Page 8 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

6 HOW T O USE THIS GUIDE

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

This guide helps you get the most from a history and descriptions of important
visit to the Baltic States, providing detailed sights using visuals and maps. Information
prac tical information and expert recom- about hotels, restau rants, shops and
mendations. Introducing Estonia, Latvia and markets, entertainment and sports is
Lithuania maps the three countries, sets them found in Travellers’ Needs. The Survival
in their histori cal and cultural context, and Guide has tips on everything from
describes events throughout the year. Each making a telephone call to using
country has its own chapter, with a portrait, local transport.

Putting Estonia, Latvia and
18 INTRODUCING EST ONIA , LA T VIA AND LITHU ANIA PUT TING EST ONIA , LA T VIA AND LITHU ANIA ON THE M AP 19
Helsinki,
St Petersburg
Mariehamn, Sillamäe
Putting Estonia, Latvia and Stockholm Jõhvi Narva Chudovo Lithuania on the Map
Lithuania on the Map Kapellskar Tallinn Tapa Rakvere
Luga
With Estonia in the north, Latvia in the centre and Lithuania in Paldiski Slantsy
the south, the Baltic States lie on the southeastern shore of The orientation map shows the
the Baltic Sea. The region is bordered in the east by Russia and Vormsi Riisipere Veliky Novgorod
in the south by Poland, Belarus and the Russian enclave of Kärdla Island Paide Lak e Plyussa
Kaliningrad. The Baltic States’ total land area is 173,000 sq km Haapsalu Peipsi Zapolye location of the Baltic States in
(66,778 sq miles). Latvia and Lithuania are of roughly equal Hiiumaa Strugi Krasnye Shimsk
Island
size, while Estonia is about a third smaller and has a relatively Muhu Lihula ESTONIA
flat terrain in comparison to the other two countries. The Island Tartu
Viljandi
three capital cities – Tallinn, Rīga and Vilnius – are home Lake relation to their neighbouring
to around a third of the region’s 6.3 million people. Saaremaa Pärnu Vortsjärv
Island Porkhov
Kuressaare RUSSIA
Kihnu Pskov countries. In this book, each
Island Otepää Võru
Dedovichi
Gulf of R ī ga Valga
Chikhachevo country is divided into three main
Valmiera Ostrov
Stockholm Alūksne
Bezhanitsy
Cape Kolka Smiltene
Cēsis Pytalovo sightseeing areas that are covered
Gulbene
Ventspils
Talsi Gauja
Sigulda LA TVIA
Opochka in a full chapter. These areas are
Nynashamn, Ērgli Velikiye Luki
Travemunde Tukums Jūrmala Rīga
Sabile Ogre Ludza Pustoshka
Kuldīga
Key Jelgava Daugava Rēzekne highlighted on other maps
Motorway Baltic Pāvilosta Jēkabpils
Saldus Dobele
Major road Sea Preiļi Nevel
Minor road Liepāja throughout the book.
Railway line Joniškis Biržai
International border
Mažeikiai Krāslava
Rokiškis Daugavpils BELARUS
Travemunde Telšiai Šiauliai
Europe
Palanga
Plungė Panevėžys
Utena
Karlshamn, Gargždai SWEDEN FINLAND
Kiel Klaipėda LITHUANIA
Raseiniai Ukmergė Molėtai NORWAY
0 kilometres 50
0 miles 50 Šilutė ESTONIA
Curonian Nemunas RUSSIA
Spit Tauragė Jonava Nor th LATVIA
Sea
Nynäshamn Kaišiadorys DENMARK LITHUANIA
Jurbarkas
Kaunas Vilnius UNITED A locator map shows the
KINGDOM BELARUS
NETH. POLAND
GERMANY
Kaliningrad Vilkaviškis BELGIUM CZECH UKRAINE
REPUBLIC country in relation to other
Marijampolė SLOVAKIA
KALININGRAD Alytus FRANCE SWITZ. AUSTRIA HUNGARY MOLDOVA
Lebork (RUSSIA) CROATIA ROMANIA European countries.
Varėna SERBIA
Gdańsk Lazdijai Nemunas ITALY BULGARIA
Elblag POLAND SPAIN
Druskininkai Lida
For keys to symbols see back flap
Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania Region
LA
by Region Introduction LA T VIA REGION B Y REGION 187T VIA REGION B Y REGION 187
EA
1 The landscape, history EASTERN LATVIASTERN LATVIA
Each country has been and character of each T The eastern part of Latvia includes some of the country’s most he eastern part of Latvia includes some of the country’s most
popular attractions, both natural and man-made, as well as actions, both natural and man-made, as well as
popular attr
rar
divided into three regions region are described rarely visited rural districts. Although far from mountainous, ely visited rural districts. Although far from mountainous,
the terrain is not as flat here as in the west and there are two errain is not as flat here as in the west and there are two
the t
ex
extensive upland areas dotted with myriad lakes. Some of tensive upland areas dotted with myriad lakes. Some of
these ha
with a map at the start of here, including an these have well-developed tourist facilities, while others ve well-developed tourist facilities, while others
remain isolated and untouched.emain isolated and untouched.
r
best
the section. The key to the account of how they When the Ger best-known writers and musicians. Today -known writers and musicians. Today
When the German crusaders arrived, man crusaders arrived,
V
they f
they found the Livs and Lettgallians ound the Livs and Lettgallians
Vidzeme is second only to Rīga as a idzeme is second only to Rīga as a
travel destination, with the Gauja vel destination, with the Gauja
tra
inhabiting the region which now forms egion which now forms
inhabiting the r
V
National Park com bining natural beauty ark com bining natural beauty
symbols is on the back flap. have changed over the Vidzeme, while Latgallians and Selians idzeme, while Latgallians and Selians National P
lived further east in what is now Latgale. ed further east in what is now Latgale.
liv
and his torical attractions.torical attractions.
and his
The Bishop of R
The Bishop of Rīga took control of the īga took control of the
Latgale, on the other hand, was ruled Latgale, on the other hand, was ruled

