The Kurzeme milk tour

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.

Die Molkerei „Jaunpils pienotava” ist mehr als 100 Jahre tätig (seit 1912) und Käsemeister stellen hier Halbhartkäse, Weichkäse, Quark, saure Sahne, Desserts und andere Milchprodukte her. Im Herstellungsprozess wird nur die von den lettischen Bauern produzierte Milch verwendet. Ausfuhr der Erzeugnisse erfolg in mehr als 17 Länder. Die Molkerei-Erzeugnisse kann man in einem zum Betrieb nahegelegenen Geschäft kaufen.

One of the largest castles in Kurzeme, this building has been preserved in fairly good shape.  Work on its began in the mid-13th century, and it was commissioned by the heads of the Dome Cathedral in Rīga.  In 1434, the estate was bought by the bishop of Kurzeme.  The Maidel and Osten-Sacken dynasties owned it from the 16th to the 20th century.  The Dundaga Castle burned down twice and has been rebuilt many times.  The last reconstruction was in 1905, after the castle was burned down during the revolution.  Of interest on both sides of the castle’s door are stone carvings of a knight and a bishop.  In recent years, the hotel in the castle has been renovated, as has the second floor hallway and a terrace that is popular for weddings.  There are many legends about the castle, including one about a wedding of elves and another about the Green Lady.  Today the building houses the Dundaga School of Music and Art, a hotel, party rooms, the Dundaga Tourism Information Centre and various exhibitions.  It is worth finding a guide to tour the castle.  Groups of tourists can also order tastings of local foods.

In der Kornkammer und in der Käserei des ehemaligen Landgutes von Sieksāte (Berghof) ist ein Museum (seit 1985) eingerichtet, wo man den Weg der Milchherstellung von der Kuh im Stall bis zu den fertigen Milchprodukten verfolgen kann. Jeder Besucher kann das Melken ausprobieren, Butter schlagen und das selbstgemachte Produkt verkosten.

Die Wirte bieten an, sich in die Rolle eines Imkers einzufühlen, den Bienenpfad zu besuchen, mit einem Kletterseil auf einen Baum zu klettern, Wachskerzen zu gießen und Bienenprodukte zu kaufen. Sommercafé. Picknickplätze.

Lettische Küche: Bohnensuppe, Suppe aus Fleischbällchen, Pfannkuchen mit Marmelade, hausgemachter Saft, Kräutertees.

Das besondere Gericht: Graupengrütze nach dem Geschmack der Feen (Übers. von Laumas ist Feen).

Der Betrieb ist mehr als 20 Jahre tätig und arbeitet mit ~ 100 örtlichen Herstellern zusammen. Der Unternehmensgrundsatz ist die Herstellung von natürlichen und gesunden Milchprodukten – Kefir, Quark, saurer Sahne, Sahne, Joghurt und weichem Käse. SIA „Elpa” ist der einzige Milchverarbeitungsbetrieb in Südkurland, der eine Betriebsbesichtigung und Verkostung der Erzeugnisse anbietet. Die Produktion kann man auch vor Ort kaufen. Im Laufe der Betriebsbesichtigung ist es möglich, Kefir, Käse, Joghurt zu verkosten, sowie Milchprodukte selber herzustellen.

This is the largest herd of alpacas (an animal from the mountainous regions of South America) in the Baltic States. You can observe the animals, listen to stories about them, and buy alpaca wool. There are plans to transfer the herd to the Vīceži Estate in the Lībagi Parish in 2014.

“Airītes” is a museum found at the place where the first commander of the Latvian Armed Forces, Col Oskars Kalpaks and other Latvian soldiers (including three officers) fell during a battle on March 6, 1919.  The public donated money in 1920 to build a monument, and it was unveiled on September 3, 1922.  In 1935, work began on a building that was proposed by the Col Kalpaks Battalion organisation, the plan being to exhibit items related to Kalpaks’ battles.  It was opened a year later.  The monument was destroyed during the Soviet era, and the building housed a post office and some flats.  The memorial was restored during the national Renaissance in 1988 and 1989, and on November 11, 1990, the museum was reopened.  During renovations in 2007, the second floor burned down.  The museum and exhibition were renewed in 2013.  The exhibits speak to Kalpaks’ life during World War I and Latvia’s liberation battles.  Employees regularly organise commemorative events in honour of Kalpaks, as well as celebrations of Lāčplēsis (Veterans’) Day.

This is the only Straw Museum in Latvia, with ~370 sculptures and dolls made of straw and hay. Children in particular will love the chance to learn skills related to straw and hay at the creative straw workshop, where specific methodologies have been developed. Children will be able to take the things that they create along with them. The owners prepare holiday designs and elements, as well as attractive souvenirs.

Old household where the owners are beekeepers. Upon request, provides an educational programme and visits for schools and events.

The ceramicist produces dishes, bowls, cups, other dishware, as well as decorative products. You can try your hand at the potter’s wheel, take part in the opening of the wood-fired kiln, watch demonstrations of the work, and order and purchase products based on the technique of fumigated ceramics.

The rock is not too big (2.1 m high, 15 m in circumference), but since the early 20^th century it has been a popular tourist destination.  There is a lovely view of the Abava River valley from the rock.

