Mar 28, 2024
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Discover Smiltene region!

Smiltene is a delightful little town with beautiful parks, blooming streets and low-rise buildings enveloped in flourishing gardens. Smiltene stands out with the beautiful Abuls river valley and the surrounding park. Here stands one of the oldest wooden manors in Latvia with its legendary stories about the history of Smiltene and the owner of the manor, First Paul Lieven.

 

On the outskirts of Smiltene you will find clear forest lakes and cycling routes that will appeal to those fond of outdoor activities. Here you can cycle, try paddle boarding, go on a boat ride, try Nordic walking or race one of the best go-kart tracks in the country, you can spend a night in a tree-top tent or go for a swim in a lake shaped like Latvia.

 

Smiltene region is known for the truly Latvian spirit and hospitality of the locals. In Brantu manor you can learn how to become a noble Latvian hostess and taste real Latvian cuisine, while the participants of the Folk Applied Arts Studio “Smiltene” can teach you how to spin, weave and make dowry. In the bread museum / cafe “Kukaburra” you can taste an invigorating, warm piece of rye bread, while at the birch sap plant “Birzī” you can enjoy a refreshing taste of birch sap and learn all the secrets of extracting and preparing birch sap.

 

Around Smiltene there are many beautiful recreation complexes for your holidays or celebrations, as well as summer camps for children. Here you can pet variety of animals and enjoy the best of rural delights. Try some wild apple cider and get a dose of vitamins from the golden sea buckthorns.

 

Enjoy the heat of the summer nights at wild open-air parties at Jāņukalns. Locals claim that just as the anthem of open-air parties and proms “Zemenes”, country music was born in Smiltene. Dance until the morning light with the legendary Latvian country band “Apvedceļš”  at Jāņukalns open-air stage and, when the autumn and winter cold sets in, move to the merry gatherings at Birzuļi Community Center in Mēri.

 

Sports lovers will enjoy the challenging cycling marathons across the sandy hills, exciting stages of motor racing, boating in the spring rapids of Abuls river, orienteering in the mighty pine forests and the winter swimming festival for those especially brave.

 

Ideas for a vacation with family and friends!

 

Be it peace and quite in nature, outdoors activities or breathtaking views, everyone will find something to enjoy when taking a leisurely stroll through the beautiful Abuls river valley and the surrounding old park reaching the Tapers lake promenade. See Smiltene hydro power plant, enjoy refreshing drinks or a delicious meal in the park hotel “Brūzis”, enjoy art in a form of large-format painting, visit the splashing waterfall or try out some outdoors activities – go paddle boarding, rollerblading, play beach volleyball, go roller skiing or go-karting, work out on open-air training equipment or simply enjoy the beauty of nature.

 

An exciting adventure for both adults and children will be a visit to the petting zoo “Ezerlejas”, where you will be able to meet and feed deer, mouflons, bobak marmots, rabbits, foxes, raccoons and many other local and foreign animals and birds.

 

Visit Smiltene regional museum in the Mēru manor and view a modern exposition on the history of medicine in Smiltene region. Here you can also view the great Mēru oak, which is the largest oak in the Baltics in terms of size of the crown.

 

Play a fun match of disc golf in Palsmane and visit the Love park where you can find various stone sculptures reflecting on the theme of love.

 

Visit the recreation complex “Trīssaliņas” and go on the approximately 400m long nature trail “Grove of the Friends of Forest” to find all the animals and checkpoints with the help of a map. Take a breather in the large gazebo and play one of the many family games. After you have completed the nature trail, visit the viewing tower to see the beautiful landscape of Trīssaliņas from above. For those who enjoy more active recreation, try out the gymnastics bars, a pulley-ride, sports area and children’s playground, a ride with the tiny car or a paddle board, bat or water bike.

 

Choose one of the scenic cycling routes and enjoy the natural, historical and cultural riches of Smiltene region. There are several cycling routes of different lengths and levels of complexity so that everyone can choose the one that best suits their strengths and interests.

 

In the very center of Smiltene you can play an active and fun game of bowling and then have a delicious meal and drinks in the cafe “Pasēdnīca”.

 

Ideas for group trips!

 

Start your visit to Smiltene with an exploratory guided tour of Smiltene and discover the oldest part of the town – Kalnamuiža complex and the old park (1-2 h) – finishing the tour with the tasting of the delicious treats in Smiltene manor (30 min). Bus tours are also available.

 

After that we recommend choosing any of these popular tourist attractions in Smiltene region:

 

Tasting tour in the sparkling birch sap plant “Birzī” (1-1,5 h)

Refresh yourself with the taste of sparkling birch juice and learn the secrets of producing birch sap. Have a unique visit to the first sap tree park, where only trees whose sap can be used for human consumption are planted.

 

Bread tour at Brantu manor (2 h)

Learn how to become a noble Latvian hostess and taste real Latvian cuisine. Try your hand at baking real Latvian rye bread.

 

Petting zoo “Ezerlejas” (1,5 h)

Go on an exciting adventure and see and feed deer, mouflons, bobak marmots, rabbits, foxes, raccoons and many other local and foreign animals and birds.

 

Blacksmith’s workshop (1 – 1,5h)

Observe the process of forging metal and try your hand at blacksmithing. Finished works are available for purchase.

 

Introduction to Latvian crafts and dowry-making at the Folk Applied Arts Studio “Smiltene” (1h)

Visit Folk Applied Arts Studio “Smiltene” and learn to spin, weave and make a dowry.

 

Visit to Smiltene regional museum (1h)

Visit Smiltene regional museum in the Mēru manor and view a modern exposition on the history of medicine in Smiltene region. Here you can also view the great Mēru oak, which is the largest oak in the Baltics in terms of size of the crown.

If you want something different, you can find more tourist sites for groups here.

Contact the Smiltene region tourist information center for a custom tour fitting to your needs and interests. Smiltene region TIC contacts are available here.

 

Welcome to Smiltene region!

Foto: Evija Ziemiņa