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This is one of the most beautiful ancient river valleys in Estonia – 12 km long with nearly 40 revealed Devonian sandstone cliffs. Among these, the most important ones are Viira müür, Kalamatu müür, and Põdramüür.
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Was mentioned in 1387, where it was called Domesnes. That was the name until the early 20th century. A ledger at the Irbe-Ģipka church states that there were four farms in Kolka in 1770 -- Krogi, Ūši, Vecvagari and Kabriki. In 1844, a school for vergers was established, and Nika Polmanis worked there as a teacher. Kolka's first school was built in 1881, and Livonian Kārlis Bernšteins (1881-1951) worked there for nearly half a century as a teacher. The Dundaga riots that began in 1859 were led by Livonian Nika Šūbergs (1833-1884), the son of the owner of the Sārnasti farm. At the end of the 19th century, there were 392 residents in Kolka, and in 1935, 145 of the 343 residents were Livonians. During the mid-1980s, 13 Livonians spoke their language freely. Kolka is the only coastal Livonian village that continued to develop during the frontier regime of the Soviet Union, because it was the centre of a fishing kolkhoz. The number of residents increased rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s because new homes, a school, a people's centre, a kindergarten and several fish processing factories were built there. Today Kolka has 700 residents and is the largest village along the Livonian coastline. The "Līcis-93" fish processing factory is there, and local fishermen and smokers of fish work in the village. The Kūolka Livonian Centre and the Livonian ensemble Laula operate there, as well. The Ūši farm offers tastings of Livonian foods. |
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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". |
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This is a shallow lagoon-type lake which, along with the area around it, is a wetland of international importance. The presence of 271 species of birds has been found in the area, including 43 birds which are listed in the Latvian Red Book and 15 that are listed in the European Red Book. The nature park includes the Nida swamp and the part of the sea which is alongside the park - newly estabilshed sea protected area "Nida - Pērkone". Between Lake Pape and the Baltic Sea we find Latvia’s oldest bird ringing station, where rings are attached not only to birds, but also to bats. Lake Pape is the first territory in Latvia where livestock adapted to life in the wild have been released for the proper management of the lake’s flood-land meadows. First there were wild horses (“Konik” horses), then aurochs and the European bison. Visitors can use bird and nature observation towers, nature trails, etc. The Ķoņi village is a unique example of a seaside fishing village. Pape is popular among bird-watchers, and the park’s visitors centre is found in the “Nature House” of the Worldwide Fund for Nature. |
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Take a train from Riga to Cēsis and stay in the very heart of this chaming town. It is one of the most attractive Latvian provincial towns with a medieval Livonian Order Castle, a New Castle containing an excellent regional history museum and creative workshops, a charming Old Town with St. John's Church and several cosy cafes and restaurants with live music at weekends. |
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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. |
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Located in the Līva Hotel in Old Liepāja, the restaurant offers Latvian and global cuisine. It has an herb garden to produce ingredients for the dishes. Latvian cuisine: Low-salt herring with cottage cheese, stuffed crepes, potato pancakes, sautéed pork ribs, venison with juniper berries, roast leg of duck, roast filet of pike-perch with grits, smoked herring filet. Special foods: Smoked cod with potatoes, onions and dill in a ceramic ramekin. |
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The farm has a garden with medicinal plants and herbs, and a collection of vegetables and decorative plants used in cooking. Guided walks can be supplemented with delicious herb teas and herb pies if booked in advance. The farm shop has a vast selection of preserves of berries, vegetables, herbs, herb teas and herb mixes. |
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Jurmala town (the second largest in Latvia) was founded in 1959, by combining Kemeri and Sloka towns in the Riga city Jurmala district. It stretches 32 km along the coastal line of Gulf of Riga. Jurmala resort once was one of the most important objects of this type in the Northern Europe. This was facilitated by the development of local and interstate transport and traffic (coaches, steamers, train). The first guests was accommodated in Dubulti, where in 1834 the first hotel was built, but in 1847 - The first wellness centre. In the 19th the first medical institution launched. Starting from 1834 the rapid construction of summer cottages began. Development of the resort was ended by the World War I. After the war the number of resort vacationers boomed from 12 thousand (in 1920) to 32 thousand (in 1935). Kemeri resort developed along with Jurmala, which received a massive of vacationers' amount during the Soviet period. |
