Balvu Municipality: Hotels amid Nature and Culture

Nature, history and regional craft culture coexist in Balvu Municipality. In Balvu District, Stompaku purvi is a Natura 2000 nature reserve. The complex of bogs and forests provides a habitat for rare and endangered species; 84 specially protected species have been identified there, including the black stork, capercaillie and golden eagle.

Nature

The Stompaku National Partisan Settlement Memorial Site includes a nature trail, information boards and restored bunkers. A marked path with boardwalks leads through the wetter sections of the bog to the former settlement, which comprised 24 bunkers. The Stiglova Nature Trail runs through the valley of the Stiglova stream and past 3- to 4-metre-high sandstone outcrops. These outcrops are a geological natural monument. The trail is currently inaccessible due to wind damage.

Balkanu kalni Nature Park covers approximately 20 hectares. Its paths lead to wooden sculptures, various forest types, hills and slopes, as well as animal burrows and anthills. In winter, there is a toboggan slope and a cross-country ski trail. The park also includes picnic areas and fire pits, camping opportunities, and a pond where swimming is permitted.

At Lake Viļaka, a 144-metre-long pontoon bridge connects the shore with the island. At the beginning of the pontoon walkway, there is a birdwatching platform. The route on the island includes fragments of the Marienhausen Castle, a model of the castle and a birdwatching platform. There is also a 442-metre-long walking route with wooden boardwalks, a boat landing and information boards. The promenade at Lake Viļaka also features a boat landing, camping and motorhome pitches, a children's playground, a volleyball court, picnic areas and a bathing area.

Activities

At Lake Balvi, Wake up Balvi offers a 200-metre-long cable wakeboarding course. The facilities also include an inflatable water park covering almost 1,000 square metres, as well as the hire of watersports equipment and SUP boards. Another way to travel through the area is Greenway Cycling Route No. 15. It runs along the former railway line from Gulbene to Balvi, is signposted and adapted for non-motorised traffic. The route is 36 kilometres long, takes approximately four hours and is rated as moderately difficult.

History and Culture

Balvi Manor was built at the end of the 18th century and later adapted for use as a school. Every year, the Balvi Chamber Music Festival takes place on its grounds on the last weekend of August. The Balvi District Museum presents a digital exhibition on the intangible cultural heritage of Northern Latgale in five exhibition halls. It is also accessible to visitors with special needs. Guided tours of the museum, the town and the manor ensemble are available by prior arrangement.

At the Viļaka Museum, the exhibition “The Viļaka Area in the Turns of History” covers local history from the era of the manors through the period of Latvian independence and the Soviet era to the events of the Second World War and the military heritage. The Egļava Forestry Administration Museum presents the forest cycle, from tree seeds to finished wood products. It also features an insect collection, forestry tools, and collections of Northern Latgalian textiles and ceramics. The Cīrulīši collection comprises more than 40 historic mopeds and motorcycles and offers motorcycle rides.

Crafts and Regional Cuisine

The Vēršukalns Cultural and Historical Farmstead has been restored as a mid-20th-century farm. Textiles and ceramics by craftspeople from Susāju parish are displayed there. At Vēršukalns, visitors can also taste a Latgalian meal with freshly baked bread from the rural oven and other delicacies.

In the Village of Masters of Old Crafts in Briežuciems, the hosts at Kronīši Farm demonstrate bread baking in the oven and offer warm bread for tasting. Visitors can also take part in weaving workshops, receive explanations about weaving traditions and sing Latgalian folk songs with local groups. The Meža labumu village offers tastings of forest and meadow products, special teas and a soup with a game flavour. Workshops and tastings featuring products made from wild plants are also available.

The direct subareas for further regional orientation are Vītoli, Balvi, Gailīši, Bērzkalne.

For the overarching travel overview: Latvia.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Daugavpils Municipality, Jaunjelgavas Municipality, Grobiņas Municipality, Gudenieki Parish.