Baltinava can be explored through several distinct cultural themes: the museum spans local history and objects from work and everyday life in the past; the Catholic and Orthodox churches each have their own building history. Baltinava Manor Park brings together named leisure areas and a landscape heritage that includes part of a unique natural clock. For your trip, local history, church architecture and designed landscapes offer different areas of focus to choose from.

A Museum of Local and Everyday History

The permanent exhibitions at the Baltinava Museum are titled “Baltinavas pagasta vēsture”, “Senie darba un sadzīves priekšmeti” and “Latgales istaba”. Their themes range from the history of Baltinava and objects from work and everyday life in the past to connections with Latgale. The museum also regularly offers themed events, art exhibitions and museum education programmes. Guided tours of the village of Baltinava and its surroundings are also available. The museum’s work thus encompasses permanent exhibition themes and recurring events, as well as tours taking a broader geographical view of the village and its surroundings.

Two Churches, Two Building Histories

The Catholic and Orthodox churches represent different building histories. The Catholic church took 22 years to build: its foundation stone was laid in 1909, and it was consecrated in 1931. The Roman Catholic church also contains an image of the Virgin Mary painted on leather in the 17th century and stretched over a wooden panel.

The Orthodox church was built in 1901 with the support of Fjodor Agarkov, the owner of Baltinava Manor at the time. The brick building is 19 metres long and 8 metres wide. Its roof is adorned with a bell tower and four domes topped with gilded crosses. The church is a building characteristic of regional eclecticism in the early 20th century, with stylised elements of Russian architecture. Its classification and Russian stylistic elements describe two aspects of the same architecture: the regional style and specific design features. The Orthodox church was built eight years before the foundation stone of the Catholic church was laid.

Parkland Between Leisure Areas and History

Baltinava Manor Park comprises three areas: a recreation area with a stage, a sports field and a children’s playground. “Mīlestības saliņa” is also located in the park. Part of a unique natural clock has been preserved as landscape heritage. It consisted of twelve different trees planted in a circle; only part of it remains. The park can therefore be explored both through its described leisure areas and through the history of its design.

Local Culture at the Cultural Centre

The performances of “Ontans i Anne” at the Baltinava Cultural Centre serve to welcome visitors and introduce local culture to a wider audience. If you would like to plan your visit around a performance, check the dates before your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Baltinavas Novads.