A very impressive ensemble that is in terrible shape.  The estate dates back to the 18^th and 19^th century, with the castle being built in the early 19^th century.  Half a century later it was rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style with symmetrical towers and bricks in the cornices.  The estate belonged to the Manteufel-Stzege dynasty.  The vestibule, stairwell and second floor hall still have ornamental ceiling paintings, but visitors are not allowed to enter the building, so they cannot be seen.  Valuable interior design elements include a fireplace from the early 19^th century that is decorated with marble elements.  After the expropriation of the castle in 1920 and until 1951, the building housed a forestry school and then an agricultural crafts school.  Opposite the castle was the stable of the state that was built in the style of Classicism with a pediment and mighty columns.  Built in the early 19^th century, the stable is no longer used and can only be viewed from the outside.  A very much overgrown park surrounds the complex, and the hillock is the grave of one of the baron’s dogs.

The cafe Staburadze is situated in the centre of the city Kuldiga.

This pile of big rocks stands around 9 m high and is some kind of monument to Krišjānis Barons and his achievements on behalf of the Latvian people.  His parents lived at the Valpene Estate, and the rocks contain engraved names of lost homesteads from the region.  Their direction in the pyramid indicates where the homesteads used to be.  The idea for the rocks came from Imants Ziedonis, and the pyramid was built by the sculptor Vilnis Titāns.

Regīna Kalniņa is one of the best known craftswomen in Kurzeme. She weaves blankets and shawls and knits colourful mittens. She also sews Rucava and Nīca folk costumes. The process of weaving and knitting can be viewed. Regīna’s products are widely demanded in Latvia and in other European countries.

The Baltic Way was a unique demonstration at the Baltic, European and global level.  Never before had the residents of three countries joined hands in a single chain to link the capital cities of the three nations – Vilnius, Rīga and Tallinn.  The historical event occurred on the evening of August 23, 1989 and involved some two million people to recall events that had happened 50 years before – the conclusion of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact that allowed the two superpowers of the day, Germany and the USSR, to divide up spheres of influence in Europe before the new world war.  The Baltic States lost their independence as a result of the pact.

The chain of demonstrators was some 600 km long, marking out the Baltic Way from Bauska to Rīga and then on to Sigulda, Cēsis, Valmiera and Rūjiena.  The route was known and used in the 14th and 15th century, or even earlier.  Testimony to this is given by the mighty castle hill at Mežotne and the ancient port alongside it.  The Bauska Castle was an important fort during the age of Livonia and, later, one of the residencies of the dukes of Courland.  Sigulda was well fortified on the banks of the Gauja River, with three stone castles nearby.  It was also a health spa.  Līgatne is important in industrial terms because of the paper factory that is there.  Āraiši is another ancient trade crossroad with a lake castle, ancient church, castle ruins and a famous windmill.  Cēsis is one of the historical diamonds of Vidzeme with its old town, the old and new castle, and the majestic views of the ancient Gauja River valley at the cliffs of Ērgļi.  Valmiera boasts of his St Simon’s Church, the Dāliņš stadium, its own theatre and the youthfulness of its own university college.  In Rūjiena, there is a monument to the Bugler of Tālava, which was carved by Kārlis Zemdega and installed in 1937 to commemorate the liberation of Rūjiena.  The monument survived all of the years after the war.  The engraving, “the bugler had to die, but the Latvians heard his call,” is very much in line with the Baltic Way on August 23, 1989.

This is one of two crossing points across the Daugava (the other is near Līvāni).  It is an exotic form of transportation to carry pedestrians, bicyclists and light automobiles across the river.  There is a motor that operates a 200-metre metal cable.  The crossing point is based on Soviet military pontoons that were used to build pontoon bridges for tanks.  The crossing point was established by its owners.  The Dunava Catholic Church is on the left bank of the river, and nearby is a monument to rafters.  During the 1820s, there were three crossing points of this type across the Daugava.

Aptuveni 0,5 km dienvidos no Mežotnes pilskalna atrodas Vīna kalns, kas līdzīgi kā Mežotnes pilskalns, ir veidots, izmantojot Lielupes ielejas stāvās krastu nogāzes, tās pārveidojot. Vietvārds ir it kā radies no stāsta, ka šeit parādījies dievgalds ar maizi un vīnu. Vīna kalnu ar Mežotnes pilskalnu savieno jauka koka laipa, kas ved pa Lielupes ielejas pamatkrasta lejas daļu.

Ekskursijas sākumā apmeklējiet Enerģētikas muzeja ekspozīciju Pļaviņu hidroelektrostacijā, kur iespējams iepazīties ar unikālās būves un lielākās elektroenerģijas ražotnes Baltijā celtniecības vēsturi un darbības nozīmīgākajiem notikumiem.  Pēc tam apmeklējiet Skrīveru pārtikas kombinātu, kurā iespējams iegādāties gardās konfektes un doties ekskursijā. Tālāk - Skrīveru mājas saldējums ar stāstījumu par saldējuma gatavošanu un degustācija. Brauciena noslēgumā dodieties uz savvaļas dzīvnieku dārzu, kur dzīvo ~ 50 dambrieži un Skotijas savvaļas govis.

Ein ehemaliges Fischerdorf am Ufer des Kurischen Haffs. Aufgrund der Wanderdünen hat seinen Standort mehrmals seit dem Anfang des 19.Jh. geändert. Holzbebauung mit einheitlichem Stil und Traditionen.