Destinations / The Best Places to Visit in Latvia / Vidzeme
Vidzeme
In the north Latvia borders with Estonia and opens a kaleidoscope of legends of castles, cities and rivers that hold the key to the country's history. Juicy and green (like the rest of the territory of Latvia) - this is its heart, forming the Latvian identity and shaped the modern nation-state of Latvia. Educated and talented thinkers presented legacy of each of the successive tunings to create a true spirit of Latvia. Here follows a middle landscape compositions, beautifully striped hills, strong vertical and bright skies. It is here that the great Latvian artist Purvitis painted, motives that were not summer, and the melting snow of early spring. If you see men in top hats, then you're in Piebalga, and this city is worth to visit!
VIDZEME SEASIDE
Vidzeme coast is the east coast of the Gulf of Riga, a richly beautiful scenery and natural objects. Here are high sand dunes, sandstone cliffs and rocky shores, coastal meadows, secluded beaches, favorite recreation and fishing villages for visitors. It is considered that the Vidzeme coast begins with the confluence of the Gauja River into the sea. These are part of remarkable and unique high dunes, lakes, bays. For example, Garezeri stretching for several kilometers, Lilaste dunes 20 meters high and one of the most beautiful coastal dunes in Latvia - the White dune in Pabazhi, at the confluence of the rivers into the sea. There is also the most famous summer resort on the Vidzeme coast - Saulkrasti. This name (Saulkrasti - sunny beach) itself proves the value of the place. In the late 19th century, the local fishing villages have become favorite summer holidays in Riga and remained so till nowadays: wide sandy beaches, green pine forests and quiet places near the sea with villas, houses recreation, summer houses, cafes and shops selling freshly smoked fish. In the north of Salacgriva on the seashore rocks of Lauchu tower is one of the large boulders on the coast of Latvia. The Big Stone Lauchu whose length 4.3 m, width 3.1 m and height 3.1 m, is called the king, even stones! Some kilometers further the town is located Saulkrasti Dunte, which is known as a museum of the world famous visionary Baron von Munchausen , because the best years of his life were spent at the Baron Vidzeme coast. In the north of the Dunte between Tusi and Vitrupe, Vidzeme coast is especially beautiful: part of the coast, the sea washes out, with an unusual cluster of boulders, earth headlands, sandstone cliffs and caves. All of this rocky Vidzeme coast is included in the Nature Reserve, the most beautiful landscapes which are Kyurmragse, with a lighthouse, eroded by sea, and Vetszemyu rocks - red sandstone bluff above the sea shore up to 6 meters. In the interval before the Salacgrīva some beautiful rivers flow into the sea: Vitrupe, Svetupe and for the settlement Svettsiems coast again a few unusual places allocated heaps of stones near the shore, with stone islands and Svettsiems Krauyu.
In the picturesque estuary of the river Salaca, which is the largest river in Latvia due to the large populations of salmon is a charming port city Salacgriva, where already the 5th century was a settlement of the Livs. Salacgriva attracts tourists for its beautiful beach and the holiday - the Day of the fisherman and the already well-known abroad, a popular music festival "Pozitivus" . In turn, it attracts nature lovers, especially the coastal grasslands, which are located to the north of Salacgriva. These are the largest coastal meadows and unique natural features which are distinguished by great biological diversity and important places of nesting birds. So do not be in vain for the convenience of lovers of nature in these meadows landscaped nature trails and platforms for bird watching.
At the very north of the Vidzeme coast, right at the Latvian-Estonian border is one of the quietest towns in Latvia - Ainazi. In the 19th century in Ainaži was founded the first maritime school in Latvia, the town became an important center of maritime shipyard, where for several decades had been built even 50 ocean-going sailing! Now Ainazi became a quiet town with an interesting beach which attracts the attention of tourists and old warehouses, a stone pier, which once went to a narrow-gauge railroad and wind power.
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The country also carefully preserves folk traditions and the architectural masterpieces of the Latvian cities.
There is the warm shores of the Baltic Sea, dozens of modern resorts, nearly fifty of old castles, the famous amber, hundreds of lakes and springs, as well as many hundreds of square miles of picturesque landscapes.
The areas of the Gauja River valley, the banks of the Daugava and Salaca, Vidzeme and Kurzeme coast of the Gulf of Riga, near the village and Ergli Vetspiebalgi, "mountains" and Gaizinkalns Sauleskalns, the urban neighborhood Tukums and Tulsa, the ancient city of Cesis and Kuldiga, the scenic lakes and Esha Reznas - all these places are part of the unique " Baltic Necklace", which gives the country a unique look and beauty.
