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The smoke sauna is an important part of everyday life in the Võru community in Estonia. It is the centre of a rich set of traditions including the actual bathing customs, the skills of making bathing whisks, building and repairing saunas, and smoking meat in the sauna. The sauna is a building or room heated by a stove covered with stones and with an elevated platform for sitting or lying. It has no chimney, and the smoke from the burning wood circulates in the room. People usually go into the sauna together and remain until they are sweating. Water is thrown on the heated stones to produce hot steam-laden air and bathers beat their bodies with whisks to remove dead skin and stimulate blood circulation. After sweating, whisking, relaxing and possible healing procedures, people cool themselves outside and rinse their bodies with water. The procedure is then repeated. The smoke sauna tradition is primarily a family custom, usually practised on Saturdays, but also before major festivals or family events. Its main function is to relax the body and mind. Families take turns hosting each other. Usually an older family member is responsible for preparing the sauna, accompanied by the children who gradually acquire the necessary skills. The smoke sauna tradition is part of the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. |
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Aukštaitija is the largest and one of the most ancient Lithuanian regions, known since the 15th century as "Real Lithuania." This trip will allow you to enjoy country goodies that the region offers today. In the Anykščiai District you will visit a farm where medicinal plants are grown, enjoy some oak acorn coffee and herbal teas, and then head off for the fishing village Ginučiai, where a special fish soup recipe dates back to the 17th century. In the area of Ignalina, you will visit a watermill and a beekeeping museum. A restaurant that is part of the European culinary heritage offers traditional dishes and a chance to learn how to bake the traditional Lithuanian sweet, šakotis. After a stroll along the beautiful banks of Lake Zarasai, you will visit a windmill to learn how to bake bread and pancakes with rye flour. A nice end to the tour will be a visit to a brewery where unfiltered and living beer is brewed. There is also a collection of antique brewery tools. |
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The national park was established to protect the 100 or so small islands that make up the archipelago of the local area. The largest island, the Vilsandi Island, is 6 km long and up to 2 km wide. You can rent a boat to get there, or, during appropriate conditions, you can walk across the sea and the small islands from the southern end of the Kuusnõmme peninsula.
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The Alantos Estate is in the village of Naujasodžio, and it was built in the style of Neo-Classicism in the 19th century. The estate is surrounded by a park with many types of trees, as well as a set of ancillary buildings. The mansion is reminiscent of an Italian villa, and the Neo-Romantic park has alleys of trees and three ponds of various sizes. The trees were planted so that over the course of time, their trunks would grow together to ensure mighty crowns. Alongside the park are a few gazebos, an obelisk that stands a few metres high, as well as white marble sculptures of Venus and Jupiter. |
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Gebaut am Ende des 13. Jh. als eine dreischiffige Basilika im romanischen Stil mit gotischen Elementen. 1853 wurde der 65 m hohe Turm aufgebaut (Aussichtsplatz). In der Kirche befinden sich die Grabsteine der livonischen Bischöfe, Kanzel (1748), Altar aus Eichenholz (1858), Altarbild (1862), Buntglasfenster und eine der besten Orgeln Lettlands (1907). |
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Dodieties ekskursijā, lai gūtu ieskatu lauku profesijā un dzīvesveidā, kā arī iegūtu jaunus iespaidus un labu atpūtu visai klasei. Ekskursijas sākumā apmeklējiet savvaļas dzīvnieku parku, kura voljēros dzīvo ~ 200 dambriežu. Tālāk dodieties uz saimniecību, kur aug vairāk nekā 100 augu sugu un šķirņu - ekskursija pa saimniecību, augu stādu iegāde, tēju, augļu un ogu degustācijas. Pēc tam apmeklējiet Skrīveru pārtikas kombinātu, kurā iespējams iegādāties gardās Gotiņkonfektes un doties ekskursijā. Brauciena noslēgumā - Skrīveru mājas saldējums ar stāstījumu par saldējuma gatavošanu un degustāciju. |
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The square structure with walls that are nearly two metres thick became known as the Gunpowder Tower during the rule of Duke Jacob, because that is what was stored here. There might have been a well here, because groundwater is close to the surface. The tower and the castle were linked by a 12-metre bridge on one pillar. The tower is only visible from the outside. |
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This 1995 sculpture by Oļegs Skarainis is at the corner of Dinsberģa and Talsu streets in Dundaga, near the local dairy. It is dedicated to the strong men of the town, including former Dundaga resident Arvīds Blūmentāls (1925-2006), who lived in Australia, was a great crocodile hunter (some 10,000 in all), and served as a prototype for Paul Hogan in the famous movie “Crocodile Dundee.” |
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The Staldzene Zenith Missile Brigade used a large territory and a number of major buildings. Some of these are now privately owned, and a fish smoking facility has been installed at one of them.
