10 things you need to do in Latvia

Jurmala – Summer Capital of Latvia and the most popular resort of the Baltic coast. Here is an unusually delicious sea air, mixed with smell of pines, snow-white sand, dunes and wooden architecture in the classic summer style of the late XIX – early XX centuries.

Jurmala has a long tradition of sanatorium-resort treatment. Here are spa hotels, sanatoriums and pensions with therapeutic base. The most famous – "Jurmala Spa", "Yaunkenieri", "Amber shore". Main Attractions Jurmala – Pedestrian Street Yomas, Water Park "Liva" and observation tower in the park "Dzintari", Routing with strong wind gusts.

Jurmala is a rather extended resort, the attractions of which are not limited to the center. One of the most distinctive corners of Jurmala – National Park "Kemeri". This place is with marshy forests and mshami. In Kemere, you can walk through the swamp on the wooden flooring and watch birds.

2. Find out the legend about Turaid Rose

Turaid castle in Sigulda – one of the most impressive medieval castles of the Livonian period in Latvia. In the language of ancient livov word "Turaida" means "Divine Sad". To appreciate the natural beauty of these places, it is worth climbing the viewing platform located at the top level of the castle – you will appear in front of you the exciting picture of the Gauja River Valley.

Having been in Sigulda, you will certainly hear the legend about Turaid Rose – a beautiful girl in love with a poor gardener and the killed in the color of the hands of Polish Pan. The story of their love resembles the plot of the immortal tragedy of Shakespeare with young Romeo and Juliet. The grave of the Turaid rose is located on the territory of the museum complex. At any time of the year, fresh flowers are decorated, and local newlyweds consider good tradition to visit this place on the wedding day.

3. Ride on the longest cable car

Balticism is not a place that boasts fascinating mountain landscapes and picturesque hilly relief. With the exception, perhaps, the National Reserve "Gauja" – These places are called Latvian Switzerland. Here, on the shores of the Gauja River, there is the longest cable car in the Baltic States, its length is more than a kilometer. The route passes through the forest and the valley of the river at an altitude of 43 m and connects Sigulda with the Crimulda. For fans of acute sensations is offered jump from Bungee from the trailer above River Gauja.

Families with children will come to full delight from the park "Tarzan", the largest adventure park in the Baltic States. It has rides, tracks of different difficulty levels and other entertainment for adults and children of all ages. Park is open in the warm season.

4. Go to the city near Lipami

Port and sea resort Liepaja is located on the very border with Lithuania on the Baltic Sea coast. In former times, he was called Libava and was part of Kurland. Due to the constantly blowing from the sea, Latvian breech is poeticly called the Liepaja City, where wind is born. Liepaja is famous for the magnificent beach, the owner of the Blue Flag (the highest sign of the difference for purity and environmental friendliness). Summer Liepaja serves as a platform for holding music festivals and open-air concerts. Interesting places of the city: Rose Square (Rozu Laukums), Primorsky Park, Cathedral. Trinity with the largest mechanical body in the world, the church of St. Anna, Promenade with Amber Watch.

5. Count the cows in Ventspils

Ventspils – the most children’s resort of Latvia, named so because of the river Venta, in the mouth of which is located. This is a city with a very warm and calm atmosphere. In the summer, it loves to relax families with children for which there is a lot of interesting things here. Here are just some of the interesting places of Ventspils: the medieval castle of the Livonian Order, the Town Hall Square, South Mall with a Promenade and the Observation Platform on the Lighthouse and, of course, the Baltic Sea with a wonderful sandy beach, which is assigned a blue flag. Children will be interested to visit the Children’s Town and the Park "Fantasia", the seaside open-air museum, open in the summer beach water park, water adventure park, an adventure park with high levels of difficulty, look at deer and roe deer park, ride on narrow-chain iron park Road Mazbanitis.

In Ventspils there is own currency – Vents, they take them to pay in all tourist places. Bright symbol of the city – Ventspils cows. These fun art facilities are created and painted by talented sculptors and artists from different countries to the action "Parade of Cows". Part of them stands on the urban embankment. All Ventspille Burenok can be found if you go through a specially designed walking route.

6. See "flying" fish in Kuldig

If you want to feel the National Latvian flavor, go to Kuldigu. This town, located in the region of Kurzeme, is famous for the well-preserved wooden architecture, as well as Ventas Rumba, widest in Europe. Its width – 249 m. In the spring during spawning in a waterfall, you can see an unusual picture – whipping up flocks of fish, which, jumping out of the water, overcome the low thresholds of the waterfall.

