14 Things to Do in Latgale

In this article, I will share some notes and points of interest from our latest trip to Latgale at the start of August 2022. to celebrate my 37th birthday.

Our trip actually started a few days earlier on the other side of Latvia. Since this Summer we own a little summer house near Liepāja. Also, we have an apartment near Kuldīga, and back in that Summer, we had a flat in Riga. We started from Jēči with a stop at Pape, Vilgāle, and an overnight stay at our Apartment in Riga.

The next morning we left from Riga towards Latgale with a booked guesthouse in the evening near Varakļāni. There are several highways taking towards Latgale. We chose E22 highway, through Pļaviņas, Koknese, and Jēkapils. 

One of our first stops in Latgale was the Quail Farm Olala in Koknese, we decided to include this place in our route as we have an acquaintance from the Georgia times somehow involved in this business. Next to the Quail Farm is located the impressive Koknese castle, which alone is already worth spending a few hours at. From Koknese we headed towards Varakļāni, with a stop in Jēkapbils. Spent about an hour at Jēkabpils LIDL store buying goodies for the next few days. Lidl was our favorite store in Latvia during the Summer of 2022.

Arriving in Varakļāni we wandered a bit around, found the interesting Varakļāni palace, and as it was already evening header for our guest house - Odumiņi where we had a lovely barbeque, sauna a good sleep.

The next morning I suggested we should go to Rezekne to have our morning coffee. Rēzekne from our guest house was about 40 km. Arriving in Rēzekne, we felt a bit disappointed as it was hard to locate a decent coffee place. In the end, we barely found a local Latgalian coffee house Kuup, which was awesome. Now we spent a few hours in Rēzekne, visiting Rēzekne Castle ruins and Rēzekne cathedral.

From Rēzekne, we headed towards Dagda. My great-father originally is from that part of Latvia. We headed to the village Andzeļi, where the impressive Lake Ežezers is located. Tried to swim. While in the area also visited Piloru oak grove and from here headed towards the jewel of Latgale, the Basilica of Aglona, but before that made a stop at Christ the King mount and had a very hearty dinner at Somersēta restaurant in Aglona

After spending a good time at Aglona Basilica we headed to our next guest house, where we had booked a glamping stay in a tent next to the Vabole lake at Laimes taures. The hosts had prepared a delicious birthday meal and we finished the evening in a hot pool with beautiful views. In the morning, before departure took a boat ride among the swans. 

Guest house Laimes taure was located just some 20 km from Daugavpils, we decided to make a quick at the second largest Latvian city, before returning back to Riga. In Daugavpils visited only Church hill Daugavpils and returned back to Riga via the P73 highway near the Lithuanian border (via Ilūkste, Subate, Aknīste, Nereta, Valle, Vecumnieki, Rīga)

14 Things to Do in Latgale

Itinerary

Quail Farm Rīta Putni / Olalā Koknese

Rīta Putni is located in one of the most picturesque places in Latvia - Koknese county Bilstini just a few minutes away from Perse and Daugava river, where an impressive view of Koknese castle ruins can be seen. I first heard about this…

Koknese Castle

Koknese Castle is a complex in Koknese, Latvia, dating from the 13th century. The castle was situated on a high bluff overlooking the Daugava river valley. In 1965 a hydroelectric dam was built downriver, creating a reservoir that…

Varakļāni Palace

Varakļāni Palace is located in Varakļāni, in the historical region of Latgale, Latvia. We visited this place shortly at the start of August 2022, during a weekend trip to Latgale. I was not sure what for to look in the area and just…

Guest House 'Odumiņi'

Guesthouse Odumiņi is located close to Varakļāni town in the historical region of Latgale, Latvia. We booked a one-night stay here at the start of August 2022, during our weekend trip to Latgale. For a one-night stay here we paid about EUR…

Coffee shop KUUP, Rēzekne

Kuup coffee shop is a chic place in Rēzekne, which offers coffee roasted in Latgale.  We found this place by a chance, thanks to TripAdvisor when searching for top restaurants in Rēzekne. We arrived here for some 40km from Varakļāni, just…

Rēzekne Castle ruins

Rēzekne Castle ruins are located in the downtown of Rēzekne, Latvia, a city in the center of Latgale. The castle served as a base of the local Livonian order landlords until the 16th century and also as the main military support base for…

The Sacred Heart Cathedral of Rēzekne

The Sacred Heart Cathedral of Rēzekne is located in Rēzekne, Latvia. I briefly visited this cathedral at the start of August 2022, during my birthday trip to the region of Latgale Cathedral of RezekneOn the site occupied by the church,…

Lake Ežezers

Lake Ežezers is located in Kraslava municipality, in Ezernieku and Andzeļu parishes. It is the richest island lake in Latvia and even in the whole Baltic region. There are 35 islands in a total area of 77.6 ha and 70 islands formations or…

Piloru oak grove

Pilori Oak grove is located on the banks of Lake Ežezers in the region of Latgale. Total area is about 19.6 ha It is one of the rare oak groves in Latvia with a nature protection status granted already in 1928. The oldest oaks are around…

Christ The King Mount

Christ the King Mount (Kristus Karaļa kalns) is located near the Aglona Basilica in Latgale. This place have been opened to the public in 2006. Several large wooden sculptures depicting biblical characters can be seen here.  This is a…

Cafe Somersēta in Aglona

Cafe Somersēta is located on Somersētas street in Aglona town, the region of Latgale in Latvia. We discovered this place by a chance shortly before visiting the famous catholic cathedral in Aglona. It seems the place is very popular among…

Basilica of the Assumption, Aglona

The Aglona Roman Catholic Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Aglona is one of the most important Catholic spiritual centers in Latvia. I have visited Aglona cathedral several times and always have left quite inspired…

Guest house / Glamping Laimes taure

Located in the village Vabole, the region of Latgale in Latvia, some 20 km from Daugavpils, guest house Laimes taure offers accommodation with a garden, water sports facilities, a terrace, and free WiFi. We booked this place for a one…

Church hill Daugavpils

Baznīckalns or Church hill in Daugavpils is said to be one of the main tourist attractions in the city. This was one of the rare times I visited Daugavpils and I must admit I didn't had any clue what should we see here and just Google for…