist destinations.  From there you will travel to Lithuania, where you will visit several traditional farms.  The Ilzenbergo Dvaras estate has a bio-dynamic farm.  You will taste Lithuania's national sweets which are called šakotis.  You will visit the town of Anykščiai, which offers a hike along a trail that is above the trees.  A horse museum offers a look at old farm equipment.  Next you will visit farms that will inform you about traditional Lithuanian cuisine and the work of potters.  The Dubingiu horse farm offers horseback rides.  At the conclusion of the tour you will visit the unique Trakai lake castle (14th and 15th century), as well as Vilnius.

N/A

The Berķenele semi-estate is a historical monument of national importance, known as the place where the distinguished Latvian author and politician Rainis (1865-1929) spent his childhood.  The house was restored in 1995, and since 1996 it has been the Rainis house in Berķenele.  Rainis recorded his childhood impressions in a poetry collection called "Five Sketch Notebooks from Dagda." Today the managers of the house offer tours, creative workshops and exhibitions.  Visitors can don the clothing worn by the lord and his servants.  Around the house is a large orchard, featuring a programme called "Route of Apples."  The house also has a lovely landscape that is interesting to see. 

N/A

Kemeri (Kemmer) are mentioned in the literature sources for the first time in 1561. In the second half of the 18th century and in the beginning of the 19th century the curative properties of Kemeri sulphur spring waters and swamp mud are well known, therefore here representatives of the highest Kurzeme social circles arrive for treatment. The local foresters welcome the guests. During this time the first mud baths are organised. For some time the development of Jurmala and Kemeri beach is terminated by the Fatherland War of 1812. Two decades later – from 1833 until 1835 the benefits of Kemeri were enjoyed by General Governor of the Baltics Graf K. M. Palen, who addresses the Tsar of Russia Nicholas I for supporting further development of the health resort. Plead is supported and in 1836 Tsar allocates 700 ha of state land and grants 100 000 roubles for the construction of sanatorium and paving of the road from Kemeri till Sloka-Tukums high-way. Two years later (in 1938) the first state bath institution is opened. This is also considered the year of founding the health resort. In several stages the formation of Kemeri Landscape Park is begun, which is an important part of the health resort. In the middle and second half of the 19th century further development of the health resort is promoted by steamboat, as well as railroad traffic that are opened in 1877 from Riga till Tukums. In 1912 direct railroad line Kemeri-Moscow is opened. Early before World War I the number of patients reaches 8300 per year. The 1st battlefront of World War I is held in Kemeri swamp for several years and the health resort is significantly destroyed. Despite this fact after the war it develops rapidly and Kemeri becomes a beloved recreation place for the residents of Riga and one of the most modern health resorts in Europe. In 1924 a new bath institution with mud-baths is built in Kemeri, which at the time is one of the most modern in Europe, but in 1936 State President Kārlis Ulmanis opens one of the most prominent buildings of the first independent state of Latvia period – hotel "Ķemeri". Also after World War II – during the Soviet times the health resort is significantly expanded and almost 10 sanatoriums are established within its territory, in which about 100 doctors are employed. In 1971 Kemeri is awarded the status of All-Union health resort. From 1975 until 1985 the largest of sanatoriums is constructed in Kemeri – Līva (initially – Latvija), which has two blocks of eleven storeys. Up to 1200 patients at the same time could receive treatment at Līva, but within a year – up to 140 000 patients. The sanatorium is closed in the beginning of the 90ies of the 20th century as unprofitable. Up to 1994 five sanatoriums operate in Kemeri: "Čaika", "Daugava", "Dzimtene", "Ķemeri" and "Līva" (Latvija) and resort policlinic "Ķemeri". The latter period may be considered the declining fame period of Kemeri as a large-scale health resort.

N/A

This territory was established to protect various kinds of rare butterflies A popular tourist destination in the Nīcgaļi forests is the great rock of Nīcgale, which is the largest rock in Latvia – a geological and geo-morphological monument of nature. The rock has a circumference of 31.1 metres, and it is 3.5 metres high, 10.5 metres long and 10.4 metres wide for a total size of 170 m3.

N/A

This is an ecological and biodynamic medicinal plant farm that is run by two sisters who produce herbal teas and spices. Educational programmes offer information about the plants and their medicinal properties. You can lease bikes to ride down the bike paths of the Žemaitija National Park.