Piedruja: Churches, Parish Museum and Daugava Trail

A trip to Piedruja can be planned around several themes: church architecture, local collections and the landscape along the Upper Daugava. This can help you decide which aspects of the destination are of particular interest to you when choosing a hotel for your stay. The Piedruja Trail lies in the ancient valley of the Upper Daugava, within the protected Augšdaugava Nature Park. Two churches and the parish museum add architectural history and exhibitions to the landscape.

The Daugava, the border and the townscape

At Piedruja, the Daugava also forms the border between Latvia and Belarus; the state border runs through the middle of the river. From Piedruja’s riverbank, you can clearly see Druja’s low-rise buildings and its abandoned church. The view therefore looks across the river towards the settlement on the opposite bank. This is distinct from the impression created by Piedruja and its surroundings: some of the low wooden buildings there are reminiscent of scenes from open-air ethnographic museums. For planning your trip, the river view and the townscape offer different perspectives—one looking across to Druja, the other at the wooden buildings in Piedruja and its surroundings.

Two churches, different architectural histories

The Catholic Church of Piedruja and its interior are among Latvia’s outstanding architectural monuments of the late Baroque period. An illusionistic altar is inside the church. The present-day masonry church was built in 1759, after the previous church burned down. By contrast, the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas was built between 1883 and 1885 on the site of an older wooden church. Its design follows Old Russian architectural forms from the city of Vladimir, as well as Byzantine architectural forms. Piedruja thus offers the chance to see different periods of construction and architectural influences side by side, while keeping the histories of the two churches distinct. A landscaped garden was also created between the two churches.

Maps, everyday objects and photographs

The Piedruja Parish Museum has four exhibition halls. On display are fragments of old maps, spanning the period from the 15th century to the present day. Household objects and agricultural machinery from different periods are also on display, reflecting the lives of the local population. The collection is complemented by themed photography exhibitions. The exhibitions therefore also differ in perspective: the maps span several centuries, while the household objects and machinery focus on the everyday lives and work of the local population. If you plan to visit the museum, please contact it before your visit at +371 28703566.

On foot in the protected landscape area

The Piedruja Trail lies in the ancient valley of the Upper Daugava, within the protected Augšdaugava Nature Park. The area around Piedruja is rich in rare and protected plant and animal species. As you walk the Piedruja Trail, you can see the Daugava Stone. The word “Daugava” is carved on it in seven languages: Estonian, Finnish, Russian, Polish, German, Livonian and Latvian. The river’s name thus appears in two different contexts: at Piedruja, the Daugava forms the state border, while the stone records the word in seven languages. Check trail conditions again before your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Krāslavas Novads.