Top Travel Itineraries in Latvia Top Travel Itineraries in Latvia
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EN TOP TRAVEL ITINERARIES IN LATVIA TOP TRAVEL ITINERARIES IN LatVIA 1. Latvia’s treasure - history and culture 1 Rīga Dole 2. What is hidden in Latvia’s hills 4 Ogre 3. Latvia’s nature - best enjoyed slowly 7 Koknese Mežmalas 4. In close with Latvia’s primeval nature 10 Ludza Rēzekne 5. How Latvia enthuses children 13 Jēkabpils 6. Families at play in Latvia 16 Preiļi 7. Latvia - full of excitement 19 Līvāni 8. Latvia - unforgettable 22 Andrupene 9. Treat yourself to Latvian delicacies 25 Aglona 10. Latvia tastes of the countryside 28 Rīga 242 Rēzekne Slutišķi 204 53 Preiļi 269 30 82 Ludza Krāslava 265 87 59 98 Krāslava Daugavpils 229 93 55 122 44 Daugavpils Distance between cities (km) SYMBOLS European Destinations of Slītere National Park suggested duration Excellence (www.daba.gov.lv) (ec.europa.eu/eden) 1. LATVIA’S TREASURE - HISTORY AND CULTURE approximate distance Rāzna National Park Gauja National Park (www.gnp.lv) (www.daba.gov.lv) when to visit Get a feel for Latvia in capital city Riga and its 800 years of 2-3 days Ķemeri National Park "Blue Flag" beach development, then travel eastwards along once vital waterway, 480 km main type of attractions (www.daba.gov.lv) (www.blueflag.org) the Daugava river. Soak up Latgale’s catholic and orthodox January - December churches and its agricultural, industrial and military heritage. not included in the tourist destination top 10 tourism destination History and culture itinerary 1 LatVIA’S TREASURE - HIstorY AND culturE LatVIA’S TREASURE - HIstorY AND culturE Latvian National Opera Koknese Castle Aglona Basilica Ludza Craft Centre Start your journey by absorbing 800 years of history as you lilies and viewing platform. The park has several walking trails, Latvia’s Catholicism. Wonder through the huge churchyard building facades are in Empire style, although the Nikolai Gate wander through the narrow, cobbled streets of Vecrīga, Riga’s including the special Swamp trail. and step inside to view its subtle pastel colouring and lavish and Water Tower are Gothic. medieval Old Town, with churches, museums and galleries Evocative Koknese Castle was built by Crusader Bishop Albert gilded altar. Travel further upriver to Naujene parish where the unique catering to all tastes secreted among its diverse facades. Count in 1209 and stood on the banks of the Daugava up to the 18th For your less spiritual needs and everything you ever wanted to settlement and museum complex, Slutišķi Old Believers’ the warehouses to grasp Riga’s history as a great Hanseatic century Northern War. Once on high ground, construction of know about bread and bread-making, Aglona also has a Bread Village, is well worth a visit to see how deeply this version port. the Riga hydro-dam saw the castle’s foundations disappear Museum - tasty and educational. of the Russian Orthodox religion has influenced the lives and By the canal, once part of Riga’s medieval fortifications, take under the Daugava and Pērse rivers. Still in Aglona, feel the suffering of more recent history at the work of local residents. a guided tour of the Latvian National Opera’s classic 19th Just past Sielpils, take to the Daugava with Mežmalas Viking World War II Museum, explaining some of the miseries that Our furthest point upriver, Krāslava is already close to the century building. Imagine yourself singing an aria, discover to view Oliņkalns, the Sēlpils castle mound and the river’s many little Latvia and its people endured at the hands of warring Belarusian border. The attractive buildings of Krāslava’s back-stage secrets and be awed by the splendour of the rocky coves from the Lāčplēsis (Bearslayer), a river boat awash super powers. historical centre and St Ludwig’s Catholic Church date back to restored auditorium and halls. with epic heroic legends like that of its namesake. Near the Aglona Basilica, on the shores of Aglona lake, stand the 18th and 19th centuries and are enhanced by the town’s Stroll across green parkland to reach Riga’s ‘quiet centre’, home The 13th century Krustpils Castle was the only stone castle in the sculpture garden and ornamental plantings of Karaļa location, nestled among three lakes and three small rivers. to magnificent Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) buildings dating back what is now Latgale owned by the Archbishop of Riga. Rebuilt kalns (The King’s Hill) with sacred wooden sculptures carved Leaving the river again, head north to the Andrupene Farm to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Gain an insight into as an opulent palace in the 19th century, today it is home to in gratitude to God and Jesus. Ethnographic Museum, an authentic, early 20th century farm their history and a feel for that era at the Riga Jugendstil the Jēkabpils History Museum