When planning a trip to Rimšāni, you can consider three separate questions: which landscape and cultural themes interest you, which activities fit those interests, and which specific accommodation might suit you. Daugavas loki Nature Park provides a regional landscape context; Latgale crafts offer cultural points of reference. Velo Latgale, with its dome tents by Lake Sargava, is an example of an overnight stay.
Landscape and Cultural Heritage along the Daugava
Daugavas loki Nature Park lies in the Daugava Valley, within the Augšdaugava protected landscape area. It covers 12,372 hectares and stretches along both banks of the river from Krāslava to Saliena parish in Daugavpils Municipality. Eight large bends in the Daugava are among its defining features; each is 4 to 6 kilometres long. Two scales come together here: the extensive protected area and the individual river bends, each several kilometres long. If you want to focus on the landscape, this gives you a sense of both the area’s size and its characteristic features.
The nature park also includes numerous natural and cultural-historical monuments. In 2011, it was added to Latvia’s national list for UNESCO World Heritage. Natural landscapes and cultural history sit side by side here. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider whether you are mainly interested in the Daugava landscape or would also like to explore cultural and historical themes; the two aspects complement one another, without dictating a fixed itinerary.
Latgale Crafts: Metal and Textiles
Metalworking is at the heart of the “Vasars” blacksmith workshop. It makes forged, welded, riveted and soldered souvenirs, as well as fences, railings, grilles, containers, furniture and other products. Materials used include ferrous metals, stainless steel, aluminium and other metals. The range spans everything from souvenirs to furniture and structural components. If you are interested in craftsmanship, Vasars offers a specific cultural point of reference distinct from the landscape themes.
Another craft tradition is “Skaļu deķi”. The 2024 municipal crafts catalogue lists them as a type of blanket found exclusively in Latgale. This textile tradition is therefore explicitly associated with the region. The examples complement one another, but describe different crafts: Vasars represents metalworking and a range of products, while “Skaļu deķi” refers to a particular type of blanket.
Rural Accommodation and Activities at Lake Sargava
Velo Latgale is a quiet rural family retreat on the shore of Lake Sargava, with cosy dome tents. It is located in Mazie Onzuļi, in Izvalta Parish, Krāslava Municipality. For anyone looking for rural accommodation, it is a specific example of a lakeside getaway.
Velo Latgale also has several SUP boards for trips on Lake Sargava. If SUP is important to your plans, check availability in advance.
From the beginning of the 2021 season, Velo Latgale rented out bicycles and equipment for excursions in Izvalta and the surrounding area, as well as on nearby local or regional routes. If bicycle hire is important to your stay, check in advance whether it is currently available.
Discover more destinations: Piedruja, Pastari, Krāslava, Kaplava, Kombuļi, Miglāni, Robežnieki.
Go to the broader travel overview: Krāslava Municipality.
