This beautiful castle (1797-1802) is seen as the most brilliant example of Classicism in Latvian architecture.  It, like the Eleja Castle, was designed by the architect of the royal court in Russia, Giacomo Antonio Domenico Quarenghi and the architect Johann Georg Adam Berlitz.  The ornate interior was unique for Kurzeme at the time when the castle was built.  Empress Catherine II gifted the castle to Charlotte von Lieven (1742-1828) after Charlotte served as governess for the empress’ grandchildren.  An agricultural school operated in the building from 1921 until 1941, and it was very much damaged and pillaged during World War II.  Restoration began later, when the Mežotne experimental selection station was housed in it.  The lovely building houses a hotel and can be toured.  Around the castle, which is on the banks of the Lielupe River, there is one of the most beautiful English-type gardens in Latvia – perfect for a stroll.

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.

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)

The outworker offers different garlic and other vegetable products: marinated garlic flowers, different mixed vegetables; dried garlic rusks, etc. The groups are offered food tasting.

Eine Asstellung der Steine unter freiem Himmel, eingerichtet vom litauischen Ärzt Intas Vaclovas (1925 – 2007). Ein Museum der einzigartigen Steine.

Маршрут подходит для активных туристов, интересующихся многообразием природной и культурной среды национального парка «Кемери».  Национальный парк «Кемери» (основан в 1997 г.) создан, прежде всего, для защиты водноболотных угодий – мелководного побережья Рижского залива, заросших прибрежных озер, болот, влажных лесов (трясин и др.) и пойменных лугов, как значимых мест произростания многих растений (~ 25 % от видов растений, занесенных в Красную книгу Латвии) и обитания животных, особенно мест скопления гнездящихся и перелетных птиц. На территории парка находится один из крупнейших заболоченных массивов Латвии – Большое Кемерское болото. Заболоченные массивы являются значимым местом образования и выхода сероводородных вод, а также местонахождения лечебных грязей, используемых в медицине, которые в свое время послужили основанием для создания известного курорта «Кемери».

Информация о маршруте от Latvijas Lauku forums​​

The ruins of the Koknese Castle are found where the Daugava and Pērse rivers flow together. The castle, which is on a floodplain, was built for the bishopric of Rīga in 1209, and it replaced an ancient Latvian castle that was made of wood. The castle was blown up by Saxon forces in 1701. A visitors centre is near the ruins, and there you can carve a Medieval coin or rent a boat to sail down the Daugava. Make sure to stroll through the Koknese park, which is alongside the ruins.

The Krimulda Castle was built in the latter half of the 13th century.  It was located where the right bank of the ancient Gauja River valley is split by the deep Vikmeste ravine.  The castle was owned by the council of archbishops from Rīga, and it was an impressive structure with a large interior courtyard and a defensive wall that was 1.5 m thick.  The Swedish military blew up the castle when retreating in 1601.  Today the castle hill is forested, and only a small fragment of the castle wall can still be seen.  It is near the ruins that you will find the Sigulda aerial tram and the Krimulda serpentine road – the only object of its kind in the Baltic States.