Rīga - Sigulda - Turaida - Āraiši - Cēsis (~100 km)
Surroundings of Sigulda and Gauja National Park - Sigulda Town, Sigulda New Castle, Turaida Museum Reserve, and Gūtmaņala Cave. You can join local craft workshops and make your own mini replica of a Sigulda walking stick, which is a famous symbol of the town. You can also try your hand at weaving, paper arts and other crafts.
Āraišu Vējdzirnavas Windmill - Excursion and Miller’s Lunch in an authentic environment. Āraišu Vējdzirnavas Windmill is one of the few Dutch-type windmills in Latvia that is still in working order. You can also try your hand at grain milling. The Miller’s Lunch is made from locally grown ingredients. It consists of barley porridge with meat sauce, dessert with berry jelly, and herbal tea or sour milk.
Āraišu Castle on the Lake - The only tribal residence in Europe that was fortified in the 9th-10th centuries. Its historic reconstruction serves as a museum. http://amata.lv/archeological-museum-park-araishi/ un https://www.facebook.com/pg/AraisuEzerpils/posts/
Cēsis Town - Cēsu medieval castle with a historical reconstruction of a 16th century herb and vegetable garden. It contains only vegetables, herbs and medicinal plants that were found in Livonia 500 years ago, such as onions, garlic, dill and thyme. Both in the Middle Ages and in the palace garden, medicinal plants such as marigold and wormwood were also grown. During the summer season, a knowledgeable medieval gardener will tell you about the plants that are found in the garden and their uses, as well as their positive and negative impacts. www.cesupils.lv
Dining options in Cēsis
- Restaurant “Jāņoga” offers meals made from local farmers’ produce and the extensive vegetarian menu.
- Café “Priede”, located in “Rožu laukums” (Rose Square), in the historic centre of Cēsis. Offers meals from local ingredients and coffee roasted in Latvia.
Overnight options in Cēsis
- Hotel Cēsis, a family-friendly establishment in the very centre of Cēsis Town. There is a hotel restaurant and a café "Pagrabiņš". http://turisms.cesis.lv/en/where-to-stay/hotels/hotel-cesis/ un http://turisms.cesis.lv/en/where-to-stay/
