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Smiltene is a town in Valka District, Latvia with approximately 6,000 inhabitants.

Get in[edit]

There are plenty of buses from Riga, see 1188.lv.

Get around[edit]

The town is small enough to be explored on foot..

See[edit]

  • 1 Kalnamuiža. Smiltene manor house. The estate also features the ruins of a Livonian Order castle and a cheesery built in 1763.
  • 2 Ruins of Smiltene castle (Smiltenes pilsēta).
  • 3 Lazdukalns (Hazel Hill) Sight Tower, Parka iela 8. This 19 m high platform offers a beautiful panorama over the town and surrounding countryside

Do[edit]

  • Swim in Lake "Niedrājs"
  • Cross-country skiing around this lake in winter, where there are pine woods and a Nordic feeling.
  • There are some bicycle rental places and routes in neighbouring forests.
  • 1 "Donas" farm and bakery, Smiltene district, Blome parish, +371 26425426, +371 64720056, . Tours are available by prior reservation. Visitors can learn about the bread-making process and even bake their own bread to take home with them. A fee is charged for tours (€7, but may vary depending on chosen activities).

Buy[edit]

Eat[edit]

Brūzis
  • 1 Park Hotel Brūzis, Brūža iela, 2, +371 64773708, . M–Su 12:00–21:00. A good place to have a meal and to sleep is Park Hotel "Brūzis" ("Brewery" in English, because there used to be one). Excellent food and best beer in town.

Drink[edit]

Sleep[edit]

Go next[edit]

  • Cēsis – One of the country's oldest towns. It has an impressive castle complex of Livonian Order origin, a charming city centre with some cobblestoned streets, and historic wooden buildings.
  • Valmiera – Features the only professional theatre in the region.
  • Smiltene manor barn ruins
    Seda – Founded in 1953 in an uninhabited area, it still embodies the pomp of Communist and Stalinist shock-work aka architecture. Nearby a vast man-made peat bogs nature area can be found, and is not to be missed. Both occurrences are historically tied to each other.
  • Alūksne or Gulbene – The start and destination of a 33-km long narrow-gauge railway, at the picturesque Lake Alūksne.
  • Cesvaine – This nearby village of is home to the Cesvaine Palace and ruins of medieval castles.
  • Madona – A scenic town surrounded by hills, forests and lakes, and a winter sports centre.


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