Latvia Travel Guide

Part of the Baltic states, Latvia was part of the historical Viking trading route extending all the way down to Greece, where its coast was known as the “Amber Sea,” due to the amount of amber that washed ashore. The Amber Trail is a favourite hike within the Gauja National Park. Latvia is famous for its photogenic castles, of which Rundale Castle, Sigulda Castle and Turaida Castle are among the most striking. Aglona Basilica, Latvia’s most important pilgrimage site and a major Roman Catholic shrine contain one of the country’s oldest organs. Another famous organ is found in Riga, the country’s capital and the largest and most exciting city in the Baltic region. Within Riga, the Dome Cathedral organ holds nearly 7,000 pipes and is recognized as one of the world’s greatest musical instruments. The capital is also renowned for its Art Nouveau architecture, though examples of Gothic, Baroque and Classical buildings also exist. Another town, Kuldiga, is one of the best preserved, containing the few remaining wooden buildings from the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Nearby, the Ventas Rumba waterfall may be one of the widest in Europe, stretching 275m wide. Jurmala was known throughout the Soviet Union for its beaches. Latvia is a sparsely populated and unspoiled country filled with natural scenery but at the same time rife with artifacts and reminders from Soviet occupation and the cold war. Its rich history and legend-cloaked castles are sure to capture the imagination of many.