Jaunlubāna – Manor House, Flax History and the Aiviekste

• Rūdolfs Pinnis was born in 1902 at Jaunlubāna Manor House in Madona Municipality, Latvia. He was a painter and a prominent figure in Soviet Latvian art.
• The flax factory of the Lubānas-Meirānu linkopju savienība was established at the former centre of the Jaunlubāna subsidiary estate, where there had previously been a wool-processing factory.
• The Aiviekste flows past the “Kodoli” farm; ruins of old buildings from Jaunlubāna Manor House are near the farm.
• The 32.6 km paddling route from the Abaines upīte canal at Lake Lubāna to Kodoli is possible only during the high-water season.

The painter Rūdolfs Pinnis’s biography gives the manor house’s history a cultural connection: he was born there and was a prominent figure in Soviet Latvian art. For travellers interested in culture, this biographical connection links the place to Latvia’s art history.

Local working history also has specific milestones. The flax factory of the Lubānas-Meirānu linkopju savienība was established at the former centre of the Jaunlubāna subsidiary estate, which had previously been a wool-processing factory. In the second half of the 1920s, workers from the Jaunlubāna flax factory brought flax to the retting ponds, including Pēteris Liepiņš and his sons Rihards and Māris. The history of wool processing, the establishment of the flax factory and the journey of the flax to the retting ponds thus complement one another as distinct aspects of the area’s economic past.

The Aiviekste flows past the “Kodoli” farm; the ruins of old manor house buildings are near the farm. Separately, a local recollection describes lively cross-country skiing competitions on the banks of the Aiviekste in Jaunlubāna. The river, the manor house’s past and the remembered winter tradition offer different perspectives on the area. The picturesque banks of the Aiviekste are also among the sights along the paddling route.

The route runs from the Abaines upīte canal at Lake Lubāna to Kodoli and is 32.6 km long in total. It is possible only during the high-water season. When choosing your travel dates, therefore, the route length is not the only thing that matters: before planning, check whether your dates fall within the high-water season. The banks of the Aiviekste are among the route’s scenic attractions, while the seasonal requirement sets the parameters for planning.

The paddling route ends in Kodoli, where paddlers can stay overnight at the “Kodoli” farm. This allows you to plan the end of the route and your overnight stay together. Confirm availability before travelling. Kodoli is also considered a very suitable location for a boat base for trips on rivers in the Aiviekste basin and on Lake Lubāna. A specific overnight stay option and the site’s suitability for water-based trips are thus two separate points to consider when planning.

Discover more destinations: Sarkaņi, Dzelzava, Stalīdzāni, Madona, Ozoli, Tīrumskanuļi, Lautere, Cesvaine.

Where was Rūdolfs Pinnis born?

He was born in 1902 at Jaunlubāna Manor House in Madona Municipality, Latvia. Pinnis was a painter and a prominent figure in Soviet Latvian art.

When is the paddling route to Kodoli possible?

The 32.6 km route from the Abaines upīte canal at Lake Lubāna to Kodoli is possible only during the high-water season.

Can paddlers stay overnight in Kodoli?

Yes. Paddlers can stay overnight at the “Kodoli” farm; confirm current availability before travelling.

To the main travel overview: Madonas Novads.