Baldone – Walking Trails, Springs and Culture
Accommodation in Baldone
Explore Baldone through a range of interests: walking trails, a museum with exhibitions about the town, and parks with springs sit alongside astronomy and equestrian activities. If you’re looking for a hotel in Baldone, you can plan your trip around the experiences that interest you most.
Baldone at a glance
The main circular route of the Baldones Stāstu takas is about 20 kilometres long and includes 16 tourist sites with an audio guide. It starts and ends in the town of Baldone. The short route is suitable for cycling. Another thematic option is the 10-kilometre “Baldones militārā mantojuma digitālais maršruts,” with 13 information stops.
What trails and routes are there?
The Baldones Stāstu takas comprise a main circular route and a shorter option; the short route is suitable for cycling. Audio guides are available in Latvian, Russian, English and Lithuanian. The main circular route includes 16 tourist sites. The fact that it starts and ends in Baldone is a useful point of reference for anyone wishing to combine a visit with a stay in town.
In the wider area around Baldone, the Riekstukalns Trail is part of the main circular route and is about 5 kilometres long. The standalone digital military heritage route is 10 kilometres long and leads to 13 information stops. These details help distinguish routes by theme and length; however, distance alone does not indicate how long a route takes or how difficult it is.
What do the parks, museum and historic sites have to tell?
Ceriņu Park has been a popular place for walks since Baldone’s time as a spa resort. It is also home to a sulphur spring, considered Baldone’s most important natural feature. Another spring, Ķirzaciņa, is located in Baldone’s Sanatorium Park. The two springs are in different parks.
Since 2018, the Baldone Museum has been housed in Mercendarbes Manor. It features the exhibition “Ceļš uz Baldones kūrortu” and changing exhibitions. Mercendarbes Manor is 4 kilometres from the centre of Baldone, and a 130-year-old linden avenue leads there. This makes a museum visit easy to plan as a separate destination from places in the town centre.
Baldone’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of St Michael has been mentioned in written records since 1567. The Baltā pils now houses the Baldone Music School. The town also displays a life-size model of a horse-drawn tram.
What special excursions does the surrounding area offer?
The Baldone Observatory offers a creative workshop and a visit to the “Count the stars, don't count the time” mini-planetarium. A lesson titled “The Miracle of Space” is also available there on request. These astronomy activities offer another choice alongside the routes and historic sites.
On Riekstukalns, in the wider region around Baldone, there is an observation tower with views of Riga’s most prominent high-rise buildings. The wider Riekstukalns area also has ski slopes suitable for experienced and beginner skiers and snowboarders. The Vanagkalni open-air stage in Baldone has 4,000 seats and a roof over the stage area.
The “Atēna” equestrian club offers excursions to private visitors by prior arrangement. Visitors can see horses, ponies and other animals, and learn about equestrian activities. Advance booking is important if you want to include this experience in your plans.
Comparing the Baldone circular route and the museum by location
Your planned destinations can be a practical starting point when looking for a hotel in Baldone: the main circular route starts and ends in town, while the museum is 4 kilometres from the centre. Consider which experiences you want to shape your stay, and take the locations mentioned into account when choosing where to stay.
If you’d like to compare other destinations, you can also explore Mārupe and Riga.
FAQ
How long is the main circular route of the Baldones Stāstu takas?
It is about 20 kilometres long, starts and ends in Baldone, and includes 16 tourist sites with an audio guide.
Which languages are the audio guides available in?
The audio guides are available in Latvian, Russian, English and Lithuanian.
What does the Baldone Observatory offer?
Its offerings include a creative workshop, a visit to the “Count the stars, don't count the time” mini-planetarium and, on request, the “The Miracle of Space” lesson.
For the main travel overview: Riga.