west and east of Vidzeme, while central est and east of Vidzeme, while central by P by Poland until 1772. The Polish oland until 1772. The Polish
w
centuries and what Vidzeme and most of Latgale was idzeme and most of Latgale was influence fostered a strong Catholic ostered a strong Catholic
influence f
V
tradition, particularly evident in the ticularly evident in the
tradition, par
claimed by the Liv
claimed by the Livonian Order. After the onian Order. After the
collapse of the Liv pilg pilgrimage centre of Aglona. Latgale was rimage centre of Aglona. Latgale was
collapse of the Livonian Order in 1561 onian Order in 1561
they have to offer to the whole of the east f later absorbed directly into the Russian er absorbed directly into the Russian
the whole of the east fell under ell under
lat
Lithuanian, and later Polish, rule.er Polish, rule.
Lithuanian, and lat
Empir
Empire, unlike other Latvian regions e, unlike other Latvian regions
The end of the Polish-Swedish Wars in The end of the Polish-Swedish Wars in which were ruled as separate provinces. ere ruled as separate provinces.
which w
the visitor today. 1629 sa This isolation from the rest of the country om the rest of the country
1629 saw Sweden ruling both Estonia w Sweden ruling both Estonia
This isolation fr
means that it has long been neglec
means that it has long been neglected ted
and Vidzeme. The Russians conquered Vidzeme. The Russians conquered
and
as a predo minantly Russian backwater. edo minantly Russian backwater.
Vidzeme in 1721. Reliant economically idzeme in 1721. Reliant economically as a pr
V
on ag
on agriculture, forestry and wood riculture, forestry and wood D Despite this, its villages and serene lakes espite this, its villages and serene lakes
Sights at a Glance lists the 188 LA T VIA REGION B Y REGION pr processing, the region is sometimes ocessing, the region is sometimes EASTERN LA T VIA 189
charm visitors and the regional capital, m visitors and the regional capital,
char
Daugavpils, is slowly shaking off its vpils, is slowly shaking off its
claimed as the cradle of Lat
claimed as the cradle of Latvian culture vian culture Dauga
image as a grey Soviet throwback.rey Soviet throwback.
chapter’s sights by cate gory, such as it pr image as a g
as it produced many of the country’s oduced many of the country’s
Exploring Eastern Latvia
Getting Around
The highlights of Gauja National Park are easily reached
by bus or train from Rīga, while even small towns in
as Churches and Cathedrals, The most popular tourist attraction in Eastern Latvia is Gauja Vidzeme usually have at least one bus a day. Rīga and
National Park, which combines beautiful forests with attractions
such as the historic town of Cēsis and the restored Turaida Castle. Daugavpils are well connected by buses and trains
that run several times a day. The public transport
Towns, Resorts and Villages and A significant part of the region is covered by the North Vidzeme network elsewhere in Latgale is not well developed
