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A small settlement on the banks of the River Daugava, between Aizkraukle and Jaunjelgava. Skriveru region is associated with the life and work of popular Latvian author A. Upitis. Near Skriveri lies the oldest arboretum in Latvia. Its establishment in 1891 was started by the owner of Skriveru manor Maximilian von Siverss. In the park there are about 400 plant species, varieties and forms. One of the finest views of the Daugava will open from the so-called Krauklu Mountains – steep upper part of the right riverbank, which is an ancient hill fort. |
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Maza apdzīvota vieta ar dažām viensētām uz pussalas (salos tulkojumā no lietuviešu valodas nozīmē „sala") starp vairākiem ezeriem. Salos II ir viens no sešiem Augštaitijas nacionālā parka etnogrāfiskajiem ciemiem. Ciems patiks tiem, kas meklē ļoti nomaļas vietas ar vecām guļbaļķu dzīvojamām un saimniecības ēkām. No Salos II pa sauszemes maršrutu var doties pārgājienā līdz Ladakalnim un Ginuču pilskalnam (sk. iepriekš). |
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was first mentioned in written form in 1582. A census in 1736 found two farms, Lekši and Žonaki. A census in 1935 found that there were 106 people in Vaide, including 40 Livonians, 60 Latvians and a few Estonians and Germans. In 1939, there were 21 homesteads in the village. Nika Polmanis (1823-1903) was born at the Lāži homestead. He was the first educated Livonian and lived in the region for all his life. Livonian poet Alfons Bertholds (1910-1993) wrote a poem about a noble oak tree that grows alongside the homestead. The vast Berthold family is linked to Žonaki -- Livonian storyteller Marija Šaltjāre, yacht captain Andrejs Bertholds (USA), his son, library scholar Artūrs Benedikts Bertholds (USA), Livonian poet Alfons Bertholds, Livonian language specialists Paulīne Kļaviņa and Viktors Bertholds, Swiss doctor Marsels Bertholds, globally renowned pianist Arturs Ozoliņš (Canada), and Livonian language storyteller and poet Grizelda Kristiņa (1910-2013), who was the last native speaker of Livonian. The Ozolnieki homestead is also linked to the Bertholds family. Paulīne Kļaviņa (1918-2001), a specialist in the fields of Livonian traditions and language, and her mother, Livonian storyteller Katrīna Zēberga, both lived there. Paulīne collected ethnographic objects that can be seen at the Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum in the granary of the Livonian Dēliņi farm. The Purvziedi homestead in Vaide is owned by forest ranger Edgars Hausmanis, who has a collection of forest animal horns and antlers. |
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Kretoņu (Kretuonas) ezera dienvidu krastā (ezeru gan neredz aizauguma dēļ) meklējams Kretoņu ciems. Šķiet, ka šī vieta ir „aizķērusies" pagātnē. Cauri ciemam iet viena iela, kurai abās pusēs izvietojušās 19. – 20. gs. mijā (dažas pat mazliet agrāk – 19. gs. vidū) celtās saimniecības. Te redzamas gan dzīvojamās, gan saimniecības ēkas, kuras rada etnogrāfiska brīvdabas muzeja sajūtu. Dažas no tām gan ir „padevušās" laika zobam. Lai vai kā, šis ir viens no neparastākajiem nacionālā parka etnogrāfiskajiem ciemiem, kuru pa „galveno ielu" vērts izstaigāt visā garumā. Šim, tāpat kā pārējiem etnogrāfiskajiem ciemiem ir piešķirts kultūras mantojuma objekta statuss. |
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Одно из сравнительно редких мест, где на побережье можно понаблюдать за рыбаками в работе. Ветряная мельница «Клаюми» (1930 г.) является одним из самых высоких сельских строений. Рядом с мельницей находится Юрмалциемский Туристический информационный пункт, информационный стенд и место для отдыха.Здесь же видны старые деревянные корпуса барж, брошенных рыбаками. Экспозиция«Старинные предметы жителей Юрмалциемса» находится в восточной части поселка, где в деревянном сарае представлены собранные местными энтузиастами предметы быта и орудия труда окрестных жителей. |
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Old fishermen village, which was first mentioned in 1429. Before WW2 Juodkrante was popular resort in Europe and it still has its traditions nowadays. Village has an unique scenery with its wooden houses, promenade, Lutheran Church (1885), Lithuania's Art Museum Hall and much more. |
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Construction of the Sigulda castle was begun by the Order of Brethren of Swords in 1207, but in 1236 it was rebuilt for the needs of the Livonian Order. The building suffered much damage during wars in the latter half of the 16th century and the early part of the 17th century. It was burned down during the Great Northern War and was not restored. Visible today is the south-western wing of the castle’s convent building and the main gate tower, behind which is the internal forecastle with an open-air stage that offers an impressive view of the ancient Gauja River valley. The new Sigulda castle was built between 1878 and 1881, and it was owned by Count Kropotkin. From 1923 until 1940, the castle housed a centre for writers, and during the Soviet Union it was a hospital for cardiology