Discover Galgauska: Cultural Monuments on the Tirza

Galgauska combines an unusually dense selection of cultural and archaeological monuments with landscapes along the Tirza, extensive forest areas and a developed cycling route. For planning your trip, both the historic buildings in the village and destinations in Galgauskas pagasts are relevant.

The architectural monuments of local significance include Galgauska Primary School from 1937 and the Galgauskas Dziedāšanas biedrība House from 1924. The Orthodox Church of Saint John the Baptist, built approximately between 1850 and 1860, is also designated as a local architectural monument. The buildings of the Galgauska estate date from the early to late 19th century; the Melder House in the estate complex is another local architectural monument dating from around 1900.

The Galgauska estate had been owned by the noble von Mengden family since the 17th century.

The Galgauskas Dziedāšanas biedrība House is not merely an architectural monument. Today, it serves as the cultural centre of Galgauskas pagasts and houses the amateur theatre group “Rekvizīts”. At the same time, the building reflects the architectural traditions of the 1920s and the cultural life of the rural area at that time. This combination of architectural history and present-day cultural use is therefore particularly important for understanding the place.

The Orthodox Church of Saint John the Baptist is located in a hard-to-reach place in the forest. The graves of the Mengden family are located behind the church. Its location should be taken into account when planning a visit, without assuming any particular level of accessibility.

Outcrops of Devonian rocks occur along the section of the Tirza between Tirza and Galgauska. Extensive forest areas stretch north of the Tirza. The Galgauska Mills HES on the Tirza is designated as a recreational site for locals and visitors. In Galgauskas pagasts, DabasZāle, an open-air stage, and the cultural centre are also publicly accessible recreational sites.