Veselava: Manor House, Park Trails and Cultural Sites
Veselava combines a manor house ensemble with park trails, a river landscape and traces of cultural history. For planning your trip, the different routes and clearly identified historic sites are particularly interesting: you can compare short circular trails, a descent into the Raunis Valley and longer routes through the forest and over small bridges.
Key facts about Veselava
The Veselava manor house complex dates from the 19th century. The manor house park is located 1.2 km from the manor house complex. Nature trails around the manor house are designated as circular routes; their individual lengths and courses differ significantly. The documented character of the site is complemented by a cemetery chapel, historic memorial sites and the Silabulu Footprint Stone.
What are the architectural features of Veselava Manor House?
Veselava Manor House stands, as it were, on a large oval island that is completely surrounded by a water-filled moat. Two rubble-stone masonry bridges cross the moat to the courtyard of honour. Their semicircular arches consist of carefully worked travertine ashlar blocks. This makes it possible to understand access to the courtyard of honour through specific architectural elements, rather than viewing the manor house merely as an individual historic building.
For comparison with other local sites when planning your visit, you can also visit Jāņmuiža, Dukuri, Skangaļi, Liepasmuiža, Priekule, Priekuļi and Bunka.
How do the routes differ in length and course?
The trail in the manor house park leads down 141 steps into the valley of the Raunis River. The approximately 1 km-long Raunis Trail follows the riverbank and returns to the open-air stage via two alternative routes. Picnic and fire areas have been set up at this open-air stage. The trail thus connects a section along the riverbank with several described return-route options.
Another route is the approximately 2.5 km-long trail from the manor house through hilly woodland. It crosses the Dzirnupīte several times on small bridges. For a shorter hike, the “Easy Steps” trail is listed as approximately 0.75 km long; it has no stairs. Overall, the nature trails at the manor house are described as circular routes ranging from 0.75 to 2.5 km in length. The trails therefore differ both in length and in documented features such as steps, riverbank, forest, bridges and alternative return routes.
What historic traces complement the visit?
The Veselava cemetery chapel dates from 1923. Another historic trace is the Veselava horse-drawn postal station, which was still in operation in the second half of the 19th century. In addition, a candlelit path is lit every 11 November at the birthplace of Jānis Lapiņš in Lejas Pintuļi in his memory.
Check prices, availability and amenities for your travel dates directly on Booking.com.
View accommodation and offersAdvertisement · Affiliate link to Booking.comFAQ
When is Veselava Manor House open to visitors?
From 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026, Veselava Manor House is open to visitors on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 to 16:00.
What is notable about the Silabulu Footprint Stone?
The Silabulu Footprint Stone bears a clearly pronounced footprint-shaped depression. It is designated as an archaeological cult site of local significance and is one of Veselava’s natural rarities.
Which memorial site is associated with the Battles of Cēsis?
Veselava is home to a monument described as the first monument commemorating the Battles of Cēsis.
For the higher-level travel overview: Priekuļu Municipality.