which displays a timeline of and Head south back to the river and Latvia’s second largest city spread over six buildings: the home, barn, pig-sty, threshing Museum, admiring the correspondingly ornate interiors on artefacts from the edifice’s history and restoration, as well as Daugavpils whose History and Art Museum is located in barn, sauna and forge. Tools, household items and furniture of display. Now you understand why this area has a UNESCO significant regional objects. one of its most beautiful Art Nouveau buildings adjacent to that era create a bygone rural atmosphere. heritage listing. Riverside Līvāni features the Baltic’s only Glass Museum pretty Dubrovina Park. A visit to its gallery named in honour of Further north is Rēzekne, Latgale’s cultural heart and home of Time to leave the city and head upstream along its once- where, in one place, you can view the complete history of the world-renowned artist and native of Daugavpils Mark Rothko the Latgale Cultural Museum. Extended and modernised in great waterway, the river Daugava. Just beyond Salaspils, drive Līvāni glass factory, first mentioned in parish records in 1887, is obligatory. 2011, it features a rich collection of Latgale ceramics, paintings across the Riga hydro-station dam to reach Dole island and and samples of its products. Despite its remote location, the Daugavpils Fortress is an impressive fortified edifice and ethnographic items. the Daugava museum to dip into the river’s many-faceted factory operated for more than 100 years. covering a total area of more than 150 hectares and is the This journey ends at the Ludza Craft Centre, at the foot of history as a trade route and place to live as far back as the 9th Leave the river and head east to Preiļi for its ornate miniature only untouched, early 19th century fortress remaining in east an ancient castle mound, welcoming anyone wishing to century. Contrast life in the museum’s 1898 mansion home castle and surprisingly lively Dolls’ Museum. Europe. The fortress’s jagged contour consists of a bulwark with learn ancient crafts in pottery, weaving and other workshops. with that of a 19th century fisherman in the open-air recreated eight towers, ravelins and contrgardes with other defensive The centre also stocks works by local artisans: folk costumes, historic settlement. You won’t miss the stunning Aglona Basilica, as its shining white spires stand out for miles, a great help to the many structures - lunettes, redoubts and a moat. A sconce on the linen and wool garments. The Exhibition hall hosts displays by Take a break at Ogre for the Lazdukalns Dendrology Park and believers who make the annual pilgrimage to the centre of left bank of the Daugava protects the bridge. Inside the walls, regional master artisans and monthly Latgalian Green markets. climb the 100 steps to its delightful hilltop pond of water 2 3 Valmiera What IS HIDDEN IN LatVIA’S HILLS Limbaži Dunte Cēsis Saulkrasti Āraiši Turaida Museum Park Līgatne paper mill village Līgatne Easily reached from Riga, Sigulda sits at the south of the Gauja Head northeast to the bank of the Līgatne river and Vienkoči Ieriķi National park on the tall banks of the ancient Gauja valley. Park. The park is a tribute to wood and woodcraft, with model Surrounded by historic sites, the town itself features the buildings, animals, folk tales and historic events all exquisitely Vienkoči Sigulda Medieval Castle ruins, originally built by the Sword carved and placed in a pristine natural environment. Sigulda Master of the Venn Order in 1207. The later, Livonian Order Code-named ‘Holiday Hotel’, the Līgatne Bunker was a top- convent with its Gothic apertures and the main gate tower secret Soviet-era facility built to house the communist elite of survive and provide a wonderful backdrop for summer’s open- the 1980s in case of nuclear war. Only opened to the public Valmiera air concerts. in 2003, the 9m below-ground bunker still contains technical 63 Sigulda Our next stops are across the deep Gauja valley and there is equipment, now augmented with displays of Soviet-era 106 51 Rīga only one way to cross - by the 43m-high cable car. Opened memorabilia, not least the canteen with a typical Soviet menu. 46 54 88 Limbaži in 1969, it is the only one in the Baltic States and provides Līgatne’s history is closely linked with the Līgatne paper 31 39 87 45 Cēsis spectacular views. Not the nervous type - try bungee jumping mill village. A paper mill first operated here in the early 19th Rīga Distance between cities (km) from the cable car. century, but it is the village which has gained recognition and Disembark at Krimulda Manor for stunning views back to national significance for its unusual architecture and the social Sigulda. The castle ruins are medieval, but the first mansion was model under which workers lived in the 100-year-old wooden built in the 15th century.