Page 132 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

130  LA T VIA REGION B Y REGION

Latvia at a Glance

Latvia is traditionally divided into four regions, roughly
corresponding to the territories of the old Baltic tribes. ESTONIA
Its long, sandy coastline includes two of the country’s
largest ports, while the western region of Kurzeme is LATVIA
heavily forested in the north. To the south, the flat and
fertile plains of Zemgale border Lithuania. In the north, LITHUANIA
Vidzeme has the most varied landscape, with a long
coastline as well as forests, wetlands and hills. Bordering
Russia and Belarus, the culturally distinct easternmost
Latgale region remains largely rural and undeveloped.

Rīga (see pp142–65) is the largest
city in the Baltic region, boasting a
UNESCO-listed historic centre and
one of the world’s greatest collec tions
of Art Nouveau architecture.
Ainaži
Salacgrīva Valka
Lake
Burtnieks
Limbaži Valmiera
Ventspils Valdemārpils Smiltene Alūksne
Mērsrags
Cēsis
Talsi Lake Saulkrasti
Lake Engure
Usmas
Engure Sigulda
Gulbene Balvi
Vecpiebalga
Kuldīga Tukums Jūrmala
Pāvilosta Rīga EASTERN LATVIA
(see pp186–203)
WESTERN LATVIA RĪGA Ērgļi
(see pp166–185) (see pp142–165) Madona
Aizpute Ogre Lake
Olaine Lubāns
Saldus Lielvārde
Durbe Skrunda Skrīveri
Liepāja Dobele Jelgava
Iecava Ludza
Lake Auce Rēzekne
Liepāja Priekule Jēkabpils
Bauska
Līvāni Lake
Preiļi Rāzna
Aglona
Daugavpils Krāslava

Rundāle Palace (see pp172–3), Latvia’s
most impressive surviv ing stately
home, was designed by Rastrelli
(1700–71), the Italian architect of St
Petersburg’s Winter Palace. Most of the
rooms at the palace are decorated in
the fanciful Rococo style of the second
half of the 18th century.
Picturesque Old Town as seen from a church tower in Rīga

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