Holiday apartment in Varakļāni Municipality: Castle, Park and Teiči Nature Reserve
Varakļāni Castle was built between 1783 and 1789 for Count Michael Jan von der Borch. The castle park was created at the end of the 18th century alongside the construction of the castle and is one of the first romantically styled landscape parks in Latvia with a documented date. On the banks of the Kažava stream, the park contains a large stone popularly known as the “Love Stone”.
Culture and history
Since 1997, the Varakļāni Local History Museum has been housed in the castle, where several exhibitions and themed displays can be viewed. The modernised permanent exhibition is dedicated to the life and scientific work of M. Borch, as well as the history of the town of Varakļāni and Varakļāni Municipality. The local history museum also features 18th- and 19th-century wall and ceiling paintings, castle interiors and a chapel.
The Varakļāni Local History Museum regularly organises exhibitions and themed events. It also offers museum education, environmental research and entertainment programmes. The museum also houses a tourist information centre that provides guided tours and organises excursions through Varakļāni Municipality. In addition, workshops in sculpture, clay work, woodcarving, art, music and graphic art are offered.
The Chapel of Saint Victor was built in 1814 in the Classical style; its architectural model was the Pantheon in ancient Rome. The Roman Catholic Church of Varakļāni contains three altars, most of which are clad in colourful Italian marble. The church also houses relics of Saint Victor. The Lutheran cemetery ensemble includes an Art Deco-style entrance gate, the family chapel of the P. Mucenieks family, several sculpturally interesting monuments, and a monument to the community members who fell in the First World War and the Latvian War of Independence.
Nature
The Teiči Strict Nature Reserve extends into the Murmastiene and Varakļāni rural municipalities in Varakļāni Municipality. The area is designated as an Important Bird Area, a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, and a Natura 2000 site. Varakļāni Municipality also includes the Lubāna Wetland and Lielais Pelečāres Bog nature reserves.
The designated Sildas (Krastmaļi)–Siksala visitor route regulates legal visitor access through the Teiči Reserve. Siksala is a mainland island surrounded by bogs in Varakļāni Municipality and can only be visited accompanied by a guide from the Teiči Reserve.
Experiences
The escape room game “The Secret of Count Borch” uses tasks to be solved step by step, focusing on logical thinking, attentiveness, and recognising details and connections. A tasting at VARA KLĀNU offers a special insight into regional production. It includes nine drinks with different flavours, snacks, a visit to the production facility and the family history behind the company.
Places and routes
Varakļāni Municipality is located on Latvia’s national road in the Riga–Jēkabpils–Rēzekne corridor. For further exploration within the municipality, dedicated pages lead to Varakļāni town, Murmastiene Parish and Varakļāni Parish.
When booking a holiday apartment in Varakļāni Municipality, it is worth taking a close look at the respective listing page before booking.
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