Sometime Kuldiga was part of the cities of the Hanseatic Union. The architecture of the old part of the city practically did not suffer from time and past wars. On the streets of the city you can see unique patterns of old wooden architecture. Right in the midst of the streets among residential buildings flows narrow river Aleccupit, for this Kuldigu is often called Latvian Venice. Also here is the longest brick bridge in Europe. It is built in 1874. and connects the banks of the river Venta.

7. Penetrate the knightly spirit in medieval castles

The main pearls of medieval architecture in Latvia can be seen in Cesis, Bauske and Jahpils. Cesis – a small town with a charming and cozy atmosphere, located near Sigulda and Riga. Cēsis castle is the largest on the territory of the Baltic States, its construction belongs to the XIII in. The castle was the residence of the Master of the Livonian Order. The museum complex in Cēsis includes the remnants of an ancient Livonsky castle, a new Cēsis castle, an exhibition building, a castle garden and several parks. Theatrical events are held on the castle. The castle serves as one of the main platforms for the arts festival, which takes place annually in Cēsis in July and August.

Castle in Bausk originally served as a fortress for the Knights of the Livonian Order. For his long history, he survived and large-scale destruction, and restoration. The castle complex consists of two parts – old and new locks. Now the museum is open in his walls, theatrical submissions and concerts are held. In the tower of the old castle there is an observation deck.

The castle in Jaunpils was built at the very beginning of the XIV in., Now it is one of the best medieval facilities that have retained their original appearance. The castle opened a museum, festivals and theatrical excursions are held. Those who wish to immerse themselves in the authentic atmosphere and feel like a Knight of the Middle Ages, it is proposed to spend the night at the hotel, open on the territory of the castle, as well as to try medieval dishes in the local restaurant. It is taken in it with hands or, at worst, with the help of wooden dishes.

eight. Admire the architectural genius of Rastrelli

Next to Bowna is one of the most beautiful palaces of Latvia – Rundale Palace. Locals are proudly called his Latvian Versaille. It was built by an outstanding architecture of Rastrelli for Biron, the Duke of Kurlyandsky, the favorite favorite of Empress Anna John. Later, the palace belonged to County Shuvalov. In the palace, several rooms located on two floors, one of the most luxurious – Golden Hall. Furniture for the most part recreated in samples, but the original things of that time are preserved. A good collection of paintings of the XVIII-XIX centuries is placed in the palace. Nearby is a wonderful French Park, which preserved the initial layout.

nine. Stroll along Daugavpils

The capital of Latgale and the most Russian-speaking city of Latvia is located near the borders of Belarus and Lithuania. Throughout its history, this city has repeatedly changed the names – Dinaburg, Dvinsk, Borisoglebsk. Since 1920. He is called Daugavpils. Home His landmark – Daugavpil fortress. It is built at the beginning of the XIX in., When the city was part of the Russian Empire. The fortress retained the original appearance, the entrance to its territory is free. In Daugavpils, there are churches belonging to different religious confessions – there are also Orthodox temples, and Catholic, and Lutheran. Even one old-supplied temple is preserved – the church of St. Nikola, built at the beginning of the XX in. and acting so far. The complex of these church structures is called church slide.

ten. Visit the main shrine of Latvia

Aglona – a place of pilgrimage and the main center of Catholicism in Latvia. In mid-August, on the eve of the Holiday Holiday of the Virgin, this small town located in the south of Latgale (40 km from Daugavpils) flows down numerous pilgrims from all over the Baltic States, and festive worship broadcast on radio in two languages ​​- Latvian and Lithuanian. In Aglin Basilica is the main shrine of Latvia – the miraculous icon of Latgale Mara (or Queen of the North). According to the legend, it was presented by the Lithuanian prince Vitovt Emperor Byzantium and. Palaeologist.

The temple is built in the second half of the XVIII in. Baroque style, its interior decoration is quite magnificent and more reminds Lithuanian temples than laconic Latvian. The terrain around is very picturesque – the town is surrounded by coniferous forests and lakes Aglonas and Cyrishas. Aglonian shrine awarded a visit to the Pope John Paul II – in September 1993. He spent here a solemn Mass.