Tervete Nature Park, Latvia
| country: | Latvia |
| location: | Tervete Nature Park |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Why should you visit?
With a history that dates back to the first millennium BC, Latvia's Tervete Nature Park is a mystical region filled with a heroic past. Tervete ideally rests about 75 kilometers to the south of the capital city Riga. Chronicled stories of ancient Zemgalians battling German, Polish and Russian crusaders in the region represents a humble fighting past amongst the local people. A visit to the three castle mounds (Klostermound, Holymound and Castlemound) offers a distinct glimpse into the area's proud past.
What can you do here?
When it comes to things to do in Tervete, visiting the beautiful Swans Lake is a must. At the lake, boats are available for hire and are an ideal means to enjoy the water. The Lake is known for its plentiful fishing and it is also a great place for bird watching. Other recreational activities that are popular in the park are swimming, cy-cling, camping and winter sports. For a glimpse into Tervete's past, a visit to the Tervete History Museum is strongly recommended. There revelers can see weapons, ornaments and household objects from centuries ago. Another plus (if you happen to be at the museum on the second Saturday in August each year) is the majestic Zemgalians Festival and Craftsmen Fair that takes place there.
What makes the Tervete Nature Park Special?
When it comes to nature, Tervete is famous for its old and especially tall pine trees. The trees for years have been used to make ornate wooden sculptures, some of which have been placed in the park to reflect the fairytale characters of the famous Latvian writer Anna Brigadere's work. The characters in the park, which consist of the King of the Forest, a witch, dwarfs and others, are popular attractions to visit amongst younger people. Even today, you can visit Brigadere's actual house "Spridisi", which con-tains many original furniture pieces and her literary works. For nature lovers, Tervete is home to 72 endangered plants that grow wildly throughout the park. The region is also a haven for many other forms of wildlife such as birds, reptiles and amphibious creatures.
What makes it sustainable?
Tervete Nature Park is a distinctive place and the methods enacted to keep the park as clean as possible are of the highest standard. There are designated nature protected zones that keep the park's rare species free from intrusion. Recently, investments in infrastructure and other park attractions have made the park's experience even more enjoyable for visitors and more foreign tourists are coming to Tervete each year.
What to look for in:
Spring: Young people leaving goodies for their favorite fairy tale characters Summer: Swans Lake filled with many avid boaters Fall: Birds migrating to a warmer climate Winter: Cross-country skiers cruising along trails
Highlights of the Tervete Nature Park:
Drift off into fantasy land for an afternoon Breathe the fresh air in the pine forests Search for constellations on a dark night Take a relaxing swim in Swans Lake
The ruins of Rezekne Castle on the banks of the river date back to the 13th century and provide the perfect setting to discover traditional Latvian pottery.
Kuldiga (2007)
“The Latvian Venice” has much to offer, including Europe’s longest brick bridge across the Venta River, the highest waterfall in Latvia, visible ancient remnants and rural-related activities, such as textile workshops.
With a history that dates back to the first millennium BC, Latvia's Tervete Nature Park is a mystical region filled with a heroic past. Tervete ideally rests about 75 kilometers to the south of the capital city Riga. Chronicled stories of ancient Zemgalians battling German, Polish and Russian crusaders in the region represents a humble fighting past amongst the local people. A visit to the three castle mounds (Klostermound, Holymound and Castlemound) offers a distinct glimpse into the area's proud past.
What can you do here?
When it comes to things to do in Tervete, visiting the beautiful Swans Lake is a must. At the lake, boats are available for hire and are an ideal means to enjoy the water. The Lake is known for its plentiful fishing and it is also a great place for bird watching. Other recreational activities that are popular in the park are swimming, cy-cling, camping and winter sports. For a glimpse into Tervete's past, a visit to the Tervete History Museum is strongly recommended. There revelers can see weapons, ornaments and household objects from centuries ago. Another plus (if you happen to be at the museum on the second Saturday in August each year) is the majestic Zemgalians Festival and Craftsmen Fair that takes place there. What makes the Tervete Nature Park Special?
When it comes to nature, Tervete is famous for its old and especially tall pine trees. The trees for years have been used to make ornate wooden sculptures, some of which have been placed in the park to reflect the fairytale characters of the famous Latvian writer Anna Brigadere's work. The characters in the park, which consist of the King of the Forest, a witch, dwarfs and others, are popular attractions to visit amongst younger people. Even today, you can visit Brigadere's actual house "Spridisi", which con-tains many original furniture pieces and her literary works. For nature lovers, Tervete is home to 72 endangered plants that grow wildly throughout the park. The region is also a haven for many other forms of wildlife such as birds, reptiles and amphibious creatures.
What makes it sustainable?
Tervete Nature Park is a distinctive place and the methods enacted to keep the park as clean as possible are of the highest standard. There are designated nature protected zones that keep the park's rare species free from intrusion. Recently, investments in infrastructure and other park attractions have made the park's experience even more enjoyable for visitors and more foreign tourists are coming to Tervete each year.
What to look for in:
Highlights of the Tervete Nature Park: other EDEN destinations in Latvia
Rezekne (2008)The ruins of Rezekne Castle on the banks of the river date back to the 13th century and provide the perfect setting to discover traditional Latvian pottery.
Kuldiga (2007)
“The Latvian Venice” has much to offer, including Europe’s longest brick bridge across the Venta River, the highest waterfall in Latvia, visible ancient remnants and rural-related activities, such as textile workshops.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Have you ever sat at your desk during a busy work day and felt your mind drift off to another place? That special spot on Monday was a beach some-where in the Mediterranean. A few days later your mind ventured to a castle on top of a hillside. The experience was so vivid that you could almost smell the fresh mountain air.
Each day the clock ticks and you yearn for a holiday free of the hustle and bustle of city life. You want a destination that is known for its local charm, its beautiful landscapes and fascinating history. A place where the locals respect their land and will do anything to protect it from harm. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, in Europe, the possibilities are endless. The European Commission launched the European Destinations of Excel-lence (EDEN) a few years back with the aim of selecting special places "off the beaten path" that value economic, environmental and social sustainabil-ity. The 52 places chosen so far all represent Europe in a fitting manner. Europe is a continent of great history and lands. The continent's mystique draws tourists from around the world in search of adventure, paradise and culture. While there are many wonderful destinations in Europe, the truth is, many of them have lost their allure due to expansive tourism and a lack of regard for the environment. No longer can a region's name alone be enough to draw visitors to their majestic mountains or pristine beaches. There must be more and the European Commission has devoted numerous resources to instill the mind-set of sustainable tourism in its regions. Sustainable tourism is a practice that must run deep in the values of the local people. Whenever new accommodation is built and man-made changes are made to the landscape, eco-friendly and environmental measures must be followed. A constant respect for nature is needed to ensure that today's crea-tures and eco-systems are still around in the distant future. Sustainable tourism also plays a major role in a region's local economy. The growth of an area leads to more jobs and helps raise the quality of living in a region. The local people also take advantage of visitors eating at their restaurants, shopping at their markets and staying at their hotels. It is essential that proper investment in tourism growth has the people's best interests in mind.  The next time you go on a memorable holiday to the countryside and enjoy a bottle of the Earth's precious wine, take notice of the land and its people. These 52 selected EDEN "hidden gems" all have done their part in making their region a wonderful and memorable place to visit. Now it's up to you to decide which adventure you want to seek! |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |