Stāmeriena: Castle, Lake and Narrow-Gauge Railway

Stāmeriena combines cultural history, lakeside scenery and a distinctive railway tradition. Stāmerienas pils Castle, the Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Church and Lake Stāmeriena offer different possibilities for planning your trip. In addition, there is the station of the Gulbene–Alūksne narrow-gauge railway, which can serve not only as the starting point for a train journey but also for walks and cycling tours. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house, the desired mix of culture, nature and active days is therefore particularly important.

Culture around the Castle and Church

Stāmerienas pils Castle has been open to visitors again since 30 November 2019. The collection and exhibition rooms house a branch of the Gulbene District History and Art Museum. A permanent exhibition displays paintings by the regional artist Leo Svemps, who lived from 19 July 1897 to 7 March 1975. The castle therefore offers a tangible introduction to regional art history and a cultural focus for a stay in Stāmeriena.

Another prominent destination is the Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Church of Stāmeriena. It is an architectural and artistic monument of national significance and part of the building complex of Stāmeriena Manor. The church was built around 1904 with state funds and funds provided by Baron Wolf. It is the only Orthodox church in Gulbene Municipality and is visited by both believers and tourists. Those interested in architecture, religious art and the history of a former manor centre can take these aspects into account when choosing the focus of their trip.

Station, Lake and Paths for Active Days

Stāmeriena historically developed around two centres: one at the railway station and another several kilometres away around the former centre of Stāmeriena Manor. This historical structure is helpful for orientation when choosing accommodation according to your preferred daily programme. At the station, an interactive information board provides information about the Gulbene–Alūksne narrow-gauge railway and tourism in the Gulbene region.

The Gulbene–Alūksne Bānītis operates daily along the 33-kilometre route between Gulbene and Alūksne, with two journeys in each direction according to the timetable. Stāmeriena has a station on this narrow-gauge railway. This makes it particularly easy to incorporate the route into a travel plan involving the railway, without limiting your stay to a single activity.

Those wishing to explore Stāmeriena on foot or by bicycle will find several different options. The “Around Lake Stāmeriena” route is suitable for walking, hiking and cycling at any time of year. It can begin at Stāmeriena station; visitors can leave their cars in the car park there. Cycling Route No. 165 runs for 30 kilometres from Stāmeriena to Litene and back to Stāmeriena station. Allow three hours for the route by bicycle or eight hours on foot.

Route No. 165 connects the Gulbene–Alūksne narrow-gauge railway line with the disused Ieriķi–Pitalova broad-gauge railway line. Today, the latter is used as a Greenway that is safer for cyclists. This allows you to choose between a railway experience, a cycling tour and a longer hike when planning your day. A four-metre-high viewing platform in the trees is located near Stāmeriena station. From there, you can look out over the railway line, the station and the landscape around the station.

Lakeside Scenery and a Suitable Location for Accommodation

At the “Lāčauss” recreation site on Lake Stāmeriena, visitors can relax by the water while enjoying views of the lake landscape. This complements the cultural destinations and active routes with a quieter way to spend the day. For families or travel groups with different interests, it may be useful to decide before searching for a holiday apartment whether the focus should be more on the castle and church, the station and cycling routes, or the lake.

For further trip planning at this destination level, you can also find Galgauska, Litene, Ranka, Daukstes, Lizums, Stāķi, Namsadi and Gulbene.

For the broader travel overview: Gulbenes Novads.