Raiskums – Manor History, Lake and Nature Trails

Raiskums combines manor history, a lake landscape, nature trails and regional brewing culture. Anyone planning a trip with a variety of experiences will find specific points of interest here: a historic manor complex, geological features, circular trails of different lengths and a tasting of local craft beers.

Raiskuma Manor and Lake Raiskums

A good introduction to the history of the area is the Raiskums Manor House. Its terrace offers a view of Lake Raiskums. To this day, around 20 buildings belonging to Raiskuma Manor have been preserved; several of them retain their original façades. This makes it possible to combine a walk through the manor’s past with time spent by the lake, without the two impressions becoming the same experience.

This distinction can also play a role when choosing your holiday apartment in Raiskums: Would you primarily like to discover culture and local history, or should your accommodation serve as a starting point for nature and water-based experiences? This allows you to take specific activities into account when looking for a suitable location.

Red Cliffs and Kvēpene Nature Trails

The Red Cliffs are a protected geological natural monument in Gauja National Park. A 2 km circular hiking trail runs through the area of the Red Cliffs. In addition, the Red Cliffs trail features an open-air exhibition with large-format paintings inspired by the fairy tales of Latvian writer Kārlis Skalbe. Nature and literature meet here in an unusual way.

The 11 km Kvēpene circular trail offers a longer option. It begins at the car park by the historic Raiskums Chapel, which was built around 1880. Along the Kvēpene nature trails, hikers can also reach Kvēpene Cave and a sacred spring emerging from an impressive sandstone cliff. When planning your day, you can therefore choose between a 2 km loop and the 11 km Kvēpene circular trail, depending on which distance suits your plans.

Brewing Culture and Experiences on the Water

At Raiskumietis, the tour includes a visit to a wood-fired brewing kettle. During a booked tour, you can also learn about the production of beer and sourdough bread and experience the nuances of their flavours during an extensive tasting. Three local craft beers are offered: light, dark and cherry beer. This experience complements nature excursions with an insight into regional production and flavours.

Lake Raiskums can also be incorporated into your travel plans. SUP boards can be rented at Apaļkalns Campsite for trips on the lake. Anyone wishing to combine water activities with walks, manor history or a culinary tour can take these individual interests into account when choosing accommodation and dividing up their holiday days.

Raiskums as a Starting Point for Planning Your Trip

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house in Raiskums, it is worth deciding on your preferred focus first. The shorter route at the Red Cliffs, the 11 km Kvēpene circular trail, the chapel and the nature trails suit different day plans. Added to these are Raiskuma Manor House, the view of Lake Raiskums, the open-air exhibition and the offerings at Raiskumietis. This allows you to search more specifically for accommodation without limiting your trip to just one type of experience.

If you would like to expand your search to other destinations, you can also look at Rāmuļi and Cēsis.

To the overarching travel overview: Cēsu Municipality.