Page 17 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

DISC OVERING EST ONIA , LA T VIA AND LITHU ANIA 15

the country’s most popular Day 9 Jelgava
seaside destination. The 13th- From Liepāja, take the highway
century Ventspils Castle is northeast and branch off to
one of the main attractions, Jelgava (p170), pausing along
along with the town’s attractive the way to admire the turreted
Russian and Lutheran churches, Jaunpils Castle (p174), an
and the lovely Blue Flag beach. impressive 14th-century affair
The Seaside Open-Air with a small museum and its
Museum, with its fishermen’s own hotel (p301). Despite losing
cottages, smoke houses and much of its architectural heri-
even a narrow-gauge railway, tage during World War I and
is also worth a visit. World War II, Jelgava still has a
number of attractions. Chief
Day 7 Pavilosta among them are the elegant
Reached by a windswept 18th-century Jelgava Palace
coastal road from Ventspils that and the Orthodox Cathedral
affords the occasional glimpse of St Simeon and St Anna in The ruins of Rēzekne Castle in Rēzekne, the
of the sea, Pavilosta (p183) is a the Old Town. centre of the Latgale region
remarkably laid-back port town
with a splendid marina and Day 10 Rundāle Palace Fortress is definitely worth
miles of pristine sandy beaches Head to stunning Rundāle exploring, particularly as the
popular with wind and kite Palace (pp172–3), a Baroque Mark Rothko Art Centre is
surfers throughout the summer. building with Rococo interiors now housed in its arsenal.
that is one of the finest palaces
To extend your trip… in the Baltics. It’s an easy day- Day 12 Aglona
Exper ience life on the waves trip from Jelgava, or stop there Moving on from Daugavpils,
by joining a fishing trip or in the morning before driving head northeast to Rēzekne
taking a sailing lesson at on to Daugavpils, four hours (p199) stopping at Aglona
Pavilosta Marina (see p183). away. To get to Daugavpils from (p199) along the way. While
Jelgava by public transport, Aglona itself is unremarkable,
you’ll need to travel via Rīga. it’s home to the towering
Day 8 Liepāja Aglona Basilica; as Latvia’s
The coastal road continues Day 11 Daugavpils most important Catholic
through woodland towards Located in Latvia’s southeastern shrine, it attracts worshippers
Liepāja (pp184–5), Latvia’s vibrant corner, Daugavpils (pp200–201) from all across Russia and the
third city. With both cul tural is the country’s second largest Baltic States.
attractions and a fantastic stretch city. It was founded by Ivan
of beach, there’s plenty to the Terrible in the 16th century Day 13 Rēzekne and the
engage visitors here. The main and, with 90 per cent of the Latgale Lakes
street, Lielā iela, is dominated by popula tion speaking Russian, it Having been pulverized to
the 18th-century Holy Trinity retains a distinctly Russian feel. rubble during World War II,
Church, which has superb Among its attractions is the Rēzekne has few buildings of
views from its tower. To the onion-domed Cathedral of historic interest, but it makes a
southwest the well-tended Saints Boris and Glebe, Latvia’s good base for explor ing the
Seaside Park runs parallel to largest Russian Orthodox cathe- more than 80 bodies of water
the town’s Blue Flag beach. dral. The exten sive Daugavpils that make up the picturesque
Latgale Lakes (p202). Lake
Lubāns, the largest, is great for
bird-watching and fishing.
Southeast of Rēzekne, Lake
Ežezers is considered one of
the most beautiful, with many
islands to explore by boat. To
the east of Rēzekne, the pretty
town of Ludza (p203), with its
many wooden houses, sits
between two lakes.
Day 14 Rēzekne to Rīga
Break the four-hour journey
back to Rīga at Jēkabpils (p198),
where a fine Orthodox church
and an open-air ethnographic
Picturesque Jaunpils Castle, built in the 14th-century and subsequently reconstructed museum are the main sights.