Bella Dvina and Baltic Country of Lakes Estonia Russia Baltic See Viļaka municipality Balvi Rugāji municipality Byelorussia municipality Baltinava municipality Poland Kārsava district Viļāni Cibla municipality municipality Ukraine Ludza municipality Līvāni municipality Riebiņi municipality Rēzekne municipality Zilupe Vārkava municipality municipality Preiļi municipality Aglona Dagda municipality municipality Ilūkste municipality Krāslava municipality Daugavpils municipality Verkhnyadzvinsk District Rossony Rossony District Verkhnyadzvinsk Zarasai Braslaw Zarasai district Miory Anykščiai district Polotsk District Utena district Braslaw District Miory District Polotsk Anykščai Utena Vitebsk District Vitebsk Region Vitebsk The Baltic Country of Lakes is the richest with lakes in the Baltics – more than two thousand lakes are located here. The advantages of the region are its relief, nature, clean air and wonderful people. Next to the Baltic Country of Lakes lies a country with a poetic name “Bella Dvina”. This country is located in the area where the river Dvina – Daugava flows, which is well known since ancient times for the trade route “from Varangians to Greeks”. Looking at the map, one can conclude, that inhabitants of three countries – Russia, Belarus and Latvia – can consider the Western Dvina for their own. Its flow begins in Russia, and goes through Belarus. As it flows into Latvia, it is no longer Dvina, but rather Daugava, which then flows into the Baltic Sea. Active tourism throughout the year, fascinating cultural events, and picturesque sceneries – all of this comprises a unique mosaic, which provides true visual and aesthetical enjoyment. We offer you to get acquainted with the Baltic Country of Lakes – Latgale in Latvia, Aukštaitija in Lithuania, as well as the “Bella Dvina” region, which includes Latgale in Latvia and part of Vitebsk region in Belarus. The aim of this brochure is a joint data base of the Baltic Country of Lakes and “Bella Dvina” region, which would include the information about the culture and history objects, natural resources, gastronomic tourism, and offers of active, health and winter tourism in Latgale, Aukštaitija and Vitebsk regions. We hope that this brochure will make your travelling in the Baltic Country of Lakes and “Bella Dvina” region easier and will be useful for elaboration of personal travel route. You can find more information about tourism possibilities and elaborated routes in the Baltic Country of Lakes and “Bella Dvina” region on the websites www.visitlatgale.com and www. belladvina.com. Greetings, travelers! Regions “Baltic Country of Lakes” and “Bella Dvina” are the richest with lakes in the Baltics. More than two thousand lakes are located here. Here flows the wonderful river Daugava, well known since ancient times for the trade route “from Varangians to Greeks”. The advantages of the region are its relief, nature, clean air and wonderful people. We offer the border regions of three countries for travelling. These border regions are gifted with beautiful natural landscape – hills, forests, and blue lakes. The nature here pleases your eye and soothes your soul. These regions are also gifted with wonderful people – strong both in body and spirit, who honor their ancestors and carry on their traditions and skills. The people here have always stood out with their diligence and warm hearts; they have always respected and praised their homeland. The regions “Baltic Country of Lakes” and “Bella Dvina” not only are able to preserve the cultural traditions and culinary heritage of three counties, but also are also open for various cultures and people. I wish you to have a good time travelling, to enjoy the unique landscapes and fresh air, to meet wonderful people and participate in culture events. You will get a pleasant experience! I hope, that the material about the most popular tourism objects in Latgale (Latvia), Aukštaitija (Lithuania) and Vitebsk (Belarus) collected in this brochure will motivate you to visit these beautiful regions, will make the travelling easier and will be useful for elaboration of personal travel route. Gunārs Upenieks, Chairman of the Latgale Planning Region Development Council Tourism Information Centers in Latgale Aglona County TIC Līvāni County TIC Somersetas St. 34, Aglona, LV-5304 Domes St. 1b, Līvāni, LV-5316 Phone/fax: +371 653 22100, +371 29118597 Phone: +371 653 81856, +371 29157669 [email protected] а[email protected] www.aglona.lv www.livani.lv Balvi County TIC Ludza County TIC Brīvības St. 46 Baznīcas St. 42, Ludza, LV-5701 (in the building of Balvi County Museum), Phone: +371 657 07203, +371 29467925 Balvi, LV-4501 fax: +371 657 07202 Phone: +371 645 22597, +371 29272948 [email protected], [email protected] [email protected] http://turisms.ludza.lv www.balvi.lv Naujene Tourism Bureau Dagda County TIC Skolas St. 1b, Naujene, Daugavpils St. 8, Dagda, LV-5674 Daugavpils County, LV-5462 Phone: +371 656 81420, +371 26244209, Phone: +371 654 71321 fax: +371 