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Route Nr.1 – Song festival trail in Dikli https://ej.uz/4zvs

From Riga to Dikļi is 115 km. We recommend taking the Dikļi song holiday trail, which includes 10 audio guide points. The audio stories were created by Gints Grāvelis and Juris Bartkevičs, in which we also learn about the First Latvian Singing Festival in 1864 and the author of its idea – parish priest and writer Juri Neikens. The beginning of the trail, which is about 3 km long, is located in the center of Dikļi near the store top!, but we didn’t find directions with arrows in which direction to go. We went towards the Lutheran church through the oak alley. The path to the church is smooth and accessible. From the church, you had to go back along the same road to the sign for the Neikenkalns nature concert hall, because there was no road behind the church so you could continue it in a circular way. A memorial stone was installed on the song festival promenade, which said that the first Latvian song festival was held here in 1864. The first Singing Festival was also a challenge for its participants. The voting took time, it was the first time the choristers met in such a large group.Access to the concert hall was not available due to the steep climb and loose sand. Further behind the stage there is a steep ascent in one place, which was impossible to overcome, so it is preferable to follow the nature trail only up to the stage. At the end of the trail, we just noticed a sign with the right direction. The trail is marked with an isosceles triangle-shaped marker with a yellow background and a note in the middle, where the apex of the triangle indicates the direction of the trail. It turns out that we took the path in the opposite direction. And preferably, the path also goes along the oak alley to the church and then back to the stage. You can also go to Dikļi to see Dikļi Castle, which is one of the most beautiful castles in Latvia. It displays the only collection of paintings by Latvian artists from the Renaissance period.

  Route Nr.2 – Vīsraga nature trail in Burtnieki https://ej.uz/cnnz

The Vīsraga nature trail leads through Burtnieku Manor Park. Burtnieku manor is privately owned, but unfortunately in a deplorable condition. The nature trail has been created in the Burtnieku lake meadows nature reserve. The trail leads through the park to Lake Burtnieku and one of the stops on the trail is the observation tower. From it you can see the lake and the Burtnieki church tower. People with mobility impairments cannot enter the observation tower. Walking along the trail, you can see various stands that collect information about flora and fauna, the castle ruins of the Livonian Order. A historically important event reminds of itself in the manor park – the place of the premiere of the 1988 rock opera Lāčplēsis. In the manor park, it is better not to follow the path marked “Watching tower 700 m”, but on the adjacent Parka street.

Services and other services.

Cafe “Burtniekkrasts” https://ej.uz/xg8u

Free public toilet in Burtnieki https://ej.uz/d3kv