Discover Gulbene: Churches, Manor House and Railway

Gulbene brings together several distinct visitor attractions: the Lutheran church and the monument to Martin Luther, exhibitions on the history of the town and railway, and walking trails in the parkland of Spārīte and Emze. This range can help you decide what to include in your trip: you can explore historic buildings and memorial sites, interactive exhibitions, and trails with different layouts. You can choose the focus of your visit based on whether you are particularly interested in history, railways, or a walk.

Church and manor house history

Gulbene’s Lutheran church was built between 1838 and 1843 on the ruins of the castle. It stands on a hill in a loop of the Krustalīce River, considered the town’s original centre. Its construction period and location link the church to the former castle site and the historic town centre. In 1883, a monument to Martin Luther was unveiled beside the church in honour of his 400th birthday. The church and monument bring architectural history and the memory of Luther together in one place, although they date from different periods.

In the granary of Vecgulbene Manor, the “Tautsaimniecība” exhibition displays more than 1,300 collection items connected with Gulbene’s history. Visitors can grind flour using hand mills and spin linen yarn. These hands-on activities complement viewing the objects by giving visitors the chance to try things for themselves. The exhibition combines historical objects with practical activities, offering a different way to engage with history than viewing a collection alone. This means that alongside church and architectural history, there is also an exhibition where taking part in an activity is part of the visitor experience.

Railways from two perspectives

At the Gulbene depot, visitors can see the repair workshops, the Gr-319 “Ferdinands” steam locomotive, and other narrow-gauge rolling stock. Another way to explore the subject is at the “Dzelzceļš un Tvaiks” educational and interactive centre at Gulbene railway station. The historic station building is connected with Latvia’s cultural, historical and industrial heritage. Using 30 interactive devices, visitors can explore the development of the railway sector and future trends.

The two railway attractions differ in focus: the depot centres on workshops and vehicles, while the centre offers an interactive exploration of the railway sector’s development and future. Advance registration is required to visit the “Dzelzceļš un Tvaiks” centre. Bear this in mind when planning your visit.

Park trails and landscape

Two walking trails with different layouts run through the parkland of Spārīte and Emze. The Heinrich Trail is a 3.2-kilometre linear route with an estimated walking time of about one hour. The Marisa Trail is a 2.2-kilometre loop, with an estimated walking time of about 40 minutes. This lets you compare their lengths, route types and approximate walking times directly: the shorter loop contrasts with the longer linear route. Spārīte Park also has the status of a natural monument of local significance.

The landscape park of Vecgulbene Manor includes the hills Mīlas kalniņš and Kafijas kalniņš, as well as small ponds. These landscape features add a distinct park theme to the trail descriptions. If you are planning time outdoors, the specific details about the walking trails can help you choose between the loop and the linear route; the manor park also offers a look at its named hills and ponds.

Confectionery and hands-on activities

The tasting tour at “Gardums” includes a prepared selection of confectionery and coffee. “Gardums” also offers hands-on confectionery workshops, where participants make sweets together. You can choose between a guided tasting with a prepared selection and an active format that involves making sweets together. This difference is also worth considering when planning your trip if you would like to include a culinary activity alongside the historical and landscape attractions.

Discover more destinations: Ranka, Stāmeriena, Lizums, Stāķi, Daukstes, Galgauska, Namsadi, Litene

For the wider travel overview: Gulbenes Novads.