Ormaņkalns – the highest peak of the Selija hills (167 m), sung by poets, captured in pictures by painters and photographers. The hill was a gathering place for the ancient Selenians. There were always guards on the hill, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings and signalling the approach of attackers with a lit bonfire. The herald – usually a bugler – stood on Orman Hill, overlooking a wide area.

But you can see even further from the Ormankalns lookout tower, which offers a magnificent panorama of Lake Sauka and the vast forests of Selija. By the way, a castle is said to have sunk in Lake Sauk – maybe one sunny day the sun’s rays will penetrate deep enough to see the castle towers? Ormaņkalns lookout tower will then be the best place to observe.

Photos from the Jēkabpils Municipality TIC archive