Latvia: Hotels amid Art Nouveau, Bogs and Castles

Latvia combines exceptional cultural monuments with extensive national parks, bog landscapes and a lively festival tradition. The historic centre of Riga has the world’s highest concentration of Art Nouveau architecture. The tradition of the Baltic Song and Dance Celebrations was recognised by UNESCO in 2003 and added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.

Culture and history

In western Latvia lies Kuldīga, an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional urban settlement. Large parts of the historic street network have been preserved. The townscape includes traditional wooden architecture as well as architectural styles shaped by external influences. The confluence of the Venta and the smaller Alekšupīte River is a defining element of the town’s structure and contributes to Kuldīga’s picturesque landscape character.

In Riga stands Riga Castle, which houses the Latvian National History Museum and is regarded as a building of outstanding architectural value. The “Streaming Time” exhibition there displays more than 1,500 historical objects together with digital content. A tour of the castle includes 17 stations on all floors. The offering also includes the “Explorer’s Attic”, an educational space for families with children and for school students.

The Latvian National Museum of Natural History displays more than 400 minerals in its mineralogy exhibition. The “Birds of Latvia” exhibition presents 292 of the approximately 360 bird species found in Latvia. “Mammals of Latvia” comprises 83 specimens from 49 mammal species, while “Plants and Fungi of Latvia” showcases the diversity of the country’s plants and fungi. The museum is located in a historic building classified as a state cultural monument. Where possible, it has been adapted for people with functional limitations and for visitors with pushchairs.

Nature

Latvia has four national parks. Gauja National Park is Latvia’s largest and oldest national park and covers more than 90,000 hectares. Its territory contains more than 500 cultural and historical monuments, including hillforts, brick castles, churches, manor houses, watermills and windmills, as well as other archaeological, architectural and art-historical monuments. The sandstone formations in Gauja National Park formed between 350 and 370 million years ago.

Ķemeri National Park is a diverse wetland landscape. The Great Ķemeri Bog is one of the largest bogs of its kind in Latvia. Visitors can walk along the boardwalk through the Great Ķemeri Bog at sunrise. Cycling tours are possible on the Green Dune cycle path. Lake Kanieris is also a birdwatching location and has an observation tower. Kanieris Hillfort can be reached via the Kanieris Hillfort Trail from Antinciems–Caukciems road; the path leads through a fen.

Castles and music

At Rundāle Palace, the Golden Hall, White Hall and Great Gallery are open to the public. The palace also hosts the Early Music Festival and classical music concerts. The French Garden and the rose garden at Rundāle Palace are likewise open to the public. The palace museum presents exhibitions on applied art, fine art and history.

Festivals and cuisine

Latvia’s nationwide Song and Dance Celebrations last one week and take place every five years. They usually attract more than 30,000 participants. Another recurring feature is the annual Home Cafe Days, held between July and September: farms and country houses become restaurants for a weekend or for one or two days.

Traditional Latvian cuisine includes dishes that often use potatoes, cabbage, rye bread and fish. Thus, alongside culture and nature, regional foods and time-limited culinary events also feature in Latvia’s annual calendar.

Other places and regions

Burtnieku Novads, Ogres Novads, Carnikavas Novads, Raunas Novads, Zilupes Novads, Riebiņu Novads, Strenču Novads, Balvu Novads, Tukuma Novads, Jēkabpils, Alūksnes Novads, Mārciena, Jūrmala, Gulbenes Novads, Launkalne, Limbažu Novads, Talsu Novads, Valmiera, Madonas Novads, Cēsu Novads, Valkas Novads, Ventspils, Bauskas Novads, Dobeles Novads, Liepāja, Rīga, Daugavpils Novads, Salaspils novads, Skaistas pagasts, Gārsenes pagasts, Baldones lauku teritorija, Viļāni Municipality, Gudenieku pagasts, Roja, Vecvārkava, Mārupe, Viļakas novads, Ropaži Municipality, Viesīte, Vecumnieki Municipality, Mazsalaca, Varakļāni Municipality, Sēja Municipality, Saulkrasti Municipality, Kārsavas Novads, Kocēnu Novads, Inčukalna Novads, Jaunpiebalgas Novads, Cesvaines Novads, Ropažu Novads, Saldus Novads, Babītes Novads, Siguldas Novads, Aknīstes Novads, Rūjienas Novads, Skrīveru Novads, Lubānas Novads, Neretas Novads, Rucavas Novads, Naukšēnu Novads, Ciblas Novads, Ilūkstes Novads, Alojas Novads, Alsungas Novads, Auces Novads, Baltinavas Novads, Beverīnas Novads, Jaunpils, Pārgaujas Novads, Rundāles Novads, Ķekavas Novads, Tērvetes Novads, Skrundas Novads, Apes Novads, Stopiņu Novads, Dagdas Novads, Rēzeknes Novads, Preiļu Novads, Līvānu Novads, Olaines Novads, Aglonas Novads, Kokneses Novads, Krimuldas Novads, Priekuļu Novads, Mērsraga Novads, Vecpiebalgas Novads, Ādažu Novads, Lielvārdes Novads, Pāvilostas Novads, Pļaviņu Novads, Iecavas Novads, Ķeguma Novads, Kandavas Novads, Smiltenes Novads, Jaunjelgavas Novads, Mālpils Novads, Nīcas Novads, Engures Novads, Ikšķiles Novads, Līgatnes Novads, Krustpils Novads, Ērgļu Novads, Jelgavas Novads, Saulkrastu Novads, Durbes Novads, Salacgrīvas Novads, Dundagas Novads, Ozolnieku Novads, Grobiņas Novads, Garkalnes Novads, Aizputes Novads, Vaiņodes Novads, Brocēnu Novads, Amatas Novads, Skulte, Krāslavas Novads, Kuldīgas Novads, Aizkraukles Novads, Ludzas Novads.