Discover Salaspils Municipality: the Daugava, nature and culture

Dole Island is the largest island in the Daugava and lies within the area of the old river delta between Salaspils and Katlakalns. Nature, history and cultural sites come together closely here. The Daugava Museum is housed in the New Manor House of the Dole estate complex, built in 1898. Its permanent exhibition explores the history of the Daugava and the history of Salaspils Municipality in the 19th and 20th centuries. It comprises a total of 1,174 exhibits, including objects as well as physical and digital photocopies. During opening hours, an orienteering course is also available on the museum grounds.

Culture and history

Another focus is the Salaspils Memorial. The exhibition there presents the history of the camp and the memorial, as well as the development of the memorial ensemble into an object of the Latvian Cultural Canon. The exhibition includes multimedia featuring video testimonies from former prisoners. Dole Manor Park is a landscape park dating from the late 18th to the early 19th century.

The open-air farmstead “Mellupi” shows the authentic home of a 19th-century river fisherman. A memorial stone commemorates the Battle of Salaspils, also known as Kircholm. It commemorates the victory of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Duchy of Courland over Swedish troops on 27 September 1605. In the vicinity of Riga, there is also a 14th-century architectural monument with Romanesque and Gothic features.

Nature

At the National Botanic Garden, the “Botania” Centre for Environmental Education and Information offers six thematic exhibitions covering more than 100 topics related to plant life. The entrance to the National Botanic Garden is located directly opposite Salaspils railway station on the Riga–Daugavpils railway line. A spacious car park is available to visitors on the grounds.

Rare plant species have been recorded in Dole Island Nature Park. Rare and protected bird species also nest here. On Dole Island in Salaspils Municipality, the family business “Doles Tejas” offers natural herbal teas and medicinal plants grown and gathered in Dole Island Nature Park. The offer includes garden tours, tours of the tea production process and tea tastings in the garden pavilion.

Activities and events

The protective embankment of the Riga Hydroelectric Power Plant is more than 15 kilometres long. It is a popular place for walking and is particularly suitable for cyclists. Boats can be rented in Dole Island Nature Park. At the archery course, 3D animal targets in natural surroundings are shot at with bow and arrow; the course is 2.5 kilometres long. Horse riding and wakeboarding are also available in Salaspils Municipality.

The Salaspils Municipality Festival takes place every year at the end of May and attracts thousands of visitors from all over Latvia. The Ragavas Music and Art Garden hosts summer open-air cinema evenings, concerts, theatre performances and art exhibitions. Salaspils Cultural Centre hosts theatre performances.

Other destinations

More destination pages: Salaspils, Riga, Rucavas Novads, Ventspils, Ogres Novads, Ropaži Municipality, Roja, Ērgļu Novads.

To the higher-level travel overview: Latvia.