patients. Since 2003, the Sigulda Administrative District Council has been located here. The buildings that have been preserved include a wooden home (mid-19th century), where the Kropotkin family used to live, a granary (late 18th or early 19th century), the home of the gardener (19th century) and a brick wall (19th century). If we go to the north-eastern direction, we will find the Vējupīte valley less than two kilometres away. It includes the shallow (3.6 m) but high (6.1 m) Pēteris cave and the deep Pūču valley with the little Kraukļupīte River. At the place where the two valleys come together we find the Satezele castle hill (its flat surface is 90 x 75 m), where, in the early 13th century, the oak castle of the ruler of Livonian lands, Dabrelis, was once found. Nearby is the Kraukļu valley, with 11 m sandstone walls and a cave that is 5.2 m deep. Nearby is the Paradise (Painter) hill, which offers a lovely landscape that has been painted and photographed since ancient times. There is a Ferris wheel in the western part of Sigulda that is open during the summer, as well as an aerial tram that is the only transport vehicle of its type in the Baltic States and was installed in 1969. The cable that carries the tram is 1,060 metres long and links the shores of the ancient Gauja River valley between Sigulda and Krimulda. The cable is approximately 40 metres above the Gauja. The south-western part of Sigulda features the mighty Beite cliff which is split by a deep stream valley. To the west of the cliff is the Emperor’s View viewing area that is 67 m above the Gauja and offers a good view of Krimulda and the Turaida Castle. A viewing area was established here in 1862, when Tsar Alexander II of Russia visited Sigulda. The wooden Emperor’s chair is to the east of the viewing area. The Turaida Museum Reserve is in the place where the shore is split by deep valleys carved out by streams. It features several outstanding monuments that are as much as 1,000 years old. Of note are the Turaida Estate (21 buildings), the grave of the Rose of Turaida, the Turaida Lutheran Church (1750), which is one of the oldest wooden churches in Latvia) and the Turaida Castle. Folksong hill, which is nearby, is used for various thematic events. |
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The history of Cēsis begins at the Riekstu hill, which is 18 m high and the surrounding area. There was a wooden castle built by the Vendian tribe that stood there from the 11th to the 13th century. The hill is in the central part of the castle’s park, and it offers a fine view of the park, a pond and the ruins of the Cēsis Castle. A long staircase leads to the hill. The Cēsis Castle was built in the early 13th century as the residence of masters of the Livonian Order, and it was one of the most fortified forts in the Baltic region. Alongside is the New Cēsis Castle, which was built in 1777 in a place where gate fortifications had been before. The building houses the Cēsis Museum of History and Art, and an annex contains the Castle Visitor Centre and the Cēsis Tourism Information Centre. From the tower of the castle, we get a good view of the castle ruins, St John’s Lutheran Church and the northern stretches of the city. Opposite the new castle is the stable of the Cēsis Castle Estate and a wheelhouse (both from the first half of the 19th century). Today these house the Cēsis Exhibition Hall. Other buildings include a granary, a hut for coachmen and an old brewery. On the other side of the street is the romantic May park, which was installed during the 1830s. Streets in Cēsis include Lielā Katrīna, Mazā Katrīna, Mazā Kalēju, Kalēju and Lielā Līvu streets and Līvu square with wooden buildings from the late 18th and early 19th century. Torņa Street stretches along the walls of the Medieval castle. Outside the church is a sculpture, “As the Centuries Pass By,” and legend has it that anyone who rubs the lantern of the Old Time Man can see the future. One of the most impressive buildings in Cēsis is St John’s Lutheran Church, which was built in the late 13th century by the Livonian Order. The Roman-style three-segment basilica has elements of Gothic design and a 65 m steeple that was installed in 1853. The building was reconstructed several times during the 20th century and contains grave plaques relates to masters of the Livonian Order and local bishops. The pulpit dates back to 1748, the oak altar was manufactured in 1858, and the altar painting “Crucified One” was painted in 1862. The windows of the altar part of the church contain artistically valuable stained glass. The organ was manufactured in 1907 by the E.F. Walker firm, and it is one of the best concert organs in Latvia. The solar clock with the number 1744 is in the south-wester corner of the church. It is worth scaling the viewing tower of the church. At its foot is Rose Square, which was a market square from the mid-13th century until 1927 and was restored in 2008. This is the central square in the city. During the Middle Ages, a punishment pole and the city well were here. Rīgas Street has been the main street in the old part of the city from the very start, and here we find