Alūksne: Discover the Lake, Castle Island and Culture

Alūksne combines lakeside scenery, castle history and unusual discoveries into a diverse destination in Latvia. Lake Alūksne is the eleventh-largest lake in the country and has four islands: Cepurītes, also known as Mīlestības sala, Garo sala, Tīklu sala and Pilssala. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Alūksne can therefore tailor their stay to different interests – from historical sites and walks to activities on the water.

Castle Island, the Castle and Living History

On the largest island in Lake Alūksne, Castle Island, the Livonian Order completed the construction of a stone castle in 1342. The restored Southern Tower is now the only one of the eight towers of the medieval castle to have survived to a significant extent. During the summer season, boats, catamarans, single and double kayaks, SUP boards and a motorboat can be rented on Alūksne Castle Island. This makes it possible to combine the historic site with an activity on the lake, without the day being devoted exclusively to sightseeing.

Another distinctive site is Tempļakalns. The hill is a state-protected cultural monument, an ancient Latgalian hillfort and the site of an old settlement. Alūksne New Castle was commissioned by Alexander von Vietinghoff and built between 1859 and 1863 in the English Gothic Revival style. The Alūksne Cultural Centre also contains a late-19th-century building that formerly belonged to the Alūksne manor complex as a distillery and brewery. The “Kalme” studio of applied folk art operates there and welcomes visitors.

The baggage depot of the Alūksnes Bānītis station is also dedicated to history: it presents snapshots of the past and a narrow-gauge railway that has served as a helper, workplace and source of inspiration for more than a century. The Elevators exhibition displays an extensive collection of vintage cars across three floors. It reflects various eras of automotive engineering and conveys the development of historic vehicles.

Paths, Bicycles and Special Experiences

There are paths of varying lengths available for walks. The “Ezertaka” is 2.8 km long and leads around a peninsula of Lake Alūksne. The nature trail in Tempļakalns Park is a 1 km circular route that can be walked in either direction. These two details help you take the desired length of a walk into account when planning your day. The Alūksne observation tower offers a special viewpoint: it is 37.8 metres high, and 153 steps lead to its upper platform.

For a longer cycling loop, official cycling route No. 129 is ideal; it runs for 22 km around Lake Alūksne. Velo Osta rents classic bicycles, modern electric bicycle equipment and special family bicycles for four to six people. Those looking for an unusual experience can also try ZZZIPPP, a 350 m-long zipline with an average top speed of 50 km/h.

The Right Accommodation for Planning Your Trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Alūksne, it is worth deciding in advance what kind of daily rhythm you want. For travellers interested in culture, Castle Island, Tempļakalns, the castle, the Cultural Centre, the Bānītis station and the vintage car exhibition can form the focus of the trip. Those who prefer spending time outdoors can include the paths, cycling route, observation tower and summer activities on the water in their plans. Accommodation in Alūksne provides the setting for exploring these different sides of the destination yourself; the order that works best depends on your interests and the time available for your trip.

For further orientation, you can also discover Visikums, Jaunlaicene, Jaunanna, Korneti and Kolberģis separately.

For the overarching travel overview: Alūksnes Municipality.