Smiltene Municipality Hotels – Nature, Culture and Canoeing Routes

Smiltene Municipality is home to rare natural formations, protected landscapes, historic sites and various trails for walking and sporting activities. One of the most distinctive natural features is Raunas Staburags, a rare, cliff-like travertine deposit. It formed through the deposition of calcium carbonate from calcareous spring and spring-marsh water. Raunas Staburags is a Natura 2000 nature reserve in the Rauna Parish of Smiltene Municipality. Its most prominent escarpment is 3.7 metres high and 17 metres long. Raunas Staburags can be visited via a dedicated nature trail; the trail may be slippery in rainy weather.

Nature

The “Gaujienas priedes” nature reserve protects pine stands that are 150 to 180 years old, as well as several protected bird species. It has small forest trails and is used for walking, running, cycling and skiing. The Kalamecu-Markuzu ravines are also geologically protected sites of national importance. They feature canyon-like ravines, waterfalls and dolomite outcrops; seven waterfalls have formed in the bed of the Kalamecu stream.

The outcrops in the lower reaches of the Vizla extend for more than a kilometre along both banks between the Vizla Bridge and its confluence with the Gauja. The lower valley of the Vizla features rapids, low waterfalls, a spring, a stone island and the Žākļu-Diabas stone. This stone is 3.4 metres high, 6 metres long and up to 3.7 metres wide.

The Gaujiena Nature Trail runs along the Gauja and showcases the natural values and diverse habitats of the Ziemeļgauja protected landscape area. It is 6 kilometres long, although shorter sections can also be selected. The Launkalne Nature Trail follows the bends of the Rauza River and passes through natural meadows. It includes a picnic area, outdoor exercise equipment and a masonry bridge over the Ruņģu stream.

Trails and Activities

Smiltene Old Park and Vidusezers offer developed trails for walking, Nordic walking, cycling and inline skating. The Tepera Promenade offers opportunities for walking, cycling and inline skating, as well as swimming areas, outdoor exercise equipment and beach volleyball courts.

Cērtenes pilskalns is considered the oldest witness to Smiltene’s history and a fortification of fortress type. The wooded and hilly surroundings of Cērtenes Hillfort are criss-crossed by a dense network of trails suitable for walking and sporting activities. Cērtenes Hillfort also has winter sledding trails and a picnic area with a fire pit.

Four sections of the Mežtaka long-distance hiking trail pass through Smiltene Municipality: sections 12, 13, 14 and 15. Mežtaka section 13 leads from Gaujiena to Trapene through remote forests, past extensive bog areas, through open agricultural landscapes and along the Trapene larch avenue.

History

The Gaujiena Manor ensemble is an architectural monument of national importance. The Kalnamuiža Manor complex stands on the steep bank of Vidusezers. Several manor buildings and the ruins of a castle of the Teutonic Order have been preserved within the complex. Kalnamuiža Castle was built in 1370; today, only individual fragments of the walls remain on the steep slope beside Vidusezers.

Water

Two sections are mentioned for canoeing on the Palsa: from Krustakmens to Ūdrupe and from Variņi to Palsmane. The approximately 8-kilometre Krustakmens–Ūdrupe section passes through picturesque landscapes with large erratic boulders and golden sandy stretches; at higher water levels, rapids form in the rocky sections. The section of the Rauna considered best suited to canoeing runs from the Rauna mills to the V187 road (Rauna–Valmiera).

Practical Information

Outside opening hours, the Smiltene Municipality Tourism Information Centre provides tourism information in a box next to the entrance door.

For further exploration of the region, see the destination pages for Aumeisteri, Blome and Smiltene.

For the overarching travel overview: Latvia.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Vecvārkava, Aizkraukles Municipality, Pārgaujas Municipality, Riebiņu Municipality, Rucava Municipality.