Murmastiene Parish: Moorland and Cultural Heritage

Nature and local cultural history offer different points of interest in Murmastiene Parish. The Teiči Nature Reserve also extends into Murmastiene Parish and has been designated a strict nature reserve since 1982. Siksala is an island in the middle of the moor; other specific cultural points of interest include Murmastienes Krucifiksa namiņš and the Martas birze birch avenue. Migratory bird stopovers, viewpoints, architecture and literary history offer different ways to plan your trip around a theme.

Nature and Migratory Birds

The Teiči Nature Reserve is an important stopover for migratory birds. In autumn, up to 1,500 cranes and 8,000 geese can gather there. Autumn is the key seasonal reference point for planning; “up to” indicates the possible upper limit of these gatherings.

The Murmastienes staignāju meži provide habitat for protected lesser spotted eagles (Aquila pomarina), black woodpeckers (Dryocopus martius) and European honey buzzards (Pernis apivorus). As well as seasonal stopovers, three protected species and their habitat are in focus. This distinction is useful when planning around a theme: crane and goose gatherings take place in autumn, while the forest birds are described in terms of their habitat.

Siksala and the Viewpoints

Siksala is an island in the middle of the moor. Two viewpoints of different heights are a highlight there: the Tolkāja observation platform is 6.5 metres high, offers views across the moor and is part of a guided visitor route in Siksala. The 28-metre-high observation tower offers views of the vast raised bog landscape, Lake Siksala, islands and Siksala village. Seasonal access details for the tower may change; check the current visitor regulations before your visit.

For visits to Siksala, a meeting point is located in a car park beside the Murmastiene–Silagals–Siksala road. This gives you a named landmark to help plan a visit; the observation towers, by contrast, differ mainly in their height and the views described.

Local History and Literature

Murmastienes Krucifiksa namiņš was inaugurated in Murmastiene in 1993, based on a design by architect I. Ketlere. The building is therefore associated with a specific designer and a dated event. The Martas birze birch avenue offers a different focus: it was planted in 2001 and leads to the birthplace of poet Marta Bārbale in Skalbjudambji. Here, the avenue connects literary history with a named birthplace.

Siksala was once home to a village of Russian Old Believers. This history of former settlement adds a historical perspective to the island’s natural setting. Together, the places offer different ways to explore cultural history: a dated building, a connection to a poet’s birthplace and the story of a former village.

Choosing a Hotel and Travel Focus

When looking for a hotel in Murmastiene Parish, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your trip. The nature focus combines migratory bird stopovers with protected species; in Siksala, the viewpoints differ in height and the views they offer. Murmastiene, Skalbjudambji and the history of Siksala’s former settlement add architecture, literature and history to the cultural themes.

Discover more destinations: Trizelnieki, Varakļānu Parish, Varakļāni Town.

For the overview of the wider area: Varakļāni Municipality.