Holiday Apartment in Valkas Municipality: Nature, Culture and History

Valkas Municipality showcases nature in a special form: Ziemeļgauja is a unique area along the natural, unregulated Gauja, with a system of oxbow lakes, botanically valuable meadows, and old mixed and deciduous forests.

Culture and History

The Valkas Local History Museum is located in the building where the Vidzeme Seminary for parish-school teachers operated from 1853 to 1890. The permanent exhibitions cover this seminary and the cultural and educational work of its students from the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, as well as Valka as the cradle of Latvian independence. At the museum, visitors can also learn about the cultural heritage left by Jānis Cimze and his students and trace historical developments in Valkas Municipality.

The Vijciema čiekurkalte is protected as a state industrial monument of national importance. It operated continuously from 1895 until the 1970s, resumed work in 1992, and continues to use original equipment more than 100 years old to obtain seed for new forests.

In Vijciema Parish, the ethnographic farmstead complex “Ielīcas,” a state cultural monument from the 18th and 19th centuries, preserves a complete complex of traditional buildings typical of the region. These include a dwelling house, bathhouse, three granaries, a stable, a barn, a coach house and a cellar. On 16 August 2026, the complex is scheduled to reopen to everyone as part of the event “ĢIMEŅU SPĒKS IELĪCĀS”; this continues an annual tradition.

In Ērģeme, the ruins of a Livonian Order castle built in the 14th to 16th centuries have been preserved, including a round, four-storey corner tower. The castle ruins are a state monument of historical and archaeological significance. A constructed wooden footbridge leads from the castle ruins to the ruins of Ērģeme Church.

The Jānis Lūsēns Music House Ozolu skola displays a collection of musical instruments belonging to the composer Jānis Lūsēns in a large acoustic hall within a historic building.

Nature and Trails

Zemā sala comprises oak, elm and ash forests located in river floodplains; oxbow lakes of the Gauja can be found there. The Taurīšu ezers protected area was established to protect the rare moss species Lapzemes āķīte and spīdīgā āķīte.

The Lustiņdruvas Nature Trail is 1.3 km long and offers a forest fitness area and an obstacle course. As a longer option, the long-distance Mežtaka hiking trail is divided into 102 sections. It can be started at any physically accessible location and walked in both directions; the marking also runs in both directions.

Geographical Setting

Celīškalns Hill lies in the immediate vicinity of Valkas Municipality. Cālīši is a ruin in the wider regional surroundings of Valkas Municipality. The hills of Ruķu Kalns, Torņakalns and Kalnaegļu Pilskalns are also located in the vicinity of Valkas Municipality.

Traditions and Crafts

During the three-day event “Satiec savu meistaru” in Valkas Municipality, interested visitors could meet craftspeople in eight workshops at five venues.

More local pages: Valka, Zaķi, Omuļi, Turna, Ērģeme, Saulkrastu Municipality, Krimuldas Municipality, Inčukalna Municipality.

To the higher-level travel overview: Latvia.