Ogre: Culture, River Routes and Nature

Ogre offers a range of ways to shape your stay: a museum and architectural history, a route along the Ogre River, natural areas and sporting activities. When looking for a hotel, you can consider whether culture, nature or sport will be the focus of your trip. The places and themes below give you a clear picture of Ogre without requiring you to limit your stay to just one activity.

The Museum and the History of the Resort Town

The Ogre History and Art Museum offers guided tours led by museum specialists at its locations at 36 Brīvības Street and 2 Brīvības Street. The museum has two permanent exhibitions: From bank to museum and Pietura Ogre. Check booking and exhibition options before your visit.

The Pietura Ogre exhibition traces the development of the former resort town of Ogre. Its beginnings date back to the opening of the Riga–Dinaburg railway line in 1861; the resort flourished in the 1930s. One of the permanent exhibitions thus traces the story from its earliest beginnings to a later, important period in the city’s history.

Architecture, Library and Public Art

Brīvības Street is known for its examples of architecture from the 1920s and 1930s. These include buildings by architects Vladimirs Šervinskis, Indriķis Blakenburgs, Eduards Smurģis and Dāvids Zariņš. Ogre Central Library is also a remarkable building: it is currently the largest public timber building in Latvia and belongs to the category of passive or zero-energy buildings. Visitors can view exhibitions there; a guided tour can be booked by arrangement.

Another part of the town’s architectural history is Tornis Ogre, a restored 20th-century water tower that had not been used since the late 1980s. Public art includes the Mīlestības koks sculpture near the Loka Bridge, on the side of the Ogre open-air stage. These examples offer a range of perspectives: from architecture of a particular period and a public timber library to a former industrial structure and a sculpture.

River Route, Bridges and Nature

A 3.5-kilometre route along the Ogre River follows the Krasta Promenade and J. Čakstes Avenue. It crosses the river at two points: via the arched pedestrian bridge and the new pedestrian bridge. The arched bridge was built in 1966, is 94 metres long and 4.5 metres wide, and connects central Ogre with Pāroge. The route lets you appreciate both its function as a link and its dimensions.

The Krasta Promenade also includes a 100-metre wooden pedestrian bridge, which is dismantled in winter. The promenade is a popular place for recreation and walks among locals and visitors, as well as a popular venue for concerts and festivals. If an event is to be part of your stay, check the relevant dates.

Ogres Zilie kalni Nature Park covers 312 hectares. In summer, its network of trails offers opportunities for Nordic walking and cycling. A 30-metre-high observation tower provides views of Ogre and the green woodland. The Ogre dolomite outcrops are a protected natural monument where remains of prehistoric marine invertebrates and fossil fish have been found.

Sport, Leisure and Getting There

Those interested in orienteering will find the Zilie kalni – orientējies course between Ogre and Ikšķile. It has 60 permanent checkpoints with QR codes and is intended for year-round use. Ogre Skatepark covers more than 300 square metres and has five demountable wooden ramp structures.

Džungļu parks is a 500-square-metre children’s entertainment centre. Its attractions include a three-storey obstacle maze and an inflatable obstacle course measuring 12 by 4.5 metres. The public Jaunogre activity and recreation area also has an outdoor space with sports equipment and activity facilities for children and teenagers. Arena Ogre is the home venue of basketball club Ogre; indoor football matches are also held there. Check match and event dates if you’re planning a sporting visit.

Ogre can be reached from Riga by regional bus and train. Check connections before travelling.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Meņģele, Madliena, Ķeipene, Suntaži, Ogresgals.

Return to the main travel overview: Ogres Novads.