Preiļi combines an expansive park landscape with castle history, regional art and hands-on activities centered on ceramics and crafts. There are different ways to shape your stay: take a walk through meadows, along bodies of water and through woodland; explore the history of the manor; or try practical creative activities. Culture and activity are different sides of the same destination.
A park trail among trees and history
The Preiļi Park trail to notable trees is about 2.5 kilometers long and passes 16 particularly notable trees. Covering 41 hectares, it runs through a meadow, along bodies of water and through woodland; it also passes historic buildings, their ruins and Preiļu pils. Landscape, trees and traces of history all lie along the same route. Those who would like information along the way can use the trail app, which offers content in Latvian, English, German, Russian, Polish and Lithuanian.
Castle, chapel and museum
Preiļu pils was built between 1860 and 1865. The chapel is also part of the park’s history: it was built at the expense of Count Josef Heinrich von der Borch and consecrated on September 20, 1817. The counts’ graves are located beneath the chapel. The Preiļi Museum of History and Applied Art offers art exhibitions as well as guided tours of the Preiļi manor chapel and sculpture garden.
The museum’s main collections bring ceramics and regional art together with other insights: they include ceramics by Polikarps Čerņavskis, works by Preiļi ceramicists, visual art, textiles, ethnographic objects, photographs and documents, as well as paintings and graphic art by artists from Latgale. Craftsmanship is also at the heart of Preiļu pils: the 5D cinema presents twelve stories about the development of craft skills from antiquity to the present day.
Ceramics and creative crafts
Ceramics are more than just an exhibition theme. At the P. Cernavskis Ceramics House, visitors can work at the potter’s wheel and make their own ceramic piece, which is then sent to their home by post. The “Jašas podi” pottery workshop offers masterclasses for different experience levels. The craft workshops with Inta Reca include, among other things, soap making, dream catchers, straw himmeli, mandalas and Latvian incense sticks.
The Nester Custom Metal Design Art Gallery offers a different material focus: it exhibits interior elements and sculptures made from used car and motorcycle spare parts and also offers masterclasses. The creative activities range from working with clay and various craft techniques to art made from reused vehicle parts.
More experiences and activities
The Miniature Realm and Doll Gallery displays original dolls. Visitors can dress up in costumes from a royal court and take photos. The “Cat Farm” presents a collection of cat figurines and offers creative masterclasses. Both attractions explore their own themes alongside the history of the castle and museum.
Movement and play offer another focus. The city of Preiļi’s beach and activity area includes a public beach, volleyball and football fields, tennis and table tennis courts, and a BMX track. There is also equipment for outdoor and water-based exercise, active tourism equipment, a beach wheelchair and a children’s playground. Alongside the park trail, there are also sports and play activities to choose from.
Discover more destinations: Babri.
Return to the broader travel overview: Preiļu Novads.
