Auciems between the lake, manor complex and nature trails

Auciems combines landscapes, culture and a variety of destinations for excursions. The Auciema manor complex is located by the lake and offers a glimpse of a special side of the village: its park has long avenues, while sandstone outcrops, caves, springs and nature trails await discovery in the surrounding area. For families and other travellers who want to alternate between quiet days and active activities during their holiday, Auciems therefore offers several different travel highlights.

Lake and manor complex as a starting point for discoveries

Lake Auciema is a defining feature of the local area. The “Ziediņi” guesthouse, built in the 1890s, is located nearby. The historic building is an interesting detail for anyone who wants to experience not only nature but also the history and architectural surroundings of a place. Another distinctive building is the “Ziedu Pirts” sauna house, an octagonal log house in Auciems.

The manor complex itself is also worth a closer look. The long avenues in the park give the grounds a clear landscape structure. When choosing accommodation in Auciems, you can consider whether to focus your trip more on the lake and local history, on nature experiences in the surrounding area or on a combination of both. This makes the choice of a holiday apartment or holiday house more closely aligned with your own daily plans.

Red Cliffs, caves and an approximately 15 km cycling route

In the area around Auciems, the Red Cliffs of Raiskums form an approximately 280 m long belt of sandstone outcrops. The rock walls reach a height of up to approximately 15 m. At the foot of the cliffs, Rūcamavots emerges from a cave. This combination of rock formation and cave spring gives the excursion a vivid natural theme without requiring you to limit yourself to a single experience.

A cycling route to Rūcamavots and the Red Cliffs of Raiskums passes through Auciems and follows a canal near Lake Auciema. The route is approximately 15 km long and starts and ends at the “Apaļkalns” campsite. Take this length into account when planning your day. The route provides a concrete planning option, especially for a trip in which the landscape is to be experienced not only from a viewpoint but also along the way.

Another option is the Kvēpene Nature Trail in the area around Auciems. It leads to Kvēpene Cave and a sacred spring that emerges from a sandstone outcrop, as well as over Kvēpene Castle Mound. The trail therefore combines natural features with historical landscape elements. Depending on your desired holiday pace, you can combine such an excursion with a day at the beach or a cultural evening.

Culture and water experiences

The “Auciemmuiža” cultural centre in Auciems hosts theatre performances. This complements the natural attractions with a cultural option right in the village. The Auciema bathing area was classified as hygienically safe for bathing in a water quality assessment dated 26 August 2026. For your planning, the date of the assessment remains important; it describes the evaluation on that date.

Those looking for accommodation in Auciems can therefore weigh up different holiday priorities: lake and bathing area, manor complex and park, theatre, nature trail or cycling route. For further destinations to include in your travel planning, you can also view Plācis, Straupe, Stalbe and Lielstraupe.

For the broader travel overview: Pārgaujas Novads.