most of the architecturally distinguished buildings from the 18th and 19th century – the former city hall, the Fābers house and the Princess house. At one end of the street is Liv Square, where there a church, cemetery and the Rīga gate in the city’s walls existed in the 13th century. Today the square is decorated by a lighted fountain at a place where a well was found in the 13th century. On the other end of the street we find a reconstruction of the foundations of the Rauna gate from the 14th and 15th century, offering a good look at Medieval walls and the size and strength of the gates. It is commonly claimed that the national flag of Latvia was born in Cēsis, but it must be emphasised that the flag that is mentioned in chronicles was designed in Cēsis in 1279 as the ideological prototype of the current Latvian flag, while the story of the first national flag actually comes from Valmiera, where it was sewn in 1916. |
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This village is at the place where the Irbe (Dižirve, Īra) River flows into the sea, and it is on both shores of the river (sea side and land side). The name of Irbe was recorded for the first time in a 1310 border agreement between the bishop of Kurzeme and the Rīga Dome Capitol. The name of Lielirbe (Irvemūnde) was recorded for the first time in a document from an arbitration court in 1387. At the end of the 19th century, the small port at Lielirbe was an active centre for the sale and transport of timber materials. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the largest number of sailing ships among villages on the western shore of Kurzeme was built there. In 1939, the village had some 300 residents, more than 70 houses and a Baptist church which is now at the Ventspils Open Air Museum. A narrow-gauge railroad passed through the village, which had a post and telegraph office, two grocery stores, an elementary school, a choir and a brass band. Lielirbe was one of the largest villages to disappear after World War II. Cultural historian Valda Marija Šuvcāne (1923-2007) was born in Lielirbe, and her daughter, Baiba Šuvcāne, is continuing her mother's work by writing important papers about life along the Livonian coastline. By 2019, a bridge is to be reinstalled across the Irbe River. |
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Ģipka is a village that once was the site of the first maritime school in Kurzeme. It was opened in 1869, just a few years after a similar school in Ainaži. This was a Category 2 maritime school, which trained helmsmen for long-distance trips and captains for short-distance trips. The school was moved to Mazirbe in 1894. Before the maritime school, the building housed a different kind of school, and a second floor was added in 1867 specifically for the maritime school. Today this is a residential building. During 28 years, the school trained more than 200 professional sailors, and it was of great importance in facilitating ship building in shoreline Liv villages. (Source: Roja TIC) |
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Durbe is the smallest town in Latvia with a distinguished history, as well as the smallest city in the country in terms of population (some 500 residents). Durbe was first mentioned in a Courlandian document. In 1260, there was a legendary battle at Durbe between the joint forces of the Livonian Order and the German Order and local tribes, including Courlandians who left the German forces to join the tribes. One of Latvia's first professional gardeners, Sīmanis Klevers (1834-1922) lived and worked in Durbe, and it is thanks to him that the local gardens feature many rare types of apple trees. The herald of Durbe, which was approved in 1925 features a silver apple tree. Several local farms have fruit orchards, and there are many active gardeners. An apple festival is held each September in Durbe. |
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Renda is a very old town, first mentioned in historical sources in 1230. During the 13th century, Renda was one of the centres of the ancient Courlandian land of Vanema. When Courland was split up in 1235, Renda was taken over by the German Order, and local residents were forcibly drafted into its military. During the age of the Duchy of Courland (1562-1795), the region flourished despite wars, the bubonic plague and other problems, particularly during the rule of Duke Jacob (1642-1682). During the 17th century, Renda became something of a manufacturing centre, churning out timber products, with local lime kilns, watermills, flax weaving facilities, a glass factory and a boiling house for saltpetre and soap. Wine, perfumes and barrels were produced in Renda, as was cast iron for nails and many other things. The court at the Jelgava Castle loved the sour wines from Renda. All of this was destroyed during the Great Northern War (1700-1721). During the 19th century, a chemicals factory was built on the site of the burned Renda castle, and nearby was one of the largest leather tanning plants in Kurzeme, along with a manufacturing facility for turpentine. Cultural life began to develop in parallel to this. Renda suffered much during the two world wars and the subsequent Soviet repressions. The so-called Courelian Battalion of partisans went into the forests after the occupation to continue their struggle against the Soviet regime. Renda today is a small and quiet village with the Lielrenda Estate, a local church, the “devil’s boat” at the Abava River, and the Īvande waterfalls. |
