|
|
| |
 |
Latvia |
| A small, cosy country nestled between its neighbours Estonia and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea, Latvia is a country whose picturesque towns and ancient cities are set within a landscape of plains, lakes, forests and river valleys, and where fishing villages interrupt the dramatic coastline that is interspersed with white sandy beaches. The country has numerous manor houses, medieval castles, photogenic palaces and ruins, and Riga, the beautiful capital, is rich in history and culture, boasting the best concentration of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe. |
|
|
OLD TOWN TOUR (~2 h.)
This tour will give you chance to get acquainted with Old Riga and it's most famous architectural monuments: 13th century St. Peter's Church, St. George's Church, St. John's Church, a part of restored city wall and the medieval John's yard. Then you will walk to the heart of Old Riga - the Dome Square - Dome Cathedral and learn about the famous 19th century Dome organ - one of the biggest organs in Europe.
Finally you will have an opportunity to see the medieval dwelling houses "Three Brothers", 13th century St. Jacob's Church and 14th century Riga Castle.
|
|
|
HALF DAY CITY TOUR OF RIGA (~4 h.)
The bus tour encompasses the most significant sights of Riga. View of the City Canal parks, the Bastion Hill, the Powder Tower, the Art Nouveau buildings of the beginning of the century, the Freedom Monument, the Opera House etc. During the walking part of the tour you will enjoy the beauty of the ancient Hanseatic city, while strolling through the cobble-stone, pictures streets of the Old Town. In Old Riga you will see Dome Cathedral, the Church of St. Peter, the old Guild Houses, the Swedish Gate, Old Riga Castle and many other museums and historical buildings.
|
|
|
RIGA JEWISH HERITAGE TOUR (~4 h.)
You will visit the place of Big Choral Synagogue, which was built in 1868. On July 4th, 1941 the Synagogue was burned down together with 300 people inside. You will also visit the historical Jewish Hospital “Bikur Holim” built in 1924. The tour will continue to the Old Jewish Cemetery opened in 1725. After the war the cemetery was destroyed and now it is a memorial park. The tour will continue to the outskirts of Riga to visit the memorial place in Rumbula. This is the place where about 30 thousand Jewish people from Europe were massacred.
Finally you will return to Old Town where you will visit the only functioning Synagogue in Riga, built in 1905.
|
|
|
ETHNOGRAPHIC OPEN AIR MUSEUM (~3 h.)
Behind the pine forest on the bank of the Lake Jugla is situated one of the oldest open air museums in Europe. There you can see historical farmsteads, fishermen villages, churches and windmills.
|
|
|
TOUR TO JURMALA RESORT (~4 h.)
During this tour you will have possibility to see the charming wooden summer cottages, decorated with fascinating carvings dating back to the 1900-s and successfully harmonising with the more recently built cottages and spa health centres, you will have a stroll along the flat seacoast, a chance to enjoy the walk along the central pedestrian Jomas Street on which you will find cafes and souvenir shops and feel the typical Jurmala atmosphere.
|
|
|
TOUR TO SIGULDA (~5 h.)
Sigulda - one of the most picturesque towns in Latvia in the Gauja River valley, situated in the Gauja National Park and is known as the most popular tourist and leisure destination as well as famous winter sports resort in Latvia because of its bobsleigh track and the down-hill skiing routes. You will see the Turaida castle, visit local history museum, ruins of Sigulda castle, Crusader Castle, Gutmana Cave and Kropotkin`s Palace.
|
|
|
CESIS MEDIEVAL TOWN (~6 h.)
A full day tour to the beautiful Latvian Hanseatic town, located 90 km from Riga. En-route stop at the Castle on Āraiši Lake, dating back to the 9th cent. In Cesis a stroll through narrow streets and feel the amiable small town atmosphere, visit the 13th century Order of Knight's Castle and the soaring Gothic tower of the 13th century Church of St.John, the local History Museum displayed in the New Palace and a walk in the Palace park. Short drive through the countryside will take you to the picturesque Gauja River banks at the highest sandstone cliffs in Latvia - Erglu Klintis.
|
|
|
TOUR TO LATGALE (~10 h.)
Visit the most remote and most beautiful provinces of Latvia – lake district Latgale. The route will take you along the Daugava river via several former ancient ports –towns (Ikšķile, Lielvārde, Aizkraukle, Koknese) to Catholic Mecca – Aglona. The providence of Latgale is popular for the very specific Latgale ceramics.
|
|
|
TOUR TO KURZEME (~8 h.)
Journey along the coast of Riga Gulf via the resort town Jurmala and fishermen’s villages will take you to the heart of Kurzeme – one of the four ethnographic provinces of Latvia. Enjoy the beauty of the small towns – Talsi, Kuldiga, Stende Tukums etc. Kurzeme is also famous with its castles. The way back to Riga will lead you through Sabile with a most Northern vineyard in the world, marked in the Guinness Book of Records.
|
|
|
TOUR TO RUNDALE CASTLE (~6 h.)
Enjoy a spending outing into Zemgale, the “bread basket” of Latvia. Drive through Bauska and see the ruins of Bauska Castle (15th – 18th century). The highlight of the tour is Rundale Palace (18th century), the most beautiful baroque palace in the Baltics. The palace is an outstanding example of the early work of Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli.
|
|
|
ROMANTIC DOWNTOWN LIEPAJA (~8 h.)
Tour to “city of winds”. During excursion you will see: Holy Trinity Lutheran church – noteworthy for its organ, Rose square, Zivju street – former fish market, Kursu square & St. Anna’s ev. – Lutheran church, house of Czar Peter I, a walk along seaside park and beach. Finally visiting of famous Liepaja Naval Port with its movable bridge, north breakwater, forts, water tower, Navy officers assembly – house and the Beberlini recreation trail. Possibility to view and take part in historical and horrific plays “Behind the gridiron”.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
LATVIA
| Area: | 64,000 sq km |
| Population: | 2,306,300 |
| Capital City: | Riga |
| Currency: | Latvian lats LVL |
| TimeZone: | GMT / UTC +2 |
| Language: | Latvian, Russian |
| Religion: | Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox |
| Government: | Parliamentary democracy |
| Member of EU: | YES |
|
