Preiļu Municipality – Holiday Apartments Between Culture, Nature and Lakes

A defining cultural site in Preiļu Municipality is the Preiļi Museum of History and Applied Art. It contains more than 20,000 objects documenting the history of the municipality and its economic, educational and cultural development.

Culture and History

The Tourism and Information Centre of Preiļu Municipality offers a guided exploration of the Preiļi manor complex and park. The Preiļi Museum of History and Applied Art also presents art exhibitions and offers guided tours of the manor chapel and the Preiļi Sculpture Garden.

In Galēni, the permanent exhibition at the Roberta Mūks Museum displays personal belongings, photographs and manuscripts belonging to Robert Mūks. The museum offers an excursion to his birthplace near the museum and provides access to the philosophy trail dedicated to Robert Mūks in Galēni Park. An exhibition hall there is used for exhibitions and events.

The Preiļi manor complex includes a palace, chapel, stable, gates, gatekeeper’s lodge and park. The buildings and park elements are architectural monuments of state significance. The Raiņa Museum “Jasmuiža” is also a historical monument of state significance. It comprises restored manor buildings, a ceramics workshop with a kiln, an open-air stage and grounds covering more than five hectares with a park. The Jasmuiža Museum features an extensive exhibition on Latgalian ceramics, including more than 200 household vessels and decorative ceramic objects made by potters from the region.

The Aglona Basilica was built in the late Baroque style and is defined by two towers approximately 60 metres high. Its construction is dated either to the first half of the 18th century or to the years 1768 to 1800.

Nature and Landscape

The Preiļi Park Big Tree Trail connects 16 notable trees along a route of approximately 2.5 kilometres and offers at least one and a half hours of nature exploration. Covering 41 hectares, it leads through a natural meadow, along waterways, through woodland and past old buildings, their ruins and Preiļi Palace. The trail is suitable for individual walks, family outings, school groups and orienteering.

The Preiļi manor complex and park cover 48 hectares, of which 13 hectares consist of park ponds and canals. The nature trail on Upursala offers a different perspective on the landscape. It lies within the protected zone of “Cirīša ezers” Nature Park and leads across the “Upursalas pilskalns” cultural monument of state significance. Upursala can only be reached by boat.

The bog trail at Lake Pelēči lies in a Natura 2000 nature reserve. The Lake Pelēči bog tour is a 102-metre-long nature trail with a boat landing and a large observation tower. The 28-metre-high observation tower and recreation area at Lake Salmeja are also located in a protected landscape; both are situated in the specially protected landscape area “Kaučers”.

Crafts and Experiences

On Lake Rušona, Wake Surf Latgale offers wakesurfing, wakeboarding, water skiing, rides on inflatable devices, as well as water scooter and motorboat rental. The “Jašas podi” ceramics workshop creates artistic, functional vessels from stoneware and porcelain, as well as porcelain earrings. It also offers individual and group ceramics workshops for all skill levels, where participants can use a real potter’s wheel.

The Nester Custom Design Art Gallery displays interior elements and sculptures made from car and motorcycle parts. It also offers workshops, a design café and themed events.

Culinary Traditions

The Z/S “Juri” farm makes cheese by hand from the organic milk of its ten cows. During a visit, guests can learn about the traditions of cheese-making and taste the cheeses produced there, along with other products.

The “Ošu mājas” snail farm provides information about Roman snails and offers tastings of snail meat prepared according to its own recipes. It also sells snail meat, game-meat delicacies and souvenirs.

The Aglona Bread Museum conveys grain and bread traditions through proverbs, oral traditions, stories, old games, grain milling and bread tastings. At Aglona Deer Garden, visitors can observe and feed deer together with the owner.

Other Destinations

Preiļi and Babri. Other options include Skaistas Parish, Cibla Municipality, Auces Municipality, Durbe Municipality, Rēzekne Municipality and Kārsava Municipality.

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