Hotels in Ķekava Municipality – Trails, Nature and History

Ķekava Municipality combines trails, historic sites and a range of leisure activities. This is particularly evident in the hiking and cultural offerings around Baldone, Ķekava, Katlakalns and Baloži. The information ranges from marked walking trails and former trading sites to collections and activities on the water and in the snow.

Hiking and nature

The Baldones Stāstu takas comprise six walking and hiking trails ranging from 1.5 to 20 kilometres in length. In the terrain, they are marked with various-coloured footprint markers and signposts. Information boards contain maps, information about the sites and QR codes for audio guides. One route of the Baldones mežu stāsti includes 16 tourism sites with audio-guide stories to listen to. A total of 29 works of art are displayed in the forest of the Baldones mežu stāsti. One circular route of the Baldones mežu stāsti is up to 20 kilometres long.

The area’s plant life is also part of its character. Rare trees grow in the park of Baldones Baltā pils, including larches, firs, cedar pines, Manchurian cork trees, silver firs and red oaks. The grounds of the Katlakalns Evangelical Lutheran Church feature dendrological plantings with more than 320 species of trees and shrubs.

History and culture

From Daugmales pilskalns, you can climb up and view the Daugava from above. In earlier times, Daugmales pilskalns was a centre of trade and crafts on the banks of the Daugava. Historians suspect that its foot, at the mouth of the Varžupīte where it flows into the Daugava, was the port of Zemgale mentioned in historical documents.

The Katlakalns Evangelical Lutheran Church was built in 1794 as an outstanding monument of classicist architecture. The Ķekava Local History Museum displays around 1,800 caricatures and photographs from its collection. Thus, Ķekava and Katlakalns bring together different forms of remembrance: an architectural monument, dendrological plantings and a collection of caricatures and photographs.

In Baloži, the Baložu kūdras muzejdzelzceļ reflects the area’s industrial past: it preserves 2.5 kilometres of a former narrow-gauge railway, as well as a collection of rare locomotives and carriages. The Baložu kūdras bānītis offers a narrow-gauge railway ride from the peat bog to the factory.

Activities and routes

The ski slopes of Riekstukalns are suitable for experienced skiers and snowboarders, more leisurely descents and beginners. On the water, Murdiņi in Ķekava, on the Sausā Daugava River, rents out SUP boards, boats and kayaks. Dabas zirgi offers horseback rides and horse walks in Ķekava Municipality.

There is a cycling route between Ķekava and Riga that can also be started in Riga and provides an alternative to the A7 motorway. Another digital route leads to Baldone’s military heritage. It is 10 kilometres long and includes 13 information stations.

Baldone Observatory offers a creative workshop as part of its guided tours. The observatory also offers visits to the mini-planetarium “Count the Stars, Not the Time”.

Other places

More local pages: Katlakalns, Baloži, Lielvārži, Ķekava, Rāmava, Daugmale, Vimbukrogs and Pulkarne.

For the overarching travel overview: Latvia.