Russian

Renaissance forms dominate in the architecture. The colour scheme of the castle is subdued, with no excessive ornaments. The square tower on one side of the castle adds to the solemn mood. In 1934, the Latvian Association for Helping Children bought the main building of the castle and established a boarding-school there, calling it "Igate’s Rest".

At present, the castle operates as a guest-house, offering premises for holding seminars and conferences, festivities, banquets, anniversary celebrations and weddings. The castle has also a sauna, a swimming pool with a cascade and "The Mill Pub".

During the revolts of 1905, the castle was partially burnt down, but it was again restored in 1907. In 1921 a study and research farm for students of agriculture of the University of Latvia was set up in the castle, which is still functioning.

A 13 ha large landscape park surrounds the castle which is popular among the locals and has several ponds, exotic trees and bushes, paths for walking, and monuments – to the first head of the study and research farm “Vecauce” Jānis Bergs and professor Jānis Apsītis, as well as a cemetery of German and Russian soldiers killed during World War I.

At present, Vecauce Castle houses a tourist and culture centre and a hotel; conferences, seminars, banquets and weddings are held here. The castle is managed by the study and research centre “Vecauce” of the Latvian University of Agriculture.

The offer: a conference hall, seating up to 150; a banquet hall, seating up to 100, a room for seminars and festivities with up to 40 seats, a fire-place hall with up to 20 seats, exhibition premises in the castle tower, an art gallery. The castle offers accommodation in 20 double rooms. Catering for weddings and banquets is provided by the castle kitchen.

During the Second World War, the palace was used both by Russian and German armed forces. At the begging of the War, palace served as a school for Russian sergeants, then – as a German transmitting station, but at the end of the War, it was a German war hospital. After the War palace was used for offices, movie theatre, shops and apartments.

None of its managers thought any repairs were necessary. In 1974, when the Ministry of Forestry and Forest Industry took the palace over, it was partially ruined. Renovation works started and went on for more than 20 years.

Improvement works are never-ending, even today. Their aim is to make Jaunmokas palace one of the most significant centres of Latvian national tourism and culture with good development prospects. The palace offers an exhibition about Latvian forestry and hunting in Latvia. The palace houses a well-preserved oven with unique paintings of Riga landscape. Stable hosts a hotel and rooms for different events.

The castle and the castle museum, the church built at the end of the16th century, and the water mill are open to visitors. Today, Jaunpils Castle hosts the entire social life of Jaunpils.

The scenic surroundings and the social folklore serve as the backdrop for tourist attractions. You will be able to turn into a full fledged medieval hero together with the monks, jesters, lords, and servants of the castle. A romantic atmosphere prevails here because everything is taking place in a seven century old castle. Re-enacted theatrical tours of the castle are offered.

Kartavkalnu nature path is situated in the vicinity of Jaunpils. A settlement of ancient Latvians with log buildings and a fortification wall is under construction near the castle mound. Benches have been placed along the path and campfire sites have been equipped, tents can be safely set up at the foot of the castle mound, there are also country-style toilets found in the thickets.

Heading in the direction of Strutele, you can reach Elles (the Infernal) hill and have a look at Strutele Church. If you wish to visit the place where Matīss Siliņš, the outstanding Latvian ethnographer and cartographer lived, then the road will take you to the farmstead "Ķuņķuri" near Viesatas.

In 2005 the Castle was included in the List of the 100 Best Cared-for Monuments of European Cultural Heritage in Latvia.

The buildings of the Dikļi castle are organically complemented by a park spanning 20 hectares. Adjacent to the palace lies a duck pond, which is said to have had a floor made of oak. Mazbriede River begins just beyond the pond, whose ravines contain a landscape garden, also known as the Forest Park. In the 1960s, after surveying Dikļi castle park, it was found that approximately 20 exotic trees grow on its grounds.

Dikļi castle is one of the few palaces and landed estates in Vidzemes where much of the original interior décor has been relatively well-preserved. The palace contains a collection of luxurious old stoves and fireplaces. Dikļi castle was restored in 2003. At the moment, the palace houses a hotel, a restaurant, a spa and it provides a venue for various functions.

An Aviary is located on one side of it, while at the very centre of the park one finds the Lovers’ Oak, in whose branches tinkle the love bells left there by newlyweds. Down the broad stone staircase, we arrive at the lake-side arbour. Numerous visitors have memorialised themselves here in photographs, and newlyweds have promised each other eternal love on their wedding day!

The Water Mill Lane along the Mill Lake leads to the old Water Mill, where a museum of antiquities cosily shares space with a pub in the summer months. While sipping a cocktail on the wooden deck over the lake, you will be able to watch fish devour every crumb thrown at them. In wintertime, we invite you to try leze, an ancient merry-go-round on ice. If you book in advance, a roaring fire, hot tea and a bath-house will await you.

The Bīriņi castle was built based on a design by the architect F. W. Hess. It is the most impressive representative of the Rundbogenstil in Latvian manor architecture. The overall architectonic execution of the structure can be attributed to the Neo-Gothic style, yet the lintels of the windows are a significant component of the overall composition, and these are typical of the Rundbogenstil. Thus, in terms of style, the Bīriņi castle can be considered an unusual two-way combination. It received recognition from contemporaries, and in the present day it can be seen as an example of atypical architectonic thinking. The building used to boast an opulent décor – sculptures, mouldings – but this was lost in World War I. A Neo-Renaissance interior has been preserved in the castle: a spacious entrance vestibule with a bilateral staircase, a dining-room with a wooden-panelled ceiling and glazed-tile stoves.

The manor was first cited in written sources in 1484. It was built by the vassal of the Teutonic Order, Werner von Buttler, on the postal route connecting Riga and Prussia. Šlokenbeka manor was developed as an enclosed complex. The buildings were connected by a protective wall, and entrance to the courtyard was through a fortified gate. In case of an attack, Šlokenbeka served as shelter for the Tukums gentry.

Šlokenbeka manor has been rebuilt several times, and new buildings have been added, as by the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century the manor had lost its function as a military support centre, and it was increasingly being adapted for household life.

The gallery is located in Sigulda, at Turaida Castle on the 2^nd floor of the Sightseeing Tower.  Information about the meaning and wearing of this ancient jewellery is also available. The jewellers accept orders for making jewellery.

One can see work premises of the artists on the first floor of the building, and the Exhibition Hall of Inta and Imants Ozoliņi is set out on the ground floor. When attending the exhibition, one can also see the works of graphic artist Imants Ozoliņš who received the 2007 Jurmala Art Award.

In the art gallery, one can see an interesting original exhibition of paintings created using a unique technique (fluorescent painting effect) – paintings start glistening under special lighting and the viewers see another painting in place of the original one, which is like earlier hidden version of the painting. The art studio offer visitors a salon shop with floral design and luminaries, the Architects and Designers Bureau, who are capable of creating artistic works in the light painting style.