Holiday Apartment in Krāslavas Municipality: Nature, Lakes and Culture

Krāslavas Municipality encompasses river landscapes, island lakes and evidence of cultural history. In the “Daugavas loki” Nature Park, eight large bends of the Daugava are located in the Ūdrīši and Kaplava parishes. In 2011, the nature park was included in Latvia’s national UNESCO World Heritage List, giving the landscape a clear geographical and cultural context.

Nature

Around the lakes, the landscape reveals itself in different forms. The Jaundome Nature Trail leads to Lake Ežezers, which is described as the lake with the most islands in the Baltics. The trail also passes several natural and historical sites, including Lake Ežezers and the ruins of an ice cellar and a brewery.

The Jaundome Environmental Education Centre displays one of the largest collections of freshwater fish replicas in Latvia and introduces visitors to the diversity of waterfowl in Latgale.

Lake Dridža has nine islands and is part of a Natura 2000 site.

Velnezers is a 53-hectare nature reserve established in 1977. Its slopes are covered with dry coniferous forests that are considered a forest habitat protected in Europe. A well-equipped visitor trail has been created at Velnezers. Another special feature is the cave in Dagda Park. It is a protected geological and geomorphological natural monument and can be accessed via the grounds of the “Parka rozes” Youth Initiative Centre.

At the Karnicky Monument and the telescope, views open up over the bends of the Daugava and the architecture of Krāslava. Access to the water is also clearly described at certain locations: the beaches of Ezernieki and Andzeļi on Lake Ežezers are freely accessible because they are located on municipal land.

Culture and Crafts

In Krāslava, the Regional Museum preserves 27,000 collection items. They document the character and uniqueness of the region from the earliest times to the present day. One exhibition is dedicated to the historical architecture of wooden houses in the region and the craft heritage created by its artisans.

The historical landscape includes the castle complex of the Counts Plāter in Krāslava, a state-significant cultural monument from the 18th century. Krāslava Catholic Church is considered an outstanding example of Latgale Baroque architecture. In its altar area, the Catholic Church of St. Louis contains a fresco painted in the 18th century by the Italian artist Filippo Castaldi, entitled “Saint Louis Goes on Crusade”.

The Krāslava Craft Centre comprises seven craft workshops. Guided tours with demonstrations and practical master classes are available there. The centre’s culinary heritage workshop offers tastings of smoked products, bread, Krāslava pickles, cheese, tea and confectionery.

Culinary and Rural Life

The “Andrupenes lauku sēta” Museum presents rural life in Latgale at the beginning of the 20th century. Tastings of Latgale culinary heritage dishes are also offered there by prior registration. The “Kurmīši” farm offers a different insight into regional activities: visitors have the opportunity to make beeswax candles themselves, and master classes on making beeswax cosmetics are offered. Guided visits to the farm also include tastings of herbal teas.

“Mežvīni” also operates by prior registration and offers activities such as collecting and tasting herbal tea, baking bread, weaving wreaths, mushroom picking and various art activities. In Indra, the Museum of Happiness features an interactive exhibition that invites visitors to act, feel and reflect.

Routes and Water

Krāslavas Municipality can be explored on marked routes and on the water. Cycle Route No. 789, “In the Latvian-Belarusian Border Area”, begins in Krāslavas Parish, passes through Kalniešu Parish and ends in Piedrujas Parish of Krāslavas Municipality. It is approximately 27 kilometres long and runs mainly along forest, field and gravel roads.

35 through the “Daugavas loki” Nature Park can also be travelled on foot. For a guided boat tour, LOST IN LATGALE offers a 15-kilometre trip through the Sauleskalns lake system, which consists of four lakes. Thus, different forms of transport exist side by side within the municipality: forest, field and gravel roads, a cycle route that can be walked, and a boat tour through a connected lake system.

You can reach other places in Krāslavas Municipality via Kombuļi, Kaplava, Miglāni, Krāslava, Pastari, Robežnieki, Rimšāni and Piedruja.

To the higher-level travel overview: Latvia.