Vītoli: Nature, Culture and Special Experiences

Vītoli offers a wide range of opportunities for a trip that brings together experiences in nature, local traditions and cultural discoveries. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment or other accommodation for this stay can use their own interests as the starting point for planning: animal experiences on a farm, outdoor recreation areas, a historic church and religious sites, regional cuisine, and the Lubāna Wetland each add a different focus.

Farm Experiences with Ponies and Horses

At the “Jaunbērziņi” farm, visitors can see ponies, horses and other farm animals such as sheep, rabbits, chickens and goats. Pony rides and carriage rides are offered there for children. Visitors can also learn to ride horses or drive a carriage at the farm. This makes it a specific excursion for anyone who wants to combine contact with animals and hands-on experiences with a visit to the countryside during their stay in Vītoli.

Leisure and Landscapes Around Bērzpils

In addition to the Bērzpils open-air stage, the Bērzpils Active Recreation Landscape-Thematic Park includes an equipped recreation and picnic area. The park also features a rose garden near the municipal administration building. These different areas offer various focal points for planning a trip: depending on the idea for the day, you can plan a visit to the Bērzpils open-air stage, a picnic break or a visit to the rose garden.

Another equipped recreation area is Krišjāņu Staburags on the Tilža River. It has a shelter, a fire pit with tables and benches, as well as tent pitches. Those choosing accommodation in Vītoli for their stay can include destinations like these alongside cultural sightseeing or a day in nature. The Lubāna Wetland Nature Reserve can also be explored in the wider area around Bērzpils.

Culture and Living Traditions

The Catholic Church of Krišjāņi was built in 1939. The granary of the Krišjāņi semi-manor was used for its construction. The wayside cross at Žogi in Krišjāņi Parish was erected in 1994. Together, these sites tell of different periods and forms of religious culture without needing to be reduced to the same era.

In the village of Naglīši, local people, especially women, go to a wayside cross on the evenings of May each year to pray, sing Marian hymns and draw “značkas”. This tradition gives a trip a special cultural dimension. It shows that the area is shaped not only by individual attractions but also by recurring customs.

Latgale Beer and a Meal Cooked Over a Fire

Culinary experiences are also part of planning a trip. At the farm of brewer Dainis Rakstiņš, visitors are introduced to the production and traditions of genuine Latgale beer made according to ancestral methods. In the tasting room, they can sample the host’s beer and snacks prepared by the hostess. With advance registration, Dainis Rakstiņš also offers a lunch or dinner break featuring soup cooked over a fire.

When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider which of these experiences should define your stay. A holiday apartment in Vītoli is a suitable search direction for a trip where you want to divide your days flexibly between farm experiences, culture, nature and regional cuisine. For other destinations in the same broader area, you can also include Gailīši, Balvi and Bērzkalne in your research.

For the broader travel overview: Balvu Municipality.