Contents

• The history of Alūksne, castles and museums
• The Bānītis Railway’s adventures and railway heritage
• Nature trails and viewing towers
• The culture and traditions of the Malēnieši
• Educational adventures in Alūksne District
• Ideas for one-day excursion routes
• Places of interest on the map

The history of Alūksne, castles and museums

The history of Alūksne is linked to the Livonian Order, Marienburg Castle, the Fittinghof family and significant events in Latvian history. These historic sites are situated in the picturesque surroundings of Lake Alūksne, so visits to museums can be combined with walks in the parks.

Alūksne New Castle and the Alūksne District Museum

Alūksne New Castle is home to the Alūksne District Museum, where schoolchildren can learn about the town’s history from the days of the manors to the present day. The museum offers permanent displays, temporary exhibitions and educational activities. One option is to step into the role of a museum detective and uncover secrets linked to Alūksne’s history.

This is a suitable starting point for an excursion, as from the castle you can continue on to the manor park and the area around Lake Alūksne.

The Alūksne Manor Park features historic small-scale architectural features – pavilions, temples, fountains, obelisks and other attractions. The park’s scenic paths run alongside Lake Alūksne, allowing visitors to combine an exploration of cultural history with a leisurely stroll. During the warmer months, the park’s fountains create a special atmosphere.

On Alūksne Castle Island, you can explore the ruins of the Livonian Order’s castle and visit the exhibition ‘The Eighth Brother of Marienburg’ in the restored South Tower. This sound and light experience allows you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a medieval castle and learn about its history. A session as part of the ‘Latvian School Bag’ cultural education programme is also available for schoolchildren.

Tempļakalna Park is home to one of Alūksne’s most notable historical attractions – the Temple of Glory, or granite rotunda. Here you can also see the Sun Bridge and visit the Alūksne observation tower, which offers a sweeping panoramic view over Lake Alūksne, Pilssala and the town.

Suggested itinerary: Alūksne New Castle and Museum → Alūksne Manor Park → Marienburg Castle Ruins → Tempļakalna Park and Observation Tower.

The Adventures of Bānītis and the Railway Heritage

Alūksne is special for its railway history. Here, you can not only explore the old railway infrastructure, but also take real rides on a narrow-gauge train and discover the stories of ‘Bānītis’ in an interactive exhibition.

In the multimedia exhibition “Alūksne Bānītis Station” schoolchildren can learn about the history of the railway, discover the stories of ten stations, take part in team challenges and try out virtual RIDES. Themed educational sessions are available for various age groups, including as part of the “Latvian School Bag” programme.

Gulbene–Alūksne Narrow-Gauge Railway

You can add a special adventure to your excursion by taking rides on the only regularly running narrow-gauge railway in the Baltics. Alūksne’s tourism offer recommends around 20 minutes of rides from Umernieki station to Alūksne.

Rides can be combined with a visit to the exhibition at Alūksne Bānītis station, creating a themed excursion focusing on transport, technology and Latvia’s industrial heritage.

More about the Gulbene–Alūksne narrow-gauge railway →

Route idea: Rides on the narrow-gauge railway from Umernieki to Alūksne → Alūksne narrow-gauge railway station → a walk in Alūksne Manor Park.

Nature trails and viewing towers in Alūksne Municipality

Alūksne Municipality is known for its hilly terrain, lakes, forests and scenic viewpoints. On a nature excursion, you can combine walks with topics from geography and natural sciences by choosing routes of varying lengths.

The Veclaicene Protected Landscape Area is ideal for schoolchildren wishing to explore the natural diversity of north-eastern Latvia. Here you’ll find hills, lakes, nature trails and viewing points. Of particular interest are the local trails