Omuļi: Building History, Ausmas and “Fond 1836”

Omuļi offers several starting points for planning a trip: the architecture of Omuļu Manor, the offerings in Ausmas and the “Fond 1836” project. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Omuļi, you can choose your focus according to whether you are mainly interested in historic buildings, tastings and hands-on courses, or a route with different ways of getting around. This lets you tailor your trip to your specific interests.

Building History at Omuļu Manor

Omuļu Manor was built in the 19th century in the Historicist style. The stable buildings are made of red brick and fieldstone masonry. The stable complex also includes a T-shaped shed attached to the building and resting on masonry pillars. The grounds also contain a red-brick grain-drying kiln with a tiled roof and a log-built granary whose doors feature a herringbone pattern. Remains of the park have survived. The contrast between masonry and logs marks a structural difference between the stable buildings and the granary; the park remains add a trace of the landscape to the architectural features.

The historic Stallenhoff in Ausmas was once the brewery of the Omuļu Manor estate.

Tastings and Courses in Ausmas

Ausmas offers a tasting of drinks from the SIA “Stallenhoff” distillery. It is run by Aldis Leicāns, the distillery’s master distiller and founder. There are also tastings featuring homemade products and produce from nearby farms. These product tastings must be booked in advance. Ausmas also offers bread-making and cheesemaking master classes, also by prior booking. The formats differ in terms of participation: tastings focus on sampling, while the master classes focus on making. The product tastings bring together the distillery’s own products and produce from nearby farms.

Animal Farm and the “Fond 1836” Route

Ausmas’s animal farm has been open since May 2013. Guests can meet the animals up close, feed them and pet them. Omuļi is also home to a specially designed waymarker for the “Fond 1836” project. The route is divided into 100 stages of 18.36 kilometres each and can be travelled by car, bicycle or on foot. The two offerings are quite different: the animal farm centres on close encounters with animals, while “Fond 1836” lets you plan around stage length and mode of travel. Each stage is the same length, and you can choose from three ways of getting around. To understand the route, it helps to distinguish between the length of a stage and the total distance: one stage covers 18.36 kilometres; with 100 stages, the total distance works out to 1,836 kilometres.

Discover more destinations: Valka, Zaķi, Turna, Ērģeme

Return to the main travel overview: Valkas Novads.