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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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The Šilute Estate is often described on the basis of its last owner, Hugo Scheu, who bought the estate in 1889. He restored the estate's buildings and territory, also installing two parks, one for the estate, and the other one known as the "raven forest." Alongside the estate is an English-type park with strolling trails. The park is used by local residents and is on both sides of the curvy Scheu River, with the banks connected by pedestrian bridges. He park stretches to an old railroad bridge and has approximately 150 types of plants, including 40 types of trees and shrubs. |
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Kalētu muižas bijušais medību dārzs. Muižas laikos šeit ierobežotās platībās turēja meža dzīvniekus, kuru medības bija populārs muižniecības izklaides veids. Parkā uzmeklējams piemiņas akmens Krievijas imperatoram Aleksandram III, kurš šeit nošāvis briedi (irsi). No Kalētiem Latvijas teritorijā „ienāca” staltbrieži, kurus medību vajadzībām 1848. g. atveda no Vācijas. Parkā izveidotas takas un atpūtas vietas. |
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The beginning of this circular trail can be found at the Krimulda church – the oldest in Latvia. In one direction, the tourist will pass along the banks of the little Runtiņupīte river (Runtiņš) to the place where it flows into the Gauja river. Among the points of interest along the way are the parsonage of the church, the Kubesele castle hill, a memorial to the Livonian chieftain Kaupo, the Kubesele cave, the Saulstari rock, the “Great Rock”, ancient anchor blocks, ancient graveyards, a unique labyrinth, etc.
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This trail of pathways dates back to 2005 and it passes from the Dunte Estate (which has an exhibition about Munchhausen) along damp shoreline forests and on to the sea. There are rest stops along the trail with wooden sculptures related to the famous Baron Munchhausen, as well as other attractions. The trails are in the Northern Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve.
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1,8 km garā taka atrodas neparastā vietā – uz Cirīša ezera salas. Tās galvenās vērtības ir augu valsts un dzeņveidīgo putnu daudzveidība. Viens no apskates objektiem ir Upurkalns – sens pilskalns. Taka labiekārtota, izveidoti informācijas stendi, atpūtas vieta. Lai nokļūtu uz salas, no vietējiem jānomā laiva, vai jādodas ar savējo. Atrodas dabas parkā „Cirīša ezers”. |
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The Volkenberga Castle was built in the 13th century by the Livonian Order, and it was practically impregnable, as it was on top of Mākoņkalns hill. These were among the first fortifications in Latgale, and only fragments of the castle remain today. Architect Pēteris Blūms has said that this was a special type of fortification. Legends say that after the lord and lady of the castle died, the property was divided up among their three daughters – Roze, Lūcija and Marija. Each sister built a new castle on the land which she inherited – Roze built Rēzekne, Lūcija built Ludza, and Marija built Viļaka. A memorial plaque at the foot of Mākoņkalns hill recalls the visit which pre-war Latvian President Kārlis Ulmanis paid to Latgale in 1938. |
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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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(formerly Pize and Pizā in Livonian). The current name of the village comes from a lighthouse (Mihailovskii majak) that was built during the age of the Russian Empire and named for the nephew of Tsar Alexander II. The lighthouse that is there now is the third one to be built on the site. It was built in 1957 and is the highest lighthouse in Latvia (57 m, can only be viewed from the outside). The Lutheran church in Mikeļtornis was built in 1893, and nearby is the Pize Saloon (1857), which is terrible condition. The saloon has a typical design from the 19th century and is the only venue of its type on the Livonian coastline. The first Livonian cultural activist, Jānis Princis (1796-1868), was born in Miķeļtornis, and he and son Jānis translated the Gospel of Matthew into the Western Livonian language. The two of them also wrote a collection of poetry, "Holy Songs and Prayers for Sailors." The only poetry book in Latvia prior to that was published by Blind Indriķis. A student of Vilhelms Purvītis, Livonian painter Andrejs Šulcs (1910-2006), was born at the Olmaņi homestead in Miķeļtornis. A monument to Livonian poets was installed at the local cemetery in 1978 and was the first monument dedicated to Livonians. There are plans to open an environmental object by artist Ģirts Burvis, "Century of Sailing Ships", in 2019. |
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Here you can taste the best flavours of the beer kitchen Pihtla, traditional Saaremaa house beer, and also Saare cheese, Fresco ice-cream, apple lemonade and other local delicacies. |
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One of the highest dunes in Latvia, located between Bernāti and Jūrmalciems villages. It is 37m high and offers a magnificent view of the sea and natural pine forests. The highest dunes in Latvia stand to the South of Jūrmalciems village: the Pūsēnu hill, the Ķupu hill, the Mietragkalns or Tiesas hill, the Pāļu hill, the Garais hill, the Ātrais hill, the Lāvas hill. The Pūsēnu dune is the highest of these dunes which are all called hills by the local people. The Pūsēnu hill developed between 1785 to 1835 when shifting sand became extremely dangerous. Several homesteads were buried in sand, among them „Pūsēni”, where a forester’s family lived. The family is said to have moved to Bārta. The dune was named after the buried homestead. Jēkabs Janševskis, a Latvian writer, wrote in his book „Nīca”: “In olden times, large pine trees were growing in the dunes on the coast of Nīca and they stood steady and firm. But i Swedish times (around 1650), the Swedes built a large kiln for charcoal and tar. Pine wood and stumps provided an excellent material for this. Once a big fire rose, and the charcoal kiln burned down as well as the whole pine forest. The remaining stumps and bare trunks in the vast burnout could not hold the storm-driven sand; it flew further and further burying not only the burned-out forest, but also the nearest fields. In wintertime, when the vast, low marshy grasslands were covered with ice, jets of sand drifted further over its surface, and soon most of the grasslands and large meadows turned into sandy heath-land and dunes.” To reconstruct Liepāja, severely damaged during WWII, a silicate brick factory was built in the town. The main raw material was white sand and it was taken from the Bernātu forest. In the 1960-ies they started to dig off the Green Dune and the White Dune, later also the Pūsēnu hill. The excavators used to work day and night, in three shifts. The work stopped at around 1980, as there was no more sand suitable for production of brick. A trail is set up to facilitate walking in the Pūsēnu Dune in the Bernātu Nature Park. |
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