Krāslava Municipality: Lakes, Nature and Culture

Eight great bends of the Daugava, lakes with islands, and places with distinctive cultural offerings shape the range of things to explore in Krāslava Municipality. The bends lie in the parishes of Ūdrīši and Kaplava, within the Daugava River Bends Nature Park. In 2011, the park was added to Latvia’s national UNESCO World Heritage list. Nature trails and museums also offer different ways to explore the region’s landscape and history.

Lakes, protected areas and trails

Nine islands are among the Drīdzis Lake’s distinctive landscape features; the lake is part of a Natura 2000 site. Velnezers is a 53-hectare nature reserve established in 1977. Its slopes are covered with dry coniferous forests, classified as a forest habitat protected in Europe. A well-equipped visitor trail has been created at Velnezers.

The Jaundome nature trail leads to Lake Ežezers, considered the lake with the most islands in the Baltics. Several natural and historical sites lie along the way, including the ruins of an ice cellar and a brewery. The beaches at Ezernieki and Andzeļi on Lake Ežezers are freely accessible because they are on municipal land. There are also public recreation areas for swimming and active leisure. At the Piloru Oak Grove, you will find a small parking area, a trail, an information board, and a rest area with a pier and toilets. As access arrangements and facilities may change, it is best to check the latest information before your visit.

For cyclists, Route No. 789, “In the Latvian-Belarusian Border Area,” has a clearly specified itinerary: it starts in Krāslava Parish, passes through Kalnieši Parish, and ends in Piedruja Parish. The route is about 27 kilometres long and runs mainly along forest, field and gravel roads. Another option is Cycle Route No. 35 through Daugava River Bends Nature Park, which can also be walked. This lets you choose between a route with a specified length and surface and an option also designated for hiking, depending on your plans.

Experience nature on the go

There are several ways to enjoy activities on and around Lake Ežezers. LOST IN LATGALE offers a guided 15-kilometre boat tour through the four-lake Sauleskalns lake system. Check the current booking and operating arrangements before planning your trip. Horseback rides are also offered in Daugava River Bends Nature Park and the Latvian-Belarusian border area. Carriage rides are listed for summer and sleigh rides for winter; check the latest arrangements in advance.

Smaller nature spots also offer a distinctive view of the surroundings. The cave in Dagda Park is a protected geological and geomorphological natural monument, accessible via the grounds of the “Parka rozes” Youth Initiative Centre. From the Karnicki Monument, you can look out over the bends of the Daugava and the architecture of Krāslava; a telescope is available there.

Culture, crafts and regional cuisine

The Krāslava Regional Museum preserves 27,000 collection items documenting the region’s distinctiveness and uniqueness from the earliest times to the present. One exhibition focuses on the historic architecture of wooden houses and the region’s craft heritage. The Plāter Counts’ Castle Complex is a nationally significant cultural monument dating from the 18th century. The Catholic Church of St. Louis is considered an outstanding example of Latgale Baroque architecture. Its altar features an 18th-century fresco, “Saint Louis Sets Out on the Crusade,” painted by the Italian artist Filippo Castaldi.

The Krāslava Crafts Centre has seven workshops. Guided tours for visitors combine demonstrations with hands-on master classes. The culinary heritage workshop offers tastings of smoked foods, bread, Krāslava pickles, cheese, tea and sweets. Piedruja has two churches offering different art-historical impressions: the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, with six domes, was built in 1883–1885. The Catholic church contains, among other things, three 18th-century altars, a pulpit from the early 19th century, a fresco of the Holy Trinity and church vessels from the 17th century.

The “Andrupenes lauku sēta” museum presents rural life in Latgale at the beginning of the 20th century. With advance booking, it offers tastings of dishes from Latgale’s culinary heritage. Also by prior arrangement, guided visits to the “Kurmīši” farm include tastings of herbal teas. Visitors can also make their own beeswax candles there and take master classes in making beeswax cosmetics.

More ideas for your visit

The Happiness Museum in Indra invites visitors to interact, feel and reflect through an interactive exhibition. On a guided tour, visitors can explore a collection of more than 1,000 Riga porcelain objects. Check before your visit whether tours are currently available. At the “Mežvīni” farm, activities such as collecting and tasting herbal tea, bread baking, wreath weaving, mushroom picking and various art activities are organised seasonally and by prior arrangement.

Discover more destinations: Miglāni, Krāslava, Pastari, Robežnieki, Rimšāni, Piedruja, Kombuļi, Kaplava.

For the main travel overview: Latvia.