Latvia is situated in the north-east of Europe, on the east coast of the Baltic Sea.
It has borders with Estonia in the east, with Russia in the south and with Belarus and Lithuania .
It is washed by the Baltic Sea in the west.
The total area is of 64.
5 thousand square kilometers.
The coastline - 531 km.
Most of the country is occupied by plains and lowlands, low hills surrounding the Vidzeme Upland (the highest point - Gaizinkalns, 311 m).
About 44% of the country is covered with forests.
The territory of Latvia was stretched by quite an extensive network of water - more than three thousand lakes and 12 thousand rivers, which provide good opportunities for active tourism.
Many hotels in Latvia are situated on the Baltic coast.
Hotels in Latvia will amaze you with the breadth of the price range and services offered.
An inexpensive holiday in Latvia is a journey to a European country with a long history and a high level of service, original architecture and the diversity of cultural life, beautiful nature and business centers - here one will find what looking for.
Tours in Latvia will be remembered for a long time: you might want to re-immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of the magnificent cathedrals, ancient churches and ornate streets, soak up the high-SPA, to be back at parties and festivals.
Buying trips to Latvia, you get a great opportunity to relax, for example, during the SPA-tours as Amber weekend or year-round tour of the Golden Ring in Riga , where you will see many colorful historic sites.
Strolling through the streets of Riga you can visit the beautiful and austere Cathedral, the Swedish Gate, the Monument of Liberty, the Residence of Peter I, inspect the symbol of Riga - 137-meter tower of the church of St.
Peter.
Of interest are the church of St.
Jacob, the Powder Tower, the Garden Gate Viesturs with the Alexander at the entrance, established in honor of Russian victory over Napoleon.
No less interesting museums in Riga are, for example, the famous historical museum, the Museum of Medicine, the Museum of Foreign Art, the National Gallery of Art, the Automotive Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, a collection of buildings XVI-XIX centuries from across the country from the typical wooden churches to windmills.
And at the Shopping-Tour in Riga individual travelers must go to the Riga market - the largest market in Europe.
Culture of Latvia Latvian literature is saturated with rich folkloric traditions.
These are folk songs, legends and fairy tales which have begun writing culture.
The first significant achievements of Latvian prose of the novel are of brothers Reinis Kaudzit Mathis, and "Seasons of the surveyors' (1879) and Jacob Apsishu stories about the life of the village.
The founder of the Latvian drama is A.
Alunana.
For significant achievements of the national culture is to translate the Bible into the Latvian language, made by Ernst Gluck as well as the release of the first periodical in the Latvian language under the title "The Latvian newspaper" in 1822.
In the Soviet period was carried out work aimed at the integration of all national cultures.
Many books have been translated by Latvian writers, like the languages of the peoples of the USSR and in foreign languages.
Latsis, Kempe, ITES, Sudrabkalna, Mane, Vatsientisa and many other published their works .
Latvian national cuisine The basis of the Latvian cuisine make putra and milk products in the first place and cheeses.
The main products include the national cooking pearl barley, flour, beans, vegetables, potatoes and dairy products.
Among meats pork keeps the palm, and after beef, veal and poultry.
In the preparation of dishes of national cuisine herring and sprat are widely used.
In the ranking of the most popular dishes of Latvian cuisine should be made sour milk and bread soup, also cabbage putra.
Putrov is a thick broth, pearl barley boiled in milk, added thereto as meat and fat.
Exact scattering of dishes in Latvia are made from cabbage, beet tops, sorrel, fresh and pickled vegetables.
The real "favorites" legumes are Latvian table.
Worth a try are the dumplings beans or peas with yogurt or boiled peas with cooked bacon.
Economy of Latvia Constant trading partners of Latvia are the country's neighbors.
However, becoming a member of the European Union, the country has expanded its trade horizons.
It established cooperation with many European countries, in particular, with Sweden, Britain and Germany.
The main export goods of Latvia are: iron and metal, electrical machinery and equipment, lumber, textiles and knitwear, round timber.
By the weaknesses of the Latvian economy is the fact that energy is in a state of dependence on imported oil and gas, but it has its own raw material resources available.
The country has a high unemployment rate, reaching 15%.
All this inevitably turns Latvia in one of the poorest countries in Europe.
Latvia can rightly be called the "pearl" of the Baltic states.
This is a country of blue lakes, forests, springs.
Among the scenic beauty, Latvia "has registered" dozens of modern resorts.
This country has medieval castles, knights' castles, rich history full of beautiful legends.
This is a country where past and present go hand in hand.
Perhaps that is why Latvia is so attractive to tourists.
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