The name of the location translates to “Honey Castle,” and the owner has some 300 hives of bees. Honey that he has produced has won a number of prizes. He offers hogweed honey, honeyed local berries, and honey straws for children (the only place in Latvia where these are offered). You can tour the farm, taste ten types of honey, and purchase beekeeping products. “Extreme Beekeeping” is a process which will allow you to put on a beekeeper’s suit to learn about the hard-working insects up close. The owner also produces wax candles.

Abava Winery, located in the Abava River Valley in Kurzeme, invites you to sample Latvia’s fruit and berry ciders, wines, and distillates.

Our Story
The inspiration to create the winery came to the owners during their honeymoon trip, while visiting Europe’s oldest wineries. It is now regarded as the largest winery and cidery in Latvia.

Apples
The 4-hectare apple orchard includes trees planted during the Soviet era, representing the industrial apple varieties of that time. 

Ciders 
Abava ciders are made from apples grown in Latvia and stand out with their distinctive northern flavour – a classic Old World heritage, enriched with northern herbs, berries, fruit characteristics, and bold creative blends. Abava ciders have been awarded at international exhibitions and competitions.

For Visitors 
The owners invite you to visit the cidery, learn about the story of cider, and enjoy various ciders during a tasting. Groups can order platters of snacks and catering. During the harvest season, guests are invited to participate in apple picking. The cider estate also offers venues for events, seminars, parties, corporate gatherings, and celebrations.

Where to Buy  
Abava ciders are available at major retail chains, specialised shops, and online at abavas.lv. The widest selection of drinks and the friendliest prices are available at the Abava Winery shop on-site.

The biggest and the most impressive public decoration in the open air which was originally built in 2004 as the set for the film „The guards of Riga”and later as the set for the film directed by J.Streich „Rudolf’s inheritance”. Here you will also find the weapon museum Arsenal (contains weapons of different periods, uniforms and household goods), as well as the bakery "Laci".

This farm is in a lovely location on the western side of the Talsi hillocks, offering a look at Talsi and its area.  This is an open farm with grows and processes apples (dried apples, apple chips, apple juice).  Visitors are offered an informative tour, with a chance to taste and purchase the products.  The farm is in a protected natural area -- the Talsi Hillocks Nature Park.  There is an area for tenting during the summer.  The owners will teach you to produce a crown from fruit tree branches. The gardens of the farm stretch across the hillocks, and there are several types of local apple trees that are nurtured by the lady of the house.  An informative stand alongside the farm features information about the most important values of the nature park.

This winery produces wine from fruits and berries from its own garden, as well as from wild fruits and berries – raspberry, apple, gooseberry, blackberry, strawberry, red bilberry, rowanberry, blueberry, red currant, elderberry, shadberry and dandelion wine.  The main product is sparkling wine from raspberries that is similar to Champagne.  The wines can be tasted at the cosy winery, which has a garden terrace.  During the summer, visitors can tour the garden, which is partly landscaped and partly wild.  Talk to the owner in advance, and he will prepare a campfire on which you will be able to cook food that you bring with you and enjoy it with the wine.  There are also fruit and berry juices for children.

The Grey Dune of Pāvilosta nature reserve covers 42 hectares of land and has been designated to protect Latvia’s widest dune (1.5 km parallel the seacoast, and 812m in the direction from the sea to inland) and the biotopes and species found there. A two-storied watching platform is built to savour the scenery.

 In Soviet time, local fishermen used to dry seaweed in dunes for production of agar, and thus rich vegetation developed in the dune. The Gray Dune is part of a unique landscape with the sea view, the traditional architecture of Pāvilosta fishing town, and biotopes, including protected, which border the nature reserve: pine forest, embryonic dunes, white dunes, and wet beech where once can find springs. Biotope 2130, “Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes)” is found here. At present, pines are taking over the biotope, therefore some maintenance activities are required. The Grey Dune is most beautiful in the second half of July and in August when the blossoming Breckland Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and Narrowleaf Hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum) colour the dune in shades of yellow and violet. The most typical species here are Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla pretense), Grey Hair-grass(Corynephorus canescens), Blue Hair Grass (Koeleria glauca), Sand Pink (Dianthus arenarius).

The Gray Dune earned wide recognition when a group of enthusiasts actively campaigned for six years to achieve the status of the nature reserve. Guna Grimsta, a group representative remembers that they organised events and activities throughout Latvia involving large part of the society, prominent personalities, church parishes, NGOs, school youth and university students. The activists were writing letters, making videos, doing research articles, composing music, collecting signatures and submitting proposals to achieve official status of the Grey Dune as an especially protected nature site. They organised seminars, concerts, art plenaires and exhibitions, educational excursions, joint-work, musical church services, meetings with high officials and their on-site visits to the Gray Dune.

In 2006 the group received the title „Proudness of Latvia” awarded by the national TV3 broadcasting company and daily paper „Diena”.
The nature reserve „Gray Dune of Pāvilosta” was established in October 30, 2007. It is the most recent Natura2000 site in Latvia.

Bērziņu mājās cep brīnumgardu kviešu un rudzu maizi pēc senām dzimtas receptēm. Garšu un smaržu maizei piedod īpašā krāsns, kurai ir vairāk nekā 70 gadi. Maizi iespējams pasūtīt vai, iepriekš piesakoties, izveidot un izcept paši savu kukulīti.