Getting To Know Today's Latvia

A COUNTRY FULL OF CONTRASTS

Latvia is one of Europe's great "get-away-from-it-all" discoveries. In whichever direction you strike out from Riga, the capital, you will rapidly discover new facets of the country. Head north east and within an hour you're at the medieval town of Sigulda, a base for exploring the Gauja National Park, with a castle, hotels, restaurants and a host of sporting activities.

Nearby is Turaida Castle, set on a hill that was an ancient fortress of the Liv people. Near the centre of the park is Cesis, a town of cobbled streets and wooden houses almost unaltered by the Soviets and rated a national treasure, with one of Latvia's finest historical museums.

Head south from Riga and explore the 18th century grandeur of the Rundale Palace, summer residence of the Duke of Courland and designed by the architect of the St. Petersburg Winter Palace. Thanks to restoration you would hardly believe that the Germans used it as a granary in World War 2!

Take the bus or train west to Kuldiga and you're in a former Hanseatic trading town, perched above the Venta river, with many fine old houses and churches.

DISCOVERING THE COUNTRYSIDE

Unpolluted forests, lakes, and coastlines give magnificent opportunities for hiking, boating and other outdoor activities during the warm months of summer, and cross country skiing is popular in winter. In fact the country's 64,589 sq km is 39 percent forest, with over 3,000 lakes and 12,000 rivers, while in specially protected areas the needs of tourism are balanced with those of the environment.

All this is pleasantly matched by small medieval towns, country museums, ruined fortresses and, occasionally, grand palaces. Everywhere you will find intriguing evidence of distinctively Latvian customs, crafts and culture, and of a determination to preserve and restore the best of the nation's heritage.

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