Churches with different stories, a valley with a river and lakes, and routes ranging from 1.2 to 5 kilometres give Zilupe a varied character. When planning your trip, you can choose between a short orientation game, themed routes to cultural sites and an excursion into the Zilupe Valley. The places and routes offer different points of interest, so you do not have to fit every stop into a single visit.
Choose a route by distance and theme
The interactive orientation game “Iepazīsti Zilupi!” follows a 1.2-kilometre route on foot. The route “Zilupe – City of Tolerance” is 3 kilometres long and can be explored on foot or by car. It leads to Zilupe railway station, the Brothers’ Cemetery of soldiers who fell in the Second World War, the synagogue memorial site, the Orthodox church, Saveļinki Chapel, the Lutheran church memorial site and the Baptist prayer house. All the monuments ever erected in Zilupe have been preserved.
At 5 kilometres, the “Stories of the Zilupe Valley” route is the longest of the three routes described; it can also be covered on foot or by car. The routes therefore differ not only in length but also in focus: the orientation game offers a shorter walk, while the two themed routes take in different destinations and modes of transport. No specific walking time is given.
Sacred buildings and historic details
Saveļinki Chapel was built in 1806 and preserves an interior dating from the 18th century. It is a state-protected cultural monument of national importance and a popular folk place of worship; its altars are decorated with Baroque woodcarvings. Visitor information states that it can be viewed from outside or visited by prior arrangement. Please arrange your visit in advance.
The Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Zilupe was built and consecrated in 2019. It houses Šenbergs’ altar painting “Jēzus nes svētību Latgales laukiem”. The tower also contains a historic bell belonging to the Dominican Order of Pasiene. Dedicated to Saint Vincent Ferrer, it was cast in 1777 and weighs 256 kilograms.
The Zilupe Church is named “Kristus krusta pacelšanas baznīca”. After a fire in May 2004, it was largely rebuilt within four years. Its features include wall and ceiling paintings, as well as a library with books, press publications, and video and audio recordings.
The Zilupe Valley and its landscape
The Zilupe Valley begins on the outskirts of Zilupe and extends past Zaļesje Castle to Duboviki. The Grīva River flows through the valley, which is also home to Lakes Zaļesje and Sovāni. These geographical features give the “Stories of the Zilupe Valley” route its landscape focus. If, during your stay, you would rather visit several named cultural sites than take a longer route, you can consider “Zilupe – City of Tolerance” as a separate alternative.
Cultural life and regional cuisine
The Zilupe town cultural centre was established in 1962. Five amateur groups perform there: the youth folk dance ensemble “Tracis” and the middle-generation folk dance ensemble “Zilupes dancis” (both founded in 2014), the women’s vocal ensemble “Fortuna” (2003), the amateur theatre “Vivat!” (2005) and the stage dance studio “Impulse” (2004). The membership of the individual groups may change.
Café “Latgale” serves home-style cooking and, on weekdays, set lunches to take away. The café can seat up to 40 guests; Siberian pelmeni made according to an authentic recipe passed down through generations are particularly recommended. If you are planning to have one of the lunch dishes or the pelmeni, ask about the current menu in advance.
The “Upes svētki” festival traditionally takes place in Zilupe in July. Check the programme for the year of your trip. In Saveļinki, near Zilupe, Zilupe Film Village offers horseback rides along filming locations and nighttime film screenings. Arrival should be arranged in advance; take this into account when planning your visit.
For the broader travel overview: Zilupes Novads.
