Издания

Карта создана для туристических поездок по приграничным районам Латвии и Литвы, для ознакомления со сходствами и различиями в истории сельского хозяйства обеих стран. Эти путешествия помогут создать представление о старинных и разнообразных традициях растениеводства, животноводства, рыбной ловли и рыбоводства, а также - с сельскими ремеслами. Традиции берут свое начало с зачатков сельского хозяйства на обжитых прибалтийскими племенами территориях около 2500 лет до н.э. и продолжаются в наши дни. Как в Латвии, так и в Литве в течение многих тысяч лет сельское хозяйство было основной экономической отраслью, что оказало влияние на меню, фольклор и повседневные традиции.

Земледелие. Самым древним культивируемым растением был ячмень, первыми культивируемыми овощами - репа и капуста. В усадьбах – центрах хозяйственной жизни – в 19 веке начали селекционировать сорта. Самыми последними стали выращивать помидоры. В начале 20 века в Латвии и Литве была проведена Аграрная реформа – создание новых крестьянских хозяйств. После советской оккупации были созданы коллективные хозяйства – колхозы.

Животноводство. Его задачи: снабжать человека пищей (говядина, баранина, свинина, молоко, масло); обеспечивать тяговую силу (лошади и быки); шерсть для одежды и лошадей для военных нужд. Пчеловодство было важной дополняющей отраслью.

Рыболовство. Рядом с морем, озерами и большими реками традиции рыболовства и рыбацкие рассказы высоко ценятся и по сей день. Уже в 16 веке появилось законодательство, регулирующее рыболовство. В 19 веке рыбаки объединялись в кооперативы и использовали новые рыболовные орудия для более продуктивного труда. В 20 веке действовало много хозяйств по выращиванию пресноводной рыбы.

Наиболее стремительное развитие плодоводства началось в 19 веке. Усадьба была школой для латвийских и литовских садоводов. В садах росли яблони, вишни, сливы, груши, смородина, крыжовник, клубника и малина, в теплицах - виноград, персики и абрикосы.

Ремесла. До 19 века крестьяне предметы обихода и орудия труда, а также одежду изготавливали сами в своих домах. В 20 веке, с расцветом промышленности, ремесленничество угасает, однако в наши дни изделия ручной работы и старинные навыки опять в почете.

In cooperation with Dundaga and Ventspils municipalities we have developed route map - booklet "The Liv coastline is inviting you!" to enable travelers to explore the unique ethnic cultural region in Latvia - the Liv Coastline. The Liv Coastline involves a series of shoreline villages from Ovīši to Ģipka along the shores of the Baltic Sea and the Bay of Rīga. With this brochure it is possible to get acquainted with the traditional cuisine of the region, holiday traditions and other values that make this region so unique and whose traditions still permeate the everyday lives of local people.

This publication is financed within the Estonia - Latvia Programme project “Development and promotion of small ethno-cultural regions as tourism destinations”.

Coastal event calendar in Latvia and Estonia 2018 includes wide range of events along the Baltic Coastal Hiking route in order for every traveller to find something that would attract him or her the most. 

This Rural Tourism Product manual is aimed to help you discover rural destinations in South of Finland, Estonia and Latvia beyond traditional touristic routes. The tours and sites in this manual are based around small-scale accommodation, open farms, local producers, living traditions and sincere people. The people here have a close relationship with itsnature and annual cycle. Each season has its own specific activities like mushrooming, berry picking, collecting herbs, ice-fishing and different agricultural jobs as well as traditional and seasonal celebrations. The countries are a haven for the tourist who loves nature, respects traditions and would like to experience the countries and their cultures more deeply.

Behind this manual there is a team of professional countryside tourism organisations and tour operators. For many years we have carried regular inspections of our accommodations and sites, have closely cooperated with national parks and nature experts, researched and developed new routes.

In this manual we present examples of group and individual touring routes, full day packages based on accommodations in the countryside, nature experiences in national parks, visits to farms and craftsmen. All of these can be linked with the traditional touristic routes and city experiences to bring more variety and attraction.

Travelling options between the countries are shown by air, ferries and bus. The list of tour operators that can help to arrange tours and services group and individual customers is provided in this manual. Some of the tour examples include optional extensions to Lithuania and Sweden.

We have released a new collection of postcards with great images from rural life.

The postcards tell about real rural feeling and heritage traditions that have lived through times and make part of today's life. So it's about what people still do in the countryside - go mushrooming in autumn, bake our special pīrāgi for festive table, and gather wild herb teas in the summertime. You can experience it visiting our countryside!

If you want to say hello from Latvian countryside to your friends, send them a postcard!
POSTCARDS (gallery)

The postcards are available from the office of Baltic Country Holidays, 40, Kalnciema str., Riga.

The postcard collection is produced under the project Heritage based agritourism product development in Latvia-Lithuania, supported by the EU Interreg Latvia-Lithuania programme 2014-2020.

People alongside the shores of the Baltic Sea have kitchens with gifts from the forest, meadows, rivers, lakes and the sea.  During the brief Nordic summer, there are carefully grown goodies from small gardens and farms.  People think about future generations and use environmentally friendly farming methods so that the ingredients are fresh, clean, healthy and nutritious. Throughout the year, Baltic cuisine features rye bread, grains, fresh and fermented dairy products, and various cheeses.  During the spring and summer, there are lighter dishes of fresh vegetables, herbs, berries, mushrooms and fish.  During the winter and fall, the cuisine becomes substantial with meat, vegetables, legumes, pickled, marinated and spicy dishes that are supplemented with warming and aromatic spices. It is a matter of honour to prepare food from high-quality ingredients that are bought from trustworthy local manufacturers and suppliers.  For that reason, it is best to taste oysters and shrimp in Denmark, salmon in Norway, liquorice in Finland, kama flour in Estonia, baked lampreys in Latvia, zeppelins in Lithuania, asparagus in Germany and rose petal jam in Poland.  Bon appétit! 

The „Latvian Heritage” sign of culture is meant for tourism businesspeople in Latvia who preserve and popularise Latvian cultural heritage by presenting it to visitors.

The sign was established at the initiative of „Lauku ceļotājs” so as to honour and create Latvia’s cultural and household heritage as it exists today. The sign will indicate locations where owners are prepared to provide information to visitors, show things, serve Latvian dishes, teach crafts and skills, and celebrate Latvian festivals. The sign of Latvian heritage will be given to accommodations, farms, craftspeople, countryside saloons, organisers and directors of events related to Latvian traditions, museums, collections, and specialists in various skills and crafts. The sign has been presented since 2013 in partnership with the Latvian Ministry of Culture and the Latvian Association of Local Government.