Discover Rimšāni

• The “Daugavas loki” Nature Park lies in the Daugava Valley within the Augšdaugava protected landscape area. It covers 12,372 hectares and extends along both banks of the river from Krāslava to Saliena pagasts in Daugavpils Municipality.
• Its landscape is shaped by eight large river bends, each 4 to 6 kilometres long. The park also includes numerous natural and cultural-historical monuments and was added to Latvia’s national UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2011.
• The “Vasars” blacksmith workshop offers individual attention and makes, among other things, souvenirs, fences, railings, grilles, vessels, and furniture from various metals. “Skaļu deķi” refers to a type of blanket found exclusively in Latgale.
• Velo Latgale is located in Mazie Onzuļi in Izvaltas pagasts, Krāslava Municipality, on Lake Sargava. Topics associated with the site include dome tents, a barefoot therapy trail, and cycling and SUP activities.

The “Daugavas loki” Nature Park offers a broad view of the Daugava Valley: the protected landscape area stretches across both banks and encompasses eight distinctive bends in the river. The stated length of 4 to 6 kilometres refers to each individual bend; it is not a walking time and does not describe a hiking route. This helps put the scale of the river landscape into perspective without confusing river length with distance along a trail.

The monuments also contribute to the park’s character. It was added to Latvia’s national UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2011. This brings the landscape and cultural-historical heritage together in your trip planning: if you are interested in the nature of the Daugava Valley, you can also consider its cultural heritage as a separate topic.

“Vasars” represents a wide range of metalwork. This includes forged, welded, riveted, and soldered souvenirs, as well as fences, railings, grilles, vessels, and furniture. The materials used include ferrous metals, stainless steel, aluminium, and other metals. The workshop provides individual attention to every customer. The range therefore covers both souvenirs and products for construction and furnishings.

“Skaļu deķi” is another cultural point of interest: the name refers to a type of blanket found exclusively in Latgale. While “Vasars” describes a named workshop offering a variety of metal products, “Skaļu deķi” points to a regional connection with a particular type of textile. Both can be considered distinct craft themes when planning your trip.

Velo Latgale has a barefoot therapy trail where you can experience the countryside. Before visiting, check whether the trail is currently accessible. Bicycles with equipment have been rented out since the start of the 2021 season for excursions in Izvalta and the surrounding area, as well as on nearby local or regional routes. If you are planning a cycling trip, check in advance whether rentals are currently available.

SUP trips on Lake Sargava are also associated with Velo Latgale; several boards are mentioned. Check current availability before making plans. This lets you consider the lake as a possible activity without assuming that rentals are currently offered.

Velo Latgale is a peaceful rural family holiday spot on the shore of Lake Sargava. Cosy dome tents are listed as an accommodation option. This provides a specific point of comparison when weighing different types of overnight stays. Also note the location: Velo Latgale is in Mazie Onzuļi, in Izvaltas pagasts, Krāslava Municipality.

Discover more destinations: Kaplava, Pastari, Krāslava, Miglāni, Kombuļi, Robežnieki, Piedruja.

What happened at the “Daugavas loki” Nature Park in 2011?

The nature park was added to Latvia’s national UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2011.

Where is Velo Latgale located?

Velo Latgale is located in Mazie Onzuļi, in Izvaltas pagasts, Krāslava Municipality, on the shore of Lake Sargava.

Can I currently use bicycles or SUP boards at Velo Latgale?

Bicycles with equipment have been rented out since the start of the 2021 season; several SUP boards are also associated with trips on Lake Sargava. Check in advance on the current availability of both offerings.

For the broader travel overview: Krāslava Municipality.