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Third biggest island in Estonia. Full of beautiful grown junipers, little dolomite outcrop on the coast of the sea and fishermen villages on the coastline. |
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Atrodas 1905. gada ielā 6. Sinagoga tika celta 1875. g. – Krievijas cara Aleksandra II valdīšanas laikā. Pēc 2. pasaules kara tajā atradās graudu noliktava, kinoteātris, kafejnīca un visbeidzot – naktsklubs. No 2003. gada to vairs neizmantoja. Pirms gada tika pabeigts vērienīgs projekts - sinagogas un lūgšanu nama atjaunošana, kurā izveidots sabiedrībai pieejams kultūras un informācijas centrs un pārcelta Kuldīgas novada bibliotēka. |
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Because this circular trail is in a nature zone, it may only be traversed in the company of a guide from the Slītere Nature Park. A steep stairway that has been installed along the ancient shores of what was once a Baltic lake of ice will lead the visitor to a completely different world, one with fallen trees, broadleaf forests, an area in which underground streams create aboveground wetlands, a limy and grassy swamp (all of these are protected areas), remains of old-time reclamation ditches, and rotting fir stumps which are important in terms of the diversity of species and which have been in the region since a major windstorm in 1969. The trail is 1.2 km long and will take an hour to an hour-and-a-half to traverse. The trail begins at the Slītere lighthouse, where the SNP visitors’ centre is located (in tourist season).
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The blacksmith’s shop is found at the medieval Cēsis Castle. You can examine, order and purchase reproductions of ancient jewellery, watch the craftsman at work, hear a very attractive story about the history of jewellery-making, and try your own hand at the craft. |
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This is a simple one-story building with a cross on its roof. The Pitrags congregation was established in 1890, but the church was built in 1902. It was restored after a World War I fire in 1925 and 1926, and restored again during the period of Latvia's restored period of independence. |
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This is a very interesting monument to the history of fishing in the region. These areas had docks and areas where fishermen built huts to store their nets and other inventory. The areas also had a social role – men came together to discuss work that had to be done, while women and children wove nets. The huts at Bigauņciems were eventually washed into the sea, and the areas at Ragaciems have been partly destroyed. The ones at Lapmežciems are the ones which are best preserved. One of the net huts has been restored, but the others are in very poor condition, indeed. That may be why you should focus on these huts as you walk along the beach. Make sure that you take some pictures of this historic location. |
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"The heart of Latgale", where during the 9th – 12th century stood a fortified Latgalian castle. In 1285 Livonian Order began the construction of stone castle instead of Latgalian castle. After the collapse of Livonia (Rezekne in the composition of Poland) the city languished. Economic life in Rezekne restored in the second half of the 18th century. After the construction of St. Petersburg – Warsaw highway (1836) and railway (1861), Rezekne became a holiday destination for holidaymakers from St. Petersburg. During the World War II, buildings of the city significantly suffered. Today the town is an important economic and cultural centre of Latgale region. |
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The cafe Picerija is situated in Lielvarde alongside Riga-Daugavpils highway. |
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From the highest point in the Alūksne highlands, you will see an unusually beautiful view of the surrounding forested hillocks and the small areas of meadows and farmland. Sadly, there are no improvements to the location, which can be difficult to access. It is on private property.
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This company uses natural juices and other raw materials to produce blackberry, black currant, sea buckthorn and spinach glazes that are used to decorate handmade gingerbread. You can listen to stories, take part in thematic activities, bake your own gingerbread, and buy dough and finished cookies. |
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The craftswoman is prepared to offer practical activities which allow you to learn about clay, use a potter’s wheel, and release your inner creative abilities. After the firing of the products in a kiln, you will be able to take them along as a fine souvenir which confirms our newly discovered skills. The craftswoman also grows herbs and teas which you can sample. |