Āraiši Lake Castle is the only reconstruction of a 8/9 – 10th century fortified settlement in Europe; a unique object, which this year is nominated as the Latvian archaeological monument of 2020. The park excels with its unique archaeological findings, the placement of reconstruction on its original environment, and the well-preserved cultural and historical landscape of Vidzeme. The ruins of the Āraiši “castella” type medieval castle can be seen on the shore of the... Read more ..read more

Świnoujście, town, Zachodniopomorskie województwo (province), northwestern Poland, on a low-lying sandy island, Uznam (Usedom), that separates the Szczeciński Lagoon (Oderhaff), a lake at the mouth of the Oder River, from the Baltic Sea. A major fishing port and resort, Świnoujście has fine beaches. The town was first chronicled in 1181, though it existed earlier as a fishing settlement. It also served as a strategic stronghold for defenders of the Szczeciński Lagoon. The... Read more ..read more

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On 16 September 1941, Soviet forces launched the construction of the Lõpe-Kaimri antitank line to halt the German advance. It runs from west to east in the southern part of the isthmus of Sõrve Peninsula, which is just 3.2 km wide at this point. Comprising two rows of concrete pyramids stretching 900 metres from Lõu Bay to the village of Teesu, the antitank line is in good condition. It is made up of two rows of pyramids standing 0.8 metres high and spaced one metre apart... Read more ..read more

Panga cliff is the highest bedrock outcrop of the Silurian period in Western Estonia and the islands. Its height is 21.3 metres and the bank is divided into two terraces, the second of which lies just inland from a 13 m high bluff overlooking the sea. What makes the cliff particularly valuable and attractive from a landscape point of view is its relatively large size and the fact that the cliff wall is open to the sea. The Panga Landscape Conservation Area is located... Read more ..read more

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Once upon a time, there was a fortress on Gondinga Hillfort. It was taken by occupants during the wars between the Polish and the Normans. When the latter were forced to leave, they gathered all their gold, silver, weapons and other valuables inside the castle, locked its heavy iron doors and buried the entire castle under a mound of soil so that no sign of it ever remained. They hid the key under the largest rock they could find in the stream pool of the Babrungas River... Read more ..read more

The “Island of Death” was the battlefield site on the left bank of the Daugava River across from Ikskile where Latvia’s first battalions of riflemen (about 8000 volunteers recruited into the 12th Imperial Army of Russia) saw protracted fighting and died in the hundreds as they held off a 1916 German onslaught toward Riga that lasted many months. What used to be a Daugmale county peninsula jutting into the river near a strategically important temporary bridge can now only... Read more ..read more

Discover the captivating town of Druskininkai, a true oasis of wellness and relaxation nestled in the picturesque Lithuanian countryside. This premier spa destination has been renowned for centuries for its healing mineral waters and restorative thermal springs ..read more

Telšiai is a city in Lithuania with about 21,499 inhabitants. It is the capital of Telšiai County and Samogitia region, and it is located on the shores of Lake Mastis. Telšiai is one of the oldest cities in Lithuania, probably dating earlier than the 14th century. Between the 15th and 20th centuries, Telšiai became a district capital. Until 1795, Telšiai County formed the Duchy of Samogitia within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Between 1795 and 1802 it was included in the... Read more ..read more