Sign in with Facebook- Join for free
- Sign In
Sign in with Facebook
The possibility to see churches of oldbelievers
LanaFromRiga Says: Latgale is an unique region of Latvia where the third famous religion is old-believers. Only here you'll find specific churches of old-believers.
LanaFromRiga Says: The Ludzas region contains several nature preserves and areas of special protection – the Pilda and Istra lakes, Ziemelistra hills, and geomorphologie formations “Velna pedas” (the devil’s footmarks) in Rundeni. Noteworthy are also the parks of Malnava and Ruskulova manors.
LanaFromRiga Says: You will find rest and recreation in farmhouses, horse-rides, boat trips, fishing, hunting, berry picking, hiking and other outdoor activities.
LanaFromRiga Says: Interesants can entrance peasant houses and take a look how Latgale's people lived in the XIX and in the begining of the XX century.
LanaFromRiga Says: There are many etnographic museums in Latgale. One of the biggest is in Ludza. The cottage in the picture is the typical house of the XIX century.
Helpfulness
This view is atraction for us ("people from civilization" - cities and towns). People who are living in rural area are still using horses for transportation. There are many places in Latvia where you can ride for fun, but if you want to enjoy peosant lifestyle - hurry up - modernisation is coming!
Written Jan 26, 2004
Note -- "Daugavpils > Daugavpils" contains info on the city; I'm using the regional pages for info on Latgola (Latgale).
Latgola is the region richest in crafts, especially known for its traditional ceramics.
The link below provides info on different artists, with contacts.
The opening of a kiln is an ocassion, not just an opportunity to shop!
What to pay: Prices vary according to the individual artist.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
PeteNL Says: In Latvia it's a custom to go to the pirts for an evening out or a party with your family and friends, as others would be going to a pub... It's a great place to relax, have a drink and a bite in between the "bathing sessions".Most countryside B&B's offer a pirts for its...
LanaFromRiga Says: The people of Latgale have maintained their dialect, folksongs, applied arts and traditions. Over the centuries, the churches of the various denominations have developed into spiritual centres.
LanaFromRiga Says: In many places in rural area in Latvia people get water from wells and they haven't running water in their houses. In nowadays it's an exotic things for people from cities and towns. The water from well is more better than we are using in the city. The water from well is...
LanaFromRiga Says: There are people who are living far from towns and from civilization's probelms. It's they lifestyle, they philosophy and we can just be surprised how they can live without TV, Internet, washing machines and running water in they houses.
Between Daugavpils and Krāslava (the latter was considered the most beautiful spot in Latvia in the 'Thirties, and is worth a visit despite the degradation the Soviets wrought), you'll pass a couple of gravel roads that lead to Slutišķi.
This is an isolated, impoverished hamlet of Old Believers -- Russians who fled persecution by the Orthodox and settled here from the late 17th C. You can usually recognize their houses by the enclosed courtyards and high wooden walls.
Slutišķi is a real gem -- the meeting house has been restored, the views are stunning, and the 21st C seems far away... though the continued poverty of the residents is glaringly evident.
The area is part of the "Daugavas loki" national park, and a good road atlas will have a detailed map of the area (which includes Naujene, where you'll find the original site of Dünaburg).
You can also take a Krāslava bus from the station in Daugavpils (they run quite frequently, and it's not a very long walk to the hamlet).
You can find lodging cheaply if you wish to prolong your isolation...
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Latgale - the eastern part of Latvia
I'm starting the story about the eastern part of Latvia - Latgale. if you don't remember I reminding you that there are 4 regions in Latvia: Kurzeme (west), Vidzeme (north), Zemgale (center, south),...
Latgale is the name for the Easternmost region of Latvia, a peaceful and pastoral ("very rural") place to go. We enjoyed a relaxing 3-day trip to this region last summer.
Daugavpils, with 113 000 residents the second largest city in Latvia, is the "metropolis" of Latgola (Latgola is the name of the region in Latgalian -- in Latvian it's Latgale, in English Latgalia or...
Build your own Latgale page
Comments