After the establishment of the Livonian state, the pope consecrated this land in honour of the holy Virgin Mary.  This created Terra Mariana or Māra’s Land.  The road between Ludza, Rēzekne and Daugavpils runs along an ancient trading route that once connected Vilnius and Kaunas to Pskov and, later, to St Petersburg and Warsaw.

Very beautiful and poetically picturesque with rivers and lakes that are in Latvia’s forested land and among hillocks that offer a wonderful look at the distant horizon – that is Māra’s Land, which is also known as the Land of Blue Lakes.  Lake Rāzna is the second largest in Latvia, and when the weather is clear, Mākoņkalns Hill or Padebešu Hill is reflected in its water.  Atop the hill are the oldest ruins of fortifications in Latgale, dating back to the Livonian era.

Rēzekne is known as the heart of Latgale, because it has always been the centre for Lettigalian culture and education.  People contributed donations for the 1939 construction of a monument to Māra of Latgale.  It is dedicated to those who fell during Latvia’s independence battles and the liberation of Latgale.  The monument also speaks to the Catholic identity of Latgale.  The monument was rededicated on August 13, 1992, the date of the assumption of the Virgin Mary.  A Catholic festival at Aglona and the monument to Māra of Latgale – these are integral components of this part of Latvia.  The present day is marked out clearly by the new Gors concert hall in Rēzekne, and well as the Zeimuļš student interest education centre.

Daugavpils is Latvia’s second city and an important centre for industry, culture, education and sports.  The Daugavpils pellet factory is unique, and the oldest pellet casting tower in Europe is now open to visitors, as are the restored Daugavpils fortress and the new Rothko Museum.

Not far from Daugavpils are the small Birķeneļi semi-estate and the Rainis Museum.  Latgale was the “land of new days” for the poet, and the museum now hosts gatherings of young artists and craftspeople.  The ancient tradition of ceramic art that is typical specifically of this part of Latvia is still thriving.

Prepared blood sausages both traditional and more modern. The farms offer sausage-making demonstrations for various interest groups. Farm sausages are special with the prize won at the Riga Food exhibition - People's Taste.

Open at any time by prior arrangement.

Latvia is the land of apples, so producing cider here is only natural! The ancient traditions of apple growing in our country, as well as the variety of high-quality apple cultivars, are key advantages of Latvia's cider culture. In our climate zone, it is challenging to grow good grapes for wine production, but the local conditions are particularly suitable for making apple cider. This is a natural consequence that local cider producers are increasingly mastering with excellence.

The Cider Route will take you to various cideries in Latvia, as well as to restaurants and pubs that serve it. The Cider Route allows you to understand the specifics of Latvian cider, introducing you to the culinary traditions and cultural heritage of different regions. You will have the opportunity to meet the cider makers themselves, who run small farms, tend to the orchards, share about their work, and even let you participate in it.

Rukši ir bioloģiskā saimniecība, kura audzē HEREFORD šķirnes liellopus, bariņu blējošas aitas ,vistas. Ar ambiciozu skatienu nakotnē par iespējām nodrošināt ar kvalitatīvu liellopu gaļu visus izsalkušos.

The café is in the basement of the Līgatne Cultural Centre. There is a summer terrace alongside the Līgatne River.

Latvian cuisine: Herring, cold soup, sausages, pork haché, hunter’s sausages, pork ribs, pancakes with cottage cheese, potato pancakes.

Special foods: The “Pie Jančuka” pork chop.

The cafeteria is on the main street in Līvāni, offering country cooking and Latvian dishes.

Latvian cuisine: Potato pancakes, cold soup, pearl barley and barley porridge, pork ribs with sauerkraut, bread soup. 

Special foods: “Rocks of Dubna and Daugava” – potato dumplings stuffed with cottage cheese in a cream sauce.

Aizputes pilsdrupas, akmens tilts pār Tebru, Jaunā pilsmuiža, ūdensdzirnavas un Sv. Jāņa luterāņu baznīca, kā arī 19. gs. beigās celtās koka ēkas starp Jāņa, Katoļu un Atmodas ielu veido neparastu pilsētbūvniecības kompleksu, kam piešķirts kultūras pieminekļa statuss. Staigājot pa vēsturisko centru, uzmanība jāpievērš ēku durvīm un to vērtnēm, logu ailēm, balkonu margām u.c. elementiem.

Sēlijā, Zasas muižas parkā, atrodas “Bērzzemnieki”, kur saimnieko Kalnāju ģimene. Atjaunojuši vēsturisko māju un ieveduši staļļos zirgus, ģimene sniedz viesiem iespēju iepazīt zirgus, piedalīties dažādos ikdienas darbos un doties izjādēs, kā arī nakšņot “muižiņā”.

Musteikas pirmsākumi ir meklējami jau 18. gs. Līdz Musteikai no Marcinkones puses var nokļūt pa grantētu ceļu, kas ved gar bijušajiem kolhoza zivju dīķiem. Automašīnu var atstāt ciema sākumā un izstaigāt to ar kājām, izjūtot veco ēku smaržu un šarmu. Musteikā atrodas Dzūkijas biškopības vēsturei veltīts „dzīvs” muzejs, kur stropos dzīvo bites, bet tā saimnieks ir biškopis pēc aicinājuma un būtības. Ja palūgsiet, viņš demonstrēs – kā ar krama, metāla un posas piepes palīdzību senos laikos ieguva uguni.