Biosphere Reserve, famous for its coastal meadows, sandstone Unguriņi and it is easier to use a private vehicle, particularly
Islands and National Parks. cliffs and extensive wetlands. The route from Rīga to when exploring the lakes. Bus services link all the
towns, but services are not very frequent.
Daugavpils, the regional capital, runs along the
Daugava Valley and includes several worthwhile MAZSALACA Pedele Tartu
stops, while the cathedral at Aglona is a major AINAŽI Valka
centre for Catholic pilgrimage. For most visitors, Salaca Staicele Burtnieks Lake Rencēni Turna S eda Pskov
though, the main attraction in Latgale is its Zabolova
patchwork of lakes, which includes Rāzna and SALACGRĪVA Drieliņi Vilzēni Vijciems
Lubāns, the two largest in the country. V i d z e m e Gauja Gaujiena Lāzbergi
Alsviķi
ALŪKSNE
Abuls
Vireši
VALMIERA
Liepna
Sights at a Glance LIMBAŽI Umurga Smiltene Palsa Gauja Jaunanna Kuprava
Towns, Resorts and Villages o Rēzekne Jelgavkrasti Mālumuiža GULBENE– Viļaka
ALŪKSNE
RAILWAY
Kubuli
Old houses and t
2 Valmiera a Ludza DUNTE Vidriži Ūdrupe Old houses and tower in Cēsis, a town steeped in historyower in Cēsis, a town steeped in history Balvi
s Vecpiebalga
PARK
3 Ainaži d Alūksne Skulte Cēsis Rauna
Pededze
Balupe
Gulbene
4 Salacgrīva Gauja GAUJA NATIONAL Turaida Castle among the trees of Gauja National Parkuraida Castle among the trees of Gauja National Park Čilipīne
Inciems
T
Medņi
5 Mazsalaca Sights of Interest SAULKRASTI Taurene Gauja Tirza
6 Limbaži 9 Ikšķile Baltinava
Regional Map 7 Dunte w Koknese Gauja Vangaži Sigulda Skujene Lake VECPIEBALGA Ostrov
8 Saulkrasti
f Gulbene–Alūksne
0 Lielvārde Railway Nītaure Inesis Ogre Lautere Lubāna Bērzpils Grebņeva
2 This map shows the q Skrīveri National Park Ķīšezers Ropaži Mergupe Mālpils Līčupe Ērgļi Madona Kuja Lake Iča Žogotas Goliševa
e Jēkabpils
r Līvāni 1 Gauja National Park Rīga Ķeipene Lubāns
t Daugavpils pp200–1 pp190–93 Bērzaune Lazdona Zaļmežnieki Dricāni Aizpūre
road network and gives y Krāslava Tour IKŠĶILE Ogre Irši Lake Malta L Cirma Lake
u Aglona
i Preiļi p Latgale Lakes p202 LIELVĀRDE Odzes Grozas LUDZA Istalsna
an overview of the Daugava SKRĪVERI KOKNESE Aiviekste Atašiene Viļāni Rēzekne AT G A L E LAKE S RĒZEKNE Ņukši Brigi
Kūkas
Troškas Čornaja
Taurkaene JĒKABPILS Lake Rudzīši
topography of the entire Piksteres Lake Birži Nagļi Riebiņi Malta Rāzna
Viesīte Daugava LĪVĀNI L a t g a l e Puša Čerņavski
PREIĻI Ežezers Lake
region. All the sights are Ērberğe Zalve Viesīte Jersika Dubna Aglonas Rušons Bērziņi
Stacija
Slate AGLONA Kapiņi Dagda
numbered and there are Nereta Aknīste Dviete Kalupe Špoği Asūne
Subate Lociki KRĀSLAVA
also useful tips on getting Svente Daugava Piedruja
Key DAUGAVPILS
around by car, bus and train. Motorway Demene Silene
Main road
Secondary road
Utena
Minor road 0 kilometres 20
Railway
0 miles 20
Sandstone cliffs on the banks of the Salaca river, Vidzeme International border
For hotels and restaurants see pp302–303 and pp324–5 For keys to symbols see back flap