In autumn, up to 1,500 cranes and 8,000 geese may gather in the Teiči Nature Reserve. The reserve is an important stopover site for migratory birds, also encompasses Murmastiene Parish, and has been designated a strict nature reserve since 1982. When planning a trip, the seasonal nature of possible bird gatherings and the permanent protected-area status are two distinct aspects.
Natural environment and birdlife
The Murmastiene staignāju forests provide habitat for protected lesser spotted eagles (Aquila pomarina), black woodpeckers (Dryocopus martius) and European honey buzzards (Pernis apivorus). The nature theme therefore goes beyond the autumn stopover site for migratory birds: the forest habitats and their protected species are also part of the character of the area.
If you are interested in nature, these distinctions can help with planning: the possible gathering of cranes and geese relates to autumn; the forests are home to the bird species mentioned and their habitats. You can consider these as separate focuses for your trip, without assuming that you will see a particular species on any one day of your visit.
Siksala: island and views
Siksala is an island in the middle of a bog. The Tolkāja viewing platform is 6.5 metres high and offers views across the bog. It is part of a guided visitor route to Siksala. The Siksala observation tower is 28 metres high; from there, the view extends across the vast raised bog landscape, Lake Siksala, islands and Siksala village. The two structures differ both in height and in the views described.
Check the current visitor regulations before your visit to the Siksala tower, as seasonal access details may change. For a guided visit to Siksala, the meeting point is in a car park beside the Murmastiene–Silagals–Siksala road. This information is for planning a guided visit and helps distinguish the meeting point from the viewpoints themselves.
If you are choosing between a focus on the bog landscape and the views, Siksala offers both in different forms: the island in the bog, views across the bog from the platform, and the more extensive panorama from the tower. Checking the current visitor regulations remains a separate planning step for the tower.
Cultural history in Murmastiene Parish
The Murmastienes Krucifiksa namiņš was inaugurated in Murmastiene in 1993, based on a design by architect I. Ketlere. The year and architect provide a clear historical context for this building. Another cultural landmark is Martas birze, a birch avenue planted in 2001, which leads to the birthplace of poet Marta Bārbale at Skalbjudambji.
Siksala also has an earlier settlement history. The island was once home to a village of Russian Old Believers. So the natural environment and views are not the only points of interest: the place’s history also includes this former community. A monument to the 1st Liepāja Infantry Regiment stands at the site of the regiment’s 1919 battle; the recorded reference identifies the battlefield but does not give an additional place name.
These cultural connections highlight different aspects: the building inaugurated in 1993, the link between the birch avenue and the poet’s birthplace, the former community on Siksala, and the monument at the battlefield. When planning, you can therefore consider architecture, literature, settlement history and commemorative heritage alongside the natural attractions.
Choose accommodation to suit your travel focus
If you are looking for a holiday apartment, start by choosing according to the visits that matter most to you: birdlife and the bog, Siksala’s viewpoints, or the cultural sites. Check the location and availability of specific accommodation for your travel dates. This way, your choice of place to stay can reflect your own itinerary, rather than combining different destinations without regard to your plans.
Discover more destinations: Trizelnieki, Varakļānu pilsēta, Varakļānu pagasts.
For the broader travel overview: Varakļāni Municipality.
