Discover Omuļi: Manor House, Culinary Delights and Trails

Omuļi combines historic architecture with regional culinary experiences and unusual ways to actively explore the surrounding area. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Omuļi can therefore plan their stay entirely according to their own interests: with time for Omuļu muiža, a visit to Ausmas or individual stages of the “Fond 1836” route.

Omuļu muiža and its surviving traces

Omuļu muiža is at the heart of the cultural discoveries. The manor house was built in the 19th century in the Historicist style. Remains of the park have been preserved, complementing the historic character of the site. The outbuildings also deserve a closer look: the stable buildings are made of red brick and fieldstone masonry. The stable complex also includes an attached T-shaped shed on masonry pillars.

The grounds contain further distinctive examples of the former manor economy. These include a grain-drying kiln built of red brick with a tiled roof, as well as a granary made of round logs with herringbone-patterned doors. These different buildings make Omuļu muiža a destination for travellers who want to discover not only a single historic structure but also details of rural architecture.

Ausmas: historical connections and regional specialities

Ausmas also enriches the cultural picture of the area. The historic Stallenhoff was once the brewery of the Omuļu muiža estate. Its former function is part of the site’s history and should be understood as historical context. In Ausmas, a tasting of their drinks is offered under the direction of Aldis Leicāns, master distiller and founder of the SIA “Stallenhoff” distillery.

For a trip focused on regional products, there are further opportunities there: Ausmas offers masterclasses in bread baking and cheese-making. Tastings featuring homemade products and products from neighbouring farms are also available. This allows a day of cultural exploration to be complemented by practical and culinary experiences, without limiting the stay to sightseeing alone.

Experiences for different day plans

Those travelling with children can get to know, feed and pet animals up close at Ausmas’ animal farm, which has been in existence since May 2013. This creates a different kind of shared experience from exploring historic buildings. Families can therefore choose between architecture, regional products and encounters with animals, depending on how varied they want their day to be.

For active travellers, Omuļi has an individually designed trail marker for the “Fond 1836” project. The “Fond 1836” route is divided into 100 stages of 18.36 kilometres each. The individual stages can be completed by car, bicycle or on foot. When planning your trip, you should therefore consider whether you want to include a full stage or only part of the project in your stay.

The right accommodation for your travel idea

When looking for accommodation in Omuļi, it is worth deciding first what you want to focus on. For a trip centred on the manor house, stable buildings and historic traces, culture takes centre stage. Those planning tastings, bread- and cheese-making courses or a visit to the animal farm will orient their days more towards the offerings in Ausmas. For excursions by bicycle, car or on foot, the “Fond 1836” route can provide the thematic framework.

A holiday apartment or holiday house should above all suit your personal pace of travel and the planned balance between discovery, participation and relaxation. Omuļi offers enough different points of interest to ensure that a stay is not shaped by a single item on the itinerary, but by the interests of your travel group.

If you would like to extend your search to other places, you can find the next destinations here: Valka, Zaķi, Turna, Ērģeme.

For the higher-level travel overview: Valkas Municipality.