Discover Baldone: Trails, springs and culture

Baldone brings together trails, natural sites and cultural history. To plan your trip, you can compare trails of different lengths, include springs and parks, or explore the town’s historic sites. Some activities are farther afield and have their own conditions, such as seasonal ski slopes or excursions that require prior booking.

Walking routes and distances

The long circular route of the Baldones Stāstu takas is approximately 20 kilometres long, includes 16 tourist attractions, and starts and ends in the town of Baldone. Audio guides for the Baldones Stāstu takas are available in Latvian, Russian, English and Lithuanian. The Riekstukalns Trail, approximately five kilometres long, is part of the long circular route. This makes it possible to compare the length of one section with that of the entire circular route without treating the two distances as equivalent. The short circular route is suitable for cycling.

Another waymarked option in the Baldone area is the “Baldones militārā mantojuma digitālais maršruts” (Baldone Digital Military Heritage Route): it is ten kilometres long and includes 13 information stops. Baldone Sports Complex can serve as the starting point for the “Baldones mežu stāsti” (Stories of Baldone’s Forests) walk; convenient car parking is available there. These options differ in distance and focus. When choosing a route, the relevant route description and stated distances can help you plan.

Parks, springs and views

Ceriņu Park has been a popular place for walks since the resort era. It is also home to Baldone’s most notable natural feature: a sulphur spring. The Ķirzaciņa spring is also located in the sanatorium park. At Riekstukalns, farther afield from Baldone, the observation tower offers a view of Riga’s main high-rise buildings. A park walk, a spring and a viewpoint each offer a different focus; they are not descriptions of a single shared route.

Cultural history in Baldone

Baltā pils was built around 1913 as a hunting lodge for Ādams Mickevičs, a chief forester of Polish descent, and now houses the Baldone Music School. As institutional uses may change, check the current situation before visiting. Baldone Evangelical Lutheran Church of St Michael has been mentioned in written records since 1567. A life-size model of a horse-drawn tram is also on display in Baldone.

The Baldone Museum has been housed at Mercendarbes muiža, four kilometres from the centre of Baldone, since 2018. A 130-year-old lime tree avenue leads there. The museum’s offerings include the exhibition “Ceļš uz Baldones kūrortu” (The Road to the Baldone Resort) and changing exhibitions. The Vanagkalni open-air stage in Baldone has 4,000 seats and a roof over the stage area. Historic sites, exhibitions and a large open-air stage thus represent different aspects of the area’s culture.

Activities in the surrounding area

The Baldone Observatory, farther afield, offers a creative workshop and a visit to the mini planetarium “Count the stars, don't count the time”. The “The Miracle of Space” lesson is also available on request. The activities range from a workshop and a planetarium visit to a lesson; for the latter, making a request is part of the planning.

At Riekstukalns, farther afield from Baldone, there are ski slopes for experienced and novice skiers, as well as snowboarders. Seasonal conditions apply here. If you are considering an excursion with the “Atēna” Equestrian Club, prior booking is required. Private visitors can see horses, ponies and other animals and learn about equestrian sports. Check before travelling whether the activity is currently running.

Discover more destinations: Riga, Mārupe.

Go to the main travel overview: Rīga.