Holiday Apartment in Ogres Municipality: Culture, Nature and River Landscapes

Ogres Municipality combines historic sites, unusual museums, forested landscapes and activities along the Ogre River. A holiday apartment in Ogres Municipality therefore leads to an area where Latvian history, nature and creative local offerings come together within a small area.

Culture and History

In Ogre, the Ogres Vēstures un mākslas muzejs preserves around 50,000 objects acquired in the city of Ogre and throughout Ogres Municipality. The permanent exhibition “Pietura Ogre” tells the story of the city from the first inhabitants of Ķentes Hillfort through its heyday as a spa and resort town to the Soviet and industrial era.

Important historic sites can also be found outside the city. The medieval castle ruins of Lielvārde are an archaeological monument of national significance. The medieval castle of Lielvārde is mentioned in written sources as early as 1229. At the Andreja Pumpura Lielvārdes muzejs, visitors can temporarily step into the roles of Lāčplēsis, Laimdota and Andrejs Pumpurs and put on a Lielvārde belt.

Ķoderu Hillfort, popularly known as “Lielā vīra gulta” (“The Big Man’s Bed”), is also an archaeological monument of national significance. It is located on the right bank of the Little Jugla, on a parallel ridge of the Lielie Kangari. Its north-eastern and south-western slopes are naturally steep and around 15 metres high. Āderkašu Hillfort lies in a wooded, hilly landscape on the bank of the Taukātne, a tributary of the Ogre River, and has two terraces.

In Ķipene, Kinostacija Ķeipenē preserves the only remaining section of track from the former Rīga–Ērgļi railway line. The Kinostacija also houses an exhibition about the outstanding film director Sergei Eisenstein. Tīnūžu muiža is home to the Culture and Cultural Heritage Centre, located in a barn built in the early 1930s. Its main exhibition is dedicated to the battles of the Latvian Riflemen at the Little Jugla in 1917.

The Energy Museum in Ķegums presents Latvia’s energy history from the first electric light bulb to the commissioning of the Ķegums hydroelectric power plant. Interactive exhibitions explore environmentally friendly energy generation and the physical laws associated with it. Kaktusu māja offers a completely different focus: it displays a collection of 250 knitted and crocheted cacti.

Nature and Landscapes

Ogres Zilie kalni Nature Park protects six plant species characteristic of forests on eskers or esker-like ridges. In summer, its network of trails is available for Nordic walking, cycling and other leisure activities. The Ogres Valley also contains 15 biotopes that are specially protected in Latvia.

An observation tower in Meņģele is located in Ogres ieleja Nature Park and offers views over the Ogres Valley. In Špakovska Park, 100 steps lead to an observation tower. The 70-metre-long Purva Trail is also located there, along with a natural spring two metres deep.

Velna klēpis is a roughly 30-metre-long accumulation of boulders in a deep, wooded ravine in the upper reaches of the Nāružiņa. Along with the forested slopes and river valleys, this landscape formation represents the different natural environments that meet in Ogres Municipality.

Experiences

Paddling on the Ogre River is possible throughout the season from Vecogres HES and the Emmas Mills; when water levels are higher, launches are also possible from Ērgļi. A renovated, two-kilometre-long promenade also runs along the Ogre River.

Local craft and culinary offerings complement the museums and landscapes. At Ķeipenes piparkūku studija, visitors can watch gingerbread being made. For the icing, the studio uses natural berry and fruit juices instead of artificial food colouring. A “Krapes crepes” pancake workshop takes place at the Krapes muižas ūdensdzirnavas. Bišu maģija offers workshops on making natural beeswax candles.

Geography

The ruins of Ikšķile Church lie on St. Meinard Island. They are the oldest ruins of a stone building in Latvia; the church was built in 1185 under Bishop Meinard. The ruins can be reached by boat. When the water level of the Rīgas HES reservoir is lowered, it may be possible to reach them on foot along the route of the former road.

Ogre can be reached from Riga by intercity bus or train. When comparing a holiday apartment in Ogres Municipality, you can check the exact location, accommodation type, occupancy, included services, price components, and booking and cancellation conditions on the respective offer pages.

Other subregions of Ogres Municipality include Ogre, Meņģele, Madliena, Ogresgals, Ķeipene and Suntaži. Other destinations at the same level are Viesīte and Kocēnu Municipality.

To the higher-level travel overview: Latvia.