Discover Atašiene: Culture, Nature and Cycling Routes

Atašiene combines cultural discoveries with experiences in nature and various ways to explore the surrounding area actively. A stay can be planned in very different ways: with a cultural event, a walk by the lake, a trip to historical sites or a cycling tour through the district. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Atašiene, it helps to decide early what you want your trip to focus on.

Culture, Traditions and Unusual Collections

A special cultural event is the annual Annas and Jēkaba Day. It takes place on 24 July in the courtyard of the “Annas Sāta” Cultural Centre in Atašiene. The VĪRAKSNE folklore group also represents the regional culture: its repertoire consists mainly of songs, games and dances collected in the local region. It is also remarkable that the group includes members from four generations.

Atašiene’s historical heritage includes the first wooden Catholic church in Atašiene, built in 1804. Another highly unusual visitor experience is J. Zalāns’s collection of vintage motorcycles and antiques. It includes uniforms and weapons from various countries, as well as motorcycles used in different periods and for different purposes. Visitors can ride in a sidecar motorcycle or put on a military uniform.

Marinzeja with Manor House, Park and Lake

Marinzeja Manor House was built between 1845 and 1847 and can only be viewed from the outside by visitors. The appeal of this destination therefore lies mainly in its exterior and surroundings. The park next to the manor house is designed as an English-French landscape park and contains many rare tree species. Marinzeja Park also has a sound therapy trail.

On the shore of Lake Marinzeja, you will find several developed recreation areas and bathing spots. The lakeshore is suitable for walking and experiencing nature. This means that Marinzeja offers a variety of options for a day out: you can focus on historical architecture and parkland or plan some time by the water.

Raised Bog Landscape and Nature Observation

The 27-metre-high Kristakrūgs observation tower offers views across the landscape of the Teiči Nature Reserve. Founded in 1982, the reserve covers 19,779 hectares; 69 percent of its area consists of an extensive raised bog. There is a specific rule to bear in mind when planning a visit: from the Mētriene side in Madonas novads, the Teiči Nature Reserve can only be visited from 1 June to 31 October when accompanied by an employee of the Nature Conservation Administration.

Cycling Routes for Different Tour Plans

The 20–24 km cycling route in Atašiene District was created to help visitors explore the area around Atašiene. It can also be reached by the Rīga–Zilupe train service. Experienced cyclists can connect Atašiene with Jēkabpils over approximately 39 km on smaller country roads, avoiding the main highway. These different route lengths help you plan your cycling days according to your experience and the scope you want.

To compare other places, you can also view Zīlāni, Rudzīši and Kaķīši.

For the overarching travel overview: Krustpils Novads.