The company has a history of more than 40 years, and today it is a competitive dairy processing company at the Baltic level, producing milk, kefir, cottage cheese, yogurt, butter, cheese and other dairy products.  A store alongside the factory sells the products, and Valmieras Dairy is one of five companies in Latvia that can manufacture an EU guaranteed traditional product, "Summer Solstice Cheese".

Četrus kilometrus garā lokveida un marķētā dabas taka meklējama Plateļu pilsētiņas ziemeļaustrumu daļā. Tā ved pa dažādiem biotopiem – mežu, purvu, ezera malu, atklājot dažādas ainavas un tajās mītošās augu, putnu un dzīvnieku sugas. Šī ir interesantākā un ainaviskākā no Žemaitijas nacionālā parka takām.

The fast-food place of a bistro type  in Gulbene with a tasty lunch menu for very reasonable prices. It is also possible to try dishes typical for Gulbene district here.

Working hours: Monday-Friday: 08:00 - 18:00, Saturday: 09:00 - 14:00

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.

The Baltic Coastal Hiking Route goes through Nõva Nature reserve where you will have exceptional views of the white and grey dunes. The beaches are popular for fishing and kite-surfing. In Dirhami you can spend some time in a cafe and from its terrace you will have a beautiful view of the sea and the port. Along the way you can also see ancient Swedish hamlets with a different cultural environment and landscape, as well as shallow lakes that have been separated from the sea. 

The farm dates back to 1992 and uses milk from its own cows.  Tours are available along with tastings and purchase of products.  Cheese can be ordered in advance.

The farm breeds several species of chinchillas and offers a look at them. There are also decorative pheasants, peacocks, doves and different kinds of chickens, along with marmots, dwarf goats, chipmunks, rabbits, a pony, etc. You can purchase chinchillas, decorative birds and other animals, along with quail eggs, chinchilla pelts and souvenirs. There are also ponds for fishing.

The “Kest” restaurant takes its visitors on a gastronomic trip, following the adventures of the chef Maris Jansons, who has been preparing a great variety of dishes for more than two decades.

The Saltupju sacred stream is 1.3 km to the Northwest of the centre of Aknīste, near the small valley of the Dienvidsusēja River. The stream has been known as a source for medical treatments since antiquity. It is said that streams which flow to the East always have medicinal water, particularly on Easter morning for those who rinse their eyes in it. The water contains iron compounds, which is seen in the brown sediment (the result of iron bacteria). Alongside the stream is a stone with a small indentation, and it is thought to have been a cult stone long ago. A sacred linden tree grows at the edge of the valley. The stream can be seen with good reason as one of the most outstanding streams in all of Latvia.