At the end of 2019, the largest urban park in Latvia – the Preiļi Park Beech Tree Trail, which runs along 16 beech trees for about 2.5 km, was opened.
The Beech Tree Trail in the park starts near the ruins of the historic Horse Stable, going towards the Chapel. Each tree on the Beech Tree Trail has an information board with information about that particular tree and a link to a QR code that can be scanned with your android smart device to open the Beech Tree Trail mobile app. When you first open it, you will be prompted to install the application on your smart device, where you can choose one of the languages on offer. You can also find the Preili Beechwood Trail app in the Google Play Store.
The Beech Trees mobile app offers information in several languages, thus also facilitating the opportunities for foreign tourists and park visitors to explore Preili Park, its nature and history. The information is available in Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, Polish, English and German. The availability of information in several languages is also indicated on the information board of each tree, next to the QR code.
When you open the app, it is linked to Google Maps and everyone can follow the route of the Beech Tree Trail on the map, see which tree you are at at any given moment and where to go next to find the next of the 16 beech trees. Also, when you click on a particular tree on the map, an image of the tree appears, making it easier to see and find it in nature. After completing the whole trail, you can share what you have achieved online at the last 16th beech tree.
The Beech Trees mobile app provides information about Preili Park, its history, trees and nature. In addition, a question is asked at each tree, the answer to which can be found at the next beech tree, thus testing your knowledge. To make the walk along the Beech Tree Trail more attractive, each tree offers a sporting, fun or physical activity that can be done in a group or individually.
If you wish, you can also get printed maps of Preili Park with the Beech Tree Trail marked (at the Preili Museum of History and Applied Arts, during the season also at the Preili Chapel and the beach café “Pampūkas”, at the Tourist Information Centre during opening hours).
Recommended time on the trail – 1.5 hours.
By prior arrangement, a short talk about the park can be booked at the TIC (tel.65322041
Photos from the archive of Preiļi TIC.