Ludza: Old Town, Crafts and Lakes

The Old Town, the Great Synagogue and the castle ruins each tell a different chapter in Ludza’s history; the lakes add another dimension to a stay. When choosing a hotel in Ludza, it may therefore be important to consider whether you are mainly planning to visit historic sites, explore crafts or enjoy activities on the water. Guided experiences and an audio guide offer different ways to discover the town, while the lakes offer opportunities for a circular walk, cycling and water sports.

Old Town, Castle and Synagogue

Ludza’s historic centre is a nationally protected example of urban development. Narrow streets, 19th-century wooden and brick houses, and enclosed courtyards shape the townscape. The medieval castle ruins recall the town’s former role: the castle was built in 1399 by German crusaders on a castle hill between Lake Ludza Great and Lake Ludza Small, to secure the eastern border of the Livonian Order. Today, the ruins are noted for an observation platform, an improved pedestrian bridge and castle walls illuminated at night.

The Great Synagogue also brings together architectural and local history. It is considered the oldest wooden synagogue in the Baltic States and was built of wood in 1800, during the time of Rabbi V. Altšuler. It was destroyed during the war years and restored in 2016 to its original appearance as a branch of the Ludza Local History Museum. The building contains a prayer room and exhibitions about documentary filmmaker Herz Frank, his father, Ludza photographer Vulf Frank, and the fates of Jewish families from Ludza. Check the current access arrangements before visiting.

The Ludza Local History Museum offers general and themed guided tours in the museum and around the town. By appointment, town guides introduce visitors to the history and present-day development of the historic centre. An audio guide is available for exploring Ludza and its history independently. This lets you choose between a tour with a guide and exploring at your own pace.

Crafts and regional experiences

At the Ludza Crafts Centre, the Suprātku Room and workshops offer hands-on activities in traditional crafts, including ceramics, weaving and tailoring. The Ludza Crafts Yard sells around 70 craft items in its shop. The range includes ceramics, textiles, blacksmithing, handicrafts and wooden products, among other things. This gives you a choice between hands-on experiences and finished craftwork.

The Crafts Centre holds recurring annual markets: Christmas, Martinmas and Easter markets, as well as the Great Latgalian Market. If you plan to visit Ludza for one of these events, check the dates for your travel period. Pre-booked tour groups can get a taste of regional cuisine at Latgaļu kukņa, where they can try Latgalian dishes.

Exploring the Ludza Lakes on Foot and on the Water

Lake Ludza Small offers several options for planning your visit: an almost 300-metre-long pontoon bridge crosses the lake, linking the Old Town area near Mazā Ezerkrasta Street with the activity area and “Radziņš” beach. The circular route around the lake is 5.14 kilometres long; views of Ludza’s church towers and the ruins of the Livonian Order’s castle can be seen from the path. The route is also suitable for cycling. The bridge and the circular route therefore offer two different ways to experience the area around the smaller lake.

A wooden raft trip on Lake Ludza Small offers views of the Old Town panorama. Music or a Latgalian meal may be offered as an addition; the trip must be booked in advance. Other bookable experiences focus on different things: the theatrical tour “Lūcijas nakts pasakas” brings the castle ruins to life through legends, audience participation and stylised medieval costumes. The “Ežuļa sajūtu taka” sensory trail includes a barefoot path and sensory experiences with natural materials and floral scents; this also requires advance booking.

At the foot of the castle hill on L Ezerkrasta Street, Lake Ludza Great has an equipped recreation area and a beach. The lake is used for boating and fishing. Ludza also offers water scooters, boats, water skis, SUP boards, windsurfing equipment, fishing gear and a leisure raft for hire; these must be booked. When planning your trip, you can weigh up the options of town history, crafts, paths by the smaller lake and activities around the larger lake.

Discover more destinations: Kušneri, Nirza, Isnauda, Tutāni.

Return to the main travel overview: Ludzas Novads.