Jaunlubāna: Art History, Flax and Paddling

Jaunlubāna brings together an artist’s biography, traces of flax processing and a paddling route to the “Kodoli” farmstead. The Aiviekste features in several of these stories: it flows past the farmstead, appears in a recollection of cross-country skiing and forms part of the scenery along the paddling route. This places local history alongside a specific water-based activity—two different reasons to consider Jaunlubāna as a travel destination.

Art and Local History in Jaunlubāna

Rūdolfs Pinnis was a painter and a prominent figure in Soviet Latvian art. He was born in 1902 at Jaunlubāna Manor in Madona Municipality, Latvia. His biography gives the manor house a specific connection to art history: for travellers interested in art, the story of the place begins here with a name and a clearly identified birthplace.

The area’s former flax-processing industry is also part of its history. The flax factory of the Lubānas-Meirānu linkopju savienība was established in the former centre of the Jaunlubāna estate. A wool-processing factory had previously operated there. In the second half of the 1920s, workers from the Jaunlubāna flax factory took flax to the retting ponds; among them were Pēteris Liepiņš and his sons Rihards and Māris. These details trace changes in local work: from the earlier wool-processing operation to the flax factory and the people associated with it.

The ruins of the manor house’s old buildings are in Jaunlubāna, near the “Kodoli” farmstead. A local recollection also tells of lively cross-country skiing competitions on the banks of the Aiviekste. The river landscape thus appears in different contexts: in a wintertime memory of cross-country skiing and in connection with the paddling route. Pinnis’s biography and the history of the flax factory offer two different ways to explore local history.

The Aiviekste and the Paddling Route to Kodoli

The Aiviekste flows past the “Kodoli” farmstead in Jaunlubāna. The picturesque riverbanks are among the scenic highlights of the paddling route from Lake Lubāns to Kodoli. The river therefore links the farmstead’s location with one of the sights mentioned along the route.

The paddling route starts at the canal of the Abaines upīte at Lake Lubāns and leads to “Kodoli”; it is 32.6 kilometres long in total. It is possible only during the high-water season. If you are planning this trip, this seasonal restriction is therefore essential. Paddlers can stay overnight at the “Kodoli” farmstead; check availability before your trip. Kodoli is also considered a highly suitable base for boat trips on rivers in the Aiviekste basin and on Lake Lubāns.

Planning Your Stay and Holiday Apartment

When looking for a holiday apartment in Jaunlubāna, you can start by considering what you want to focus on during your stay: art and local history, or paddling. For a cultural focus, Pinnis, the manor house and the flax factory offer different historical perspectives. If you are considering a paddling trip, plan around the high-water season and confirm your overnight accommodation at Kodoli in advance.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Tīrumskanuļi, Dzelzava, Bērzaune, Kalsnava, Lautere, Ozoli, Prauliena, Stalīdzāni.

For the broader travel overview: Madonas Novads.