656 81421 [email protected] [email protected] www.naujene.lv www.dagda.lv Preiļi County TIC Daugavpils County TIC Kārsavas St. 4, Preiļi, LV-5301 Rīgas St. 22а, Daugavpils, LV-5401 Phone: +371 653 22041, +371 29116431 Phone/fax: +371 654 22818 [email protected] [email protected] www.preili.lv www.visitdaugavpils.lv Rēzekne City, Rēzekne County Ilūkste County TIC and Viļāni County TIC Parka St. 3, Pilskalne parish, Atbrīvošanas Avenue 98, Ilūkste County, LV-5447 Rēzekne, LV-4601 Phone: +371 20219694 Phone: +371 646 05005, +371 26332249 [email protected] [email protected], www.rezekne.lv Kārsava County tourism organizer www.rezeknesnovads.lv Vienības St. 53, Kārsava Phone: +371 657 33135, +371 29322748 Riebiņi County tourism organizer [email protected] Saules St. 8, Riebiņi, [email protected] Riebiņi County, LV-5326 www.karsava.lv Phone/fax: +371 653 24375 [email protected] Krāslava County TIC www.riebini.lv Brīvības St. 13, Krāslava, LV-5601 Phone: +371 656 22201, +371 26395176 Zilupe County tourism organizer fax: +371 656 22266 Raiņa St. 13, Zilupe, LV-5751 [email protected] Phone: + 371 657 07318, +371 26589369 http://turisms.kraslava.lv [email protected] www.zilupe.lv Tourism Information Centers in Utena Anykščiai TIC Zarasai TIC Gegužes St. 1, Anykščiai, LT-29106 Seliu St. 22, Zarasai, LT-32110 Phone/fax: +370 381 59177 Phone/fax: +370 385 37171 [email protected], http://www.antour.lt [email protected], [email protected] www.zarasai.lt/tic Utena TIC Stoties St. 39, Utena, LT-28134 Phone/fax: +370 389 54346 [email protected], http://www.utenainfo.lt Tourism Information Centers in Vitebsk Region Braslaw City TIC Rasony TIC Krasnoarmeyskaya St. 2, Braslaw Komsomolskaya St. 13, Rasony Phone: + 375 2153 22 735 Phone: +375 2159 41008, [email protected], [email protected] fax: +375 2159 42860 [email protected] Verkhnyadzvinsk City TIC Mira St. 6, Verkhnyadzvinsk The department for physical education, Phone/fax: +375 2151 57338 sport and tourism of Vitebsk City Hall [email protected] Lenina St. 32, Vitebsk [email protected] Phone: +375 2123 69229, fax: +375 2123 69718 Miory City TIC The department for physical education, Kommunisticheskaya St. 47, Miory sport and tourism of Vitebsk Region Phone: +375 2152 40210 Executive Committee [email protected] Dimitrova St. 10, Vitebsk Phone: +375 2123 69954, Polotsk City TIC [email protected] F. Skoryny Avenue 8, Polotsk Phone: +375 2144 26949 Tourism Information Centre [email protected] Smetanina St. 16А, Vitebsk www.polotsk-turizm.by Phone: +375 2122 03233, [email protected] CONTENT Cultural and Historical Nature Tourism. 129 tourism . 5 Gastronomic Tourism Craftsmen Tourism . 26 and Country Delights. 155 Museums. 46 Active Tourism. 172 Estates, Castles, Castle Mounds, Health Tourism . 206 Ancient Burial Sites . 71 Churches . 86 Winter tourism. 217 CUTURAL AND HISTORICAL TOURISM LATGALE LATGALE Cultural and Historical tourism Latgale, Aukštaitija and Vitebsk region are three regions with a very rich and diverse culture. Many nationalities and ethnical groups, who live here for centuries, mutually influencing each other, formed it. The Baltic Country of Lakes has something that can forever charm the soul of a tourist, who has travelled faraway lands and continents. Even while, without a doubt, each European castle has unique history and a lot of romantic legends, they are not a rarity. Majestic gothic cathedrals, magnificent churches, public buildings, city ensembles, cultural landscapes… All that in great number can be found in Latgale and Aukštaitija, but there is also something unique here – the centuries-old way of life of peasants, which is miraculously carefully and sincerely preserved. The region of “Bella Dvina” is rich in objects of cultural heritage and almost breathes history. You can run into a historical monument at every step. Cities and hamlets, which have formed on the banks of Western Dvina – Daugava during the past centuries, still keep the unsolved secrets of history. It is applicable both to the largest city in Belarus – Polotsk, and to the smallest one – Dzisna. Many events took place on the banks of Western Dvina – the Livonian War of the 16th century, the Northern War of the 17th century, the French invasion of Russia, the World War II… This land has heard the voices of Ivan the Terrible and Stephen Batory, the commands of Peter the Great, Corsican accent of Napoleon. On the banks of Dvina great artists lived and created their works, such as Ilya Repin and Marc Chagall. Charmed by this land and this wonderful river, they devoted their works to it. 5 CUTURAL AND HISTORICAL TOURISM LATGALE Aglona County LATGALE Kameņeca boulder Phone: +371 29118597, +371 653 22100, Jaunaglona, Aglona parish, www.aglona.lv A cult place of ancient Latgalians. A stone from the basis of old chapel with an altar built on it. Ruskuļu boulder Phone: +371 29118597, +371 653 22100, Ruskuli, Aglona parish, www.aglona.lv Located in the Southwest of Ciriša lake. A cult stone with five holes meant for sacrifices.