Latvia is a unique country: its nature leave impression of primevality and wildness that is rare anywhere else in Europe: Baltic Sea beaches where you will not meet a single human being wandering for hours. Very picturesque and original sights open at Latvian rivers: many valleys of them are surrounded by special red or yellow- brown rocks formed of sandstone. Many pine forests and countless forest lakes which still carries their specific fauna are self - evident natural phenomena in Latvia. You will find truly nostalgic idylls of pre-industrial life some places in Latvia. Breath of an original and ancient mythology still is present from place to place: there you will meet evidences of antiquity at every step: saint places of ancient Latvians marked by granite rocks of mythical origin and settlements of the Vikings, ruins of Middle Age castles - witnesses of the Order power and hard battles, as well as buildings of estates and idyllic parks, churches - the representatives of various historical styles of architecture and centuries. It is never too much: also Latvian provincial towns are bearing their charm, in spite of difficult life conditions; but you can not unnotice how significant are these places and historical evidences for Latvian people.
But the capital Riga has a special place in our brochure: you can enjoy not only romance of the medieval old city or the world known Art Nouveau buildings of Riga. In addition we have accentuated not only traditional Art Nouveau buildings which are included in every brochure, but we have arranged wider rounds as well. Special breath that tells of Western and Eastern cross - roads vibrates in the air of Riga: independent and proud Riga from the very beginnings was a trader: goods from Russia to Western Europe cities have been brought through Riga for eight centuries. This role of a middleman Riga still holds today.
Life in Riga is strained and fascinating: fastness of social and economical life is its everyday like never ceasing changes of its features. Responsibilities of Riga are not complete - it takes manifestation of cultural and political life which are discussed in general part of the guide under its wing. The city does not miss the tendencies that influence many cities in the West and East of Europe. However, Riga is able to protect its unique special charm and self-confident fresh style of life - announcement of a city that is characteristic of real provincial metropolis.
However, our guide has not been carried away by examination of Riga only, though rather significant scope is dedicated to it, - it describes Latvia and its regions and this condition makes the guide different from other similar editions. Connoisseurs of own region from provincial towns and countryside have taken part in arrangement of our original routes; we offer active recreation, absorbing and independently manageable trips and boating.
