Svartå Manor is one of the most precious manor houses in Finland with a history of more than two hundred years. The countryside hotel consists of five different historical buildings situated in an idyllic park with a scenic river flowing nearby. Near the manor is a restaurant and a museum, where you can take a tour.

The Krustkalni Nature Reserve was established in 1977, and the diversity of plants in the region is based both on the terrain – the Madona-Trepe embankment, a series of hillocks with low areas among them, swamps and small lakes – and on the biotope – natural meadows, forest glades, places where underground streams bubble up to the surface, and vast areas of forest with very old stands of trees. Some 800 types of plants have been defined in the reserve. It can be toured only in the company of a guide from reserve headquarters, and one must apply in advance. Visitors can visit the Krāku streams, Lake Svēte-Dreimaņi, and other sites.

 The Krustpils Lutheran Church is found at Rīgas Street 211A in Krustpils, on the right bank of the Little Daugava. The stone church which is there was built between 1818 and 1820 and consecrated in 1824. Two older churches stood on the site before then. The church was seriously damaged during World War I, and it was restored in 1924. There are several notable cultural monuments in the church – the altar painting, “Christ Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane”, the organ (with pipes that were manufactured in Germany), etc. The church is seen as one of the best examples of Empire-style architecture in Latvia, and in 1999 it was granted the European blue flag as an element of cultural heritage. There are legends about underground passages to Daugavsala, which is to the West of the church. The church is closed to visitors most days and can only be viewed from the outside. Nearby the church are two monuments – one commemorating the politically repressed, and the other memorialising national partisans.

Atrodas sporta un atpūtas kompleksā „Trīssaliņas”. No torņa paveras pievilcīga apkaimes ainava, kas īpaši skaista ir pieneņu ziedēšanas laikā.

The watermill processes wool with equipment that is 100 years old and is used to produce handmade blankets and pillows that are stuffed with sheep wool, as well as souvenirs that can be commissioned and purchased.  The watermill offers tours and fresh-baked bread.  A wool pulling and wrapping machine that dates back to the 19th century and was manufactured at the Šūberts Rudītis & Co company in the 19th century is still used, as are a unique weaving apparatus from Germany and a grain mill.

Latvian cuisine: Marinated herring with vegetables, porridge, mashed potatoes a la Vidzeme (with fried onions), pancakes with jam made of Latvian berries and honey, homemade bread.

Special foods: Water pretzels and local soup with six types of fish.

Information about this stream dates back to the mid-18th century, but people used it much earlier than that.  People donated money to the stream after washing or drinking the water.  During the first half of the 19th century, the baron of Tirza and the local church waged a battle against pagan traditions, though not very successfully.  There is now a canopy over the stream, and people still drink its water.

2003.gada decembrī folkloras kopa „Atštaukas” izveidoja folkloras centru „Namīns”, kurā svin svētkus, organizē Jāņu ielīgošanu, Lieldienu iešūpošanu, Miķeļdienas tirgu, Annas dienas Saimnieču svētkus, tautiskos Ziemassvētkus. „Atštaukas” palīdz saglabāt un popularizēt dažādus latviešu tautas godību rituālus, gan kāzu, gan arī bēru tradīcijas. Folkloras centrā „Namīns” darbojas arī skola, kurā bērniem tiek mācīta folklora un tautas tradīcijas.

 The tour starts at former Hanseatic port town Gdansk with its pretty Old Town, then continues to Malbork, an impressive fortified medieval castle and on to laid-back Formbrok with a magnificient Gothic cathederal. The route crosses the Mazurianlake district where hundreds of lakes are connected to rivers and canals, best expereinced from the deck of a boat.

 Continue to Wigry National Park with walking trails and interesting archaeological and cultural remains. Further into Lithuania, Dzukija National Park has several well preserved traditional farmsteads and villages which are well worth a visit. It's a good place to experience Lithuanian crafts and traditions, for instance bee keeping. Then the route goes via Kaunas to the Curonian Spit formed by shifting sand dunes between its lagoon and the sea. Pretty little villages are located along its length. Next the route goes to the sea resort Palanga with a great Amber Museum and on to Latvia.

 Stop at Pape Nature Park, a diverse mosaic of nature’s ecosystems, where wild horses and oxen breed. Slītere National Park shows the historical development of the Baltic Sea. Cape Kolka is a prime spot for bird migrations, Slītere lighthouse provides a great view of the surrounding forests and traditonal Liv villages, one of the smallest ethnic groups in the world. The Ķemeri National Park includes different types of wetlands and vast bogs. It is famous for its sulphur springs. Walk a Great Heath trail there and try the curative spring water.

 Further on Gauja National Park is formed around the ancient valley of the Gauja river with picturesque sandstone cliffs from the Devonian period. Here are many historic monuments – medieval castles, churches and ancient settlements which you can see crossing the valley on a cable car. Ligatne Nature trails offer a chance to observe local wild animals.

 Saaremaa's landscape is characterised by large juniper growths, dolomite cliffs, windmills, medieval churches and the famous Kaali meteorite lake. It also retains a very Estonian soul. Sooma National Park has contrasting swamps. Walk a beaver trail there and try 'bog-shoeing'. Lahemaa National Park has a rugged coastal andscape with big boulders, traditional fishing villages, forest trails and romantic manor houses. From Tallin take a ferry to Helsinki, from where it is an easy trip to Nuuksio National Park, home to an endangered flying squirrel. The landscape here is dominated by valleys and gorges, rocky hills covered by lichen and sparse pine forest that is very different to the previous parks. Well-equipped walking trails have several scenic views.

The cafe is situated in the shopping centre Sala in Jekabpils, on the right back of the river Daugava. The cafe’s premises are comfortable and decorated with fresh flowers. It is a place where you can have either breakfast, dinner or supper.

Working hours: 9.00 - 20.00