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Pavilosta is a comparatively new city that has formed at the mouth of the Saka River in the Baltic Sea. True is the fact that in the medieval times the harbour of sea ships was located 6 km from the sea – at the junction of the Tebra and the Durbe Rivers. Important period in the life of the harbour was during the ruling of Duke Jacob, when sea ships arrived here. As a result of the Polish-Swedish war the Saka harbour had to be closed. The harbour that's visible nowadays in the mouth of the Saka River was formed in the middle of the 19th century at the so called Akagals fishermen village. In 1878 the river mouth was excavated and piers were built. Here two-masted ships were built. The World Wars destroyed the fleet, but the fishery traditions remained alive. In 1991 the populated area acquired the status of a city. Nowadays Pavilsota is a popular target for yachtsmen and windsurfers, as well as summer recreation place. Yachtsmen are awaited at the yacht harbour. |
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Helsinki is the capital of Finland and the biggest city in Finland. It offers a lot to see as it is seaside city surrounded by islands but city itself is full of wonderful parks. This city has everything to attract all kinds of people - from architecture and culture to nature and even has wide range of places where to enjoy night-time Helsinki. |
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Ja mērķis ir savākt pilnvērtīgu etnogrāfisko ciemu fotokolekciju, ir jāapskata Strazdi (no lietuviešu valodas strazdai tulkojumā nozīmē strazds), kas ir pavisam neliela apdzīvota vieta Balošas (Baluošas) ezera ziemeļu krastā. Strazdi pirmoreiz rakstos minēti 1783. g. un ciema nosaukums cēlies no kādas mežziņu dzimtas uzvārda. |
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Pirmo reizi vēstures avotos 1253. g. šī vieta ir minēta kā kuršu apdzīvota apmetne. Laikā no 1637. – 1639. g. te uzcēla pirmās 19 kapelas – t.s. „Krusta ceļa stacijas", kas atgādināja Jeruzalemes Krusta ceļu. Kopš tā laika Žemaišu Kalvarija ir pazīstama kā nozīmīgs svētceļnieku galamērķis. Dažas no Krusta ceļa kapelām ir veidotas 17. – 18 gs., bet citas – 19. gs. Jāatceras, ka vēl pavisam nesen – Padomju laikos svētceļniekus nežēlīgi vajāja un represēja. Mūsdienās pilsētā ir izveidots 21 svētceļnieku „pieturas punkts". Te ik gadu (parasti no 2. – 12. jūlijam) notiek Žemaišu Kalvarijas katoļu draudzes svētki, kas pulcina daudz ļaužu no dažādām Eiropas valstīm. Iespaidīgā katoļu bazilika ir slavena ar Vissvētākās Jaunavas Marijas Katoļu Ģimeņu Karalienes gleznu, kas 17. gs. atvesta no Romas. Tai piedēvē brīnumdarītājas spējas. Interesants ir pilsētas ielu tīklojums, kas atgādina 9. – 13. gs. apdzīvotas vietas ielu plānojumu. Noteikti apskatāms iespaidīgais Žemaišu Kalvarijas pilskalns, kas slejas mazās Varduvas (Varduva) upītes krastā. |
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The wooden buildings with few floors emerged in the 19th century. Tourists can look at typical closed yards, verandas, wooden elements and decorations. The city suffered from fires in 1866 and 1938. The Market Square is the historical centre of Ludza, while the Ludza castle hill dominates the region. The streets of the city were established around the hill, which had an ancient Lettigalian wooden castle late in the 14th century. The Livonian Order replaced with the mightiest brick castle in Latgale. It was sacked in 1654 by the forces of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. The castle hill offers a lovely view of Latgale and the oldest city in Latvia and its historical centre. |
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Valdemārpils is a small and quiet town along the shore of Lake Sasmaka. A village of craftsmen and merchants was established on the land of the Sasmaka Estate in the 17th century. There were quite a few Jewish merchants and craftsmen in towns in Kurzeme during the mid-19th century, and Sasmaka was known as their capital city. The city was named Valdemārpils in 1926. Its historical 19th century centre is a monument to urban construction. The town has a Lutheran church, an Orthodox church, a former synagogue, a monument to Krišjānis Valdemārs, and an outstanding linden tree. |
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Entstanden als eine 6 km entfernte Arbeiterstadt des schon geschlossenen Ignalina-Atomkraftwerks. In der Stadtbebauung dominieren die für die Sowjetzeit typischen architektonischen Formen und Monumentalbauten. |
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Kaļķis is a populated area where
dolomite is still extracted from quarries in
the region (Kalnciems2 is one such
quarry). Some of the quarries are flooded.
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