8. Latgale – The Land of Blue Lakes and Historic Architectural Monuments

Road goes coastwise Daugava – one of the most scenic roads along the river. Latgale – ethnographic and administrative territory of Latvia. Rezekne and Aglona. Latgale – the land of woods and lakes.

Itinerary of excursion:

1st day.
We depart from Riga in an early morning. Riga – an old trade city, today it is situated on either side of the river Daugava. Daugava (Dvina) – significant link of the river and trade road, which united west Europe with Russia in 9th to 14th century.
Already in 9th to 14th there were old settlement grounds of the ancient Livs, already in this time mutual trade with ancient Russian cities was made.
Ikskile – one of the oldest settlement grounds of ancient Livs. Ikskile – the first place in Livonia, where Catholicism spread as the kind of Christianity.
Lielvarde and its castle – the settlement ground of ancient Livs, which has left tracks in nowadays life. Poet Anrejs Pumpurs and Latvian national epos “Lacplesis”.
Koknese – one of the populated places of ancient Livs, ashore the River Daugava. Ruins of Koknese castle. Krustpils – city at the cross-roads of two ethnographic districts. This is the place where meet modern Latvia with Latgale.
Latgale is rightly called the Land of Blue Lakes or Lakeland, as well as the land of rivers and woods. Passage to Daugavpils in the evening. Daugavpils is the final city of Latvia, which stands ashore the river Daugava. A small sightseeing tour in the city. Ruins of the Dinaburg Castle, which bear a witness of the old history. Night at the hotel.

2nd day.
Breakfast. Passage to Kraslava. Kraslava – one of the most typical cities of Latgale. Visitation of ruins of Kraslava Castle. Dagda – city ashore the Dagda Lake. Rezekne – one of the largest cities in Latgale. Small sightseeing tour in Rezekne.
Aglona. Visitation of the Basilica of Aglona – a wonderful architectural monument – destination of pilgrims.
We return to Riga in the evening at 22.00pm.