KOKNESE
Koknese's
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Koknese
By picturesque riversides of the Daugava and the Pērse, only 100 km from Riga, is Koknese. In ancient times it was an important traders and craftsmen’s center, the Hansa city. Today known as a cultural and heritage place. Koknese still attracts with the magnificent nature, the breath of history which is carefully stored in the old park and the mighty castle walls, which now is surrounded by the water of Pļaviņas reservoir that had transformed all the landscape beyond recognition…
Koknese medieval castle
One of the largest an most important medieval castles in area of Latvia was Koknese castle. Before the construction of the castle in the picturesque, 30 metres high, wedge-shaped hill between Perse and Daugava rivers there was a hillfort of Latgallians. Construction of the castle of Archbishopric of Riga here was started in 1209 - in short time here rised enormous castle with forepart and the fortified Koknese town nearby.
Koknese castle was abandoned after detonation of the imposing western towers in 1701. Nowadays there remain impressive ruins. After the creation of Plavinas hydropowerplant lake the water reached the fundament of Koknese castle - thus ruins are endangered now and are fixed with concrete constructions below the water level. In spite of this these ruins are some of the most picturesque castle runs in Latvia.
A romantic legend tells that the castle lord’s daughter was locked up in the castle tower by her own father after he had found out about her intention to marry an ordinary gardener. When the said gardener refused to give up his claim on the daughter’s hand, he was killed by the castle lord. After witnessing the tragedy from her tower window, the girl killed herself by jumping off the tower. Afterwards she had allegedly been spotted on the banks of Pērse River, sitting mournfully on a stone and combing her hair. When approached by someone she used to disappear, but if anyone started to run away from her she used to follow.
Model of Kokneses medival castle ruins
In honour of 10 years of friendship between Koknese and Wittingen (Germany) Germans made a present to Koknese. It was a model of Koknese hill fort and medieval castle. From this model we can see how the castle looked like in 1701 before it was blown up. Castle model was made in 2004in Germany by Reinhold Borher, who visited many museums in Latvia in order to collect the necessary information for the castle model. One year the model was located in Wittingen. Now you can see the model in Koknese town council in Melioratoru Street 1 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8.00 - 5 pm, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.00 am till 7pm.
You can visit it for free in Kokneses region council bulding, Melioratoru Street 1.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 - 17:00
Thursday, Tuesday from 08:00 - 19:00,
and also at the weekends with guide, before sign in
Tickets
- Adults - 1.60 EUR
- Seniors - 1.20 EUR
- Students, pupils - 1.20 EUR
- Family ( 2 adults + till 4 chiren) - 5.00 EUR
- Yearcard - 4.00 EUR
Discounts for group
20 and more persons - 10%
It is possible to pay with a card!
T: 371 65161296
Service
Rent Castle territory for activities - 85.00 Euro
Coinage - 2.00 Euro
Picnic table rent in castle ruins theritory - 10.00 Euro
Wedding programme ~40 min. - 80.00 Euro
Guided tours ( before announce )
- ENG, RUS - 15.00 Euro/ 1 hour
THE GIFT
With the support of the entire Latvian nation the Garden of Destiny is becoming a reality on an island in Koknese on the Daugava. It is a place where the past, the present and the future of the people as well as the nation merge...merge to give solace to the past, strength to the present and inspiration to follow your dream in the future. Just as generations left the Statue of Freedom to us, we will leave the Garden of Destiny as our legacy.
THE IDEA
Shunmyo Masuno – a landscape artist from Japan – has visualized the Garden of Destiny. His work was selected as the best of 207 projects by an international jury. Architects Andris Kronbergs and Raimonds Saulitis along with „Design bureau ARHIS”, you, your friends and relatives and the people of Latvia are all helping to make this dream a reality.
PARTICIPATE
Work began in 2008 with creation of the apple tree lane. The road around the perimeter of the island was made in 2009 thanks to donations. The central feature of the Garden of Destiny, the amphitheater, was begun in 2010 and continued in 2011. The main work for 2012 is the building of view terrace. Each and every one of us has the opportunity to become a part of the Garden of Destiny and help in its realization! The only way we can complete the Garden of Destiny as a gift to Latvia on her 100th birthday is by working together. Participate!
The garden of destiny
Phone: +371 2549 5544
Email: info@koknesesfonds.lv
A guest house and an artisan’s shop in Koknese "Mazā Kāpa"
A guest house and an artisan’s shop in Koknese, on the bank of the river Pērse. A sitting room with a fireplace, a seminar room for 35 persons, a sauna and 3 rooms with conveniences. A picnic spot by the river with firewood provided, tent sites. A tour of the leatherwork facility and a possibility to try one’s hand in artwork.
T: + 371 292277936
Park
Between a restored estate ensemble and the Koknese castle ruins, we find the Koknese park – a popular recreation facility for the city’s residents and guests. The park awards a special atmosphere to the city, as it is built over the ruins of Medieval Koknese. During World War II, when cemeteries were installed, the ancient city walls were dug up but then buried again. The park preserves evidence of an ancient city from the Hanseatic era, when Koknese was a mighty city on the edge of major trade routes. The park features the tallest wood sculpture in Latvia, produced by the sculptor Ģirts Burvis and installed in 2002 in honour of Koknese’s 725th anniversary. The sculpture and the benches around it were produced from trees from the park itself – trees which were coming to the end of their lives. Grass snakes live in the park, and mushrooms can be found there.
