Iecava

• Iecava Park covers 16.6 hectares and retains its historic layout.
• The manor house was built between 1801 and 1807; it was burned down in 1915. The park and some buildings survived.
• The park is home to a green labyrinth and the picture trail “Iecava from Village to Town.”
• Notable cultural sites include the Freedom Monument, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Roman Catholic Church of St. Anthony.

An English landscape park was created next to the manor house. Today, Iecava Park retains its historic layout and covers 16.6 hectares. A mix of native and non-native tree species shapes the park, and some of the exotic trees are up to 130 years old. The surviving park offers a distinctive way to explore the history of the manor estate, even though the manor house itself was burned down in 1915.

The green labyrinth in Iecava Manor Park uses shrubs to trace the outlines of the former manor house and its rooms. The locations of the former rooms are numbered, and an information board explains their previous uses. This means you can appreciate the layout as part of the park while also following its connections to the rooms that once stood there. The board also provides tactile information in Braille. The labyrinth area includes paved paths, swings, and benches.

Iecava Culture House was built in 1891 as a courthouse. From there, the annual torchlight procession leads to Iecava’s Freedom Monument. The procession has taken place since 11 November 1990 and commemorates the fallen freedom fighters. The monument, created by sculptor Pēteris Banders, was unveiled in 1936. On 14 June, a path of flowers is laid at its foot in memory of the victims of the communist genocide.

The two churches also offer different historical perspectives. The Evangelical Lutheran Church was built in 1641 and remodeled in the 19th century. Its 50-meter-high tower offers views across the surrounding landscape. Services and classical music concerts are held in the altar area. The Roman Catholic Church of St. Anthony was consecrated on 23 August 2009 in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua; its tower is up to 38 meters high.

The picture trail “Iecava from Village to Town” was created in Iecava Park in 2021 and focuses on Iecava’s development into a town. Its 15 paintings show Iecava and the lives of local residents. Since summer 2025, you can also view the historic appearance of Iecava Manor using the “BAUSKA AR” mobile app. The picture trail and app offer different ways to explore local history.

If you’re interested in sporting events, you can also consider the “Iecava Championship” whitewater slalom competitions: they take place on the Iecava River in spring and are organized by the “Brīvie ūdeņi” association. To compare it with another destination, you can also find Dzimtmisa here.

What does the green labyrinth in the manor park show?

Its shrubs trace the outlines of the former manor house and its rooms. Numbered locations and an information board explain how the rooms were previously used; the board also contains tactile information in Braille.

When does the torchlight procession to the Freedom Monument take place?

It has taken place annually since 11 November 1990 and leads from Iecava Culture House to the Freedom Monument.

Which church offers views of the surrounding area?

The 50-meter-high tower of the Evangelical Lutheran Church offers views across the surrounding landscape.

For the broader travel overview: Iecava Municipality.