Koknese Manor Ensemble
Ring - shaped crosses and cast
iron cannons
One of the buildings that has survived by now is the steward's house where the writer Rūdolfs Blaumanis lived during the years 1885 - 87. In commemoration of this a memorial plaque was unveiled in 1993. Another building is a stone - wall stable with a long red brick arcade in the centre. Today the building houses the Vidusdaugava Forestry.
Descending from Jānis hillock (Jāņu kalns) down the path running along the Pērse bank you will reach the ring - shaped crosses and cast iron cannons of the Swedish times.
Koknese Lutheran Church
The church was built in 1687 and restored in 1731. In 1887 the money for church renovation was donated by the landlords of Koknese and Stukmaņi estates, to whom the church owns its present-day steeple.
Kokneses ev. luteriskā baznīca
In 1883 the church organ underwent reconstruction and was expanded. The altar painting "Christ’s Elucidation" (by prof. E. von Gebhard) was donated by the Koknese landlord’s wife E. von Loewenstern in 1897.
The interior is decorated with paintings by the artist A. Dobenbergs. After the ravages of World War I and restoration work sermons were resumed in 1920. E. Gliks, known for having translated the Bible into Latvian, served as a priest here. For some time the church was housing the History and Art Museum of Aizkraukle.
T: + 371 65161347
Organic Farm "Janavas"
Tourist groups can enjoy herbal tea - tasting ina unique enviroment and learn about the organic, prezervative - free face cream "Beāte". +371 25994160
Pastamuiža Devil's Stone
(an ancient ancestral sacred site). Located by the old Riga - Daugavpils hightway which slides into the daugava in the vicinity of the stone. The camp site "Senči" nearby.
The Nature Trail
is 2.18 km long with a sightseeing footbridge that goes over the water and rests on a submerged stump, while the wooden bridges over the ravines and Daugava creeks will take you to the Garden of Destinies (Memorial Site "Likteņdārzs").
VECBEBRI
Vecbebri prish is located only 10 km from Koknese. This place keeps the history of events witch are interesting, eventful and full of tragedies. In baronial period, right in Bebri neighbourhood, happened historical events - Patato rebellion and punitive expedition revenge with rebels. Here was established the first beekeeping and gardening school in the first period of Latvian independence. Here lived Voldemārs Jākobsons - an admirable sculptor, a theacher, a sportsman and a traveller.
Latvian museum of the history of beekeeping - "Dravas"
You ca see the exposition of the history of beekeeping, ancient beekeping equipment and hives. there you can apply for honey sweets. visit must be noitified in advance.
T: +371 65164252, 22411283
Jaunbebru "Potato rebellion" - a place of remembrance
In autumn 1841 there happened Jaunbebru "Potato Rebellion" - a protest of brave peasants against the oppressors. You can see the witnesses of this evet - the punishment pine and "Red Barn" ruins in which the stone cutter - modris Siliņš has engraved the words in the memorial plaque: 1841 Jaunbebru Kartupeļa dumpja atceres vieta.
Memorial house - museum of sculptor Voldemar Jakobson - "Galdiņi"
The graduate of the Art Academy of Latvia, member of the Artists Union of Latvia, sculptor, teacher, sportsman and tourist Voldemars Jakobsons (1899 – 1974) spent most of his life in this house.
On April 13th, 1976 the memorial house – museum of sculptor Voldemars Jakobsons was opened in “Galdini” in Bebri parish.The wooden building was initially (1870 - 1875) built as a shed for the Vecbebri Manor. In 1905 the parents of the future artist move from Riga to Bebri and buy “Galdini”.“My shed – my paradise” were the words about "Galdini" of its owner.The visitors can se more than 50 sculptures, 100 drawings, graphic drawings and designs for decorations by Voldemars Jakobsons.
One thing all of his works have in common is the rustic monolith sense of nature and life.The exposition also has art and household objects owned by the Jakobson’s family, sculptor’s tools, a small library and a collection of shoes.The museum organizes exhibitions and meetings with both local and well known Latvian artists.2009. The museum was re-accredited on May 27th, 2009 based on the decision of the Museum Council.
T: +371 27294969
Vecbebri Manor Complex
features the manor's dwelling house, barn, cellar, atable and park. T: + 371 65164291, 26339168
Vecbebri Holy Family Roman Catholic Church
The curch wan built on the foundations of the old manor house, located in the territory of manor Park opened in 2008. +371 26328578
IRŠI
The place of the largest Baltic German colonies in the Baltic, founded in the 18th century by the Russian Empress Catherine II. The the centre of the parish you can see the storage barn and the former parish house of the colonists - an orginally built wooden building and a memory stone in remembrance of the Irši colony. Tours guided by Valda Kalniņa
"Zemitāni" Deer Gardens and Safari Park
“Zemitāni” Farm located in Koknese Region, Iršu Parish, is engaged in internationally recognised trophy deer breeding. At present, more than 1 200 red deer and fallow deer, as well as other wild animals (moufflons, bison and wild boar), roam on around 300 hectares of land.
The territory is divided into two parts – the deer farmstead with all the required infrastructure is set up on 100 hectares. A safari park, which accepts visitors who arrive to enjoy the beauty of nature and watch animals in their natural environment, is set up on the rest of the territory.
We invite you to visit the unique nature park where red deer, fallow deer, wild boars, moufflons, bison, as well as other wild animals and countless species of birds, walk in the open nature.
We offer animal watching to large and small groups all year round. It is an unforgettable experience for anyone!
Services are available by previous registration. Visitors are taken on a tour by car and are accompanied by a local guide.
When registered for previously, additional services are available – tasting and purchase of venison products, meals and accommodation, as well as booking premises for various events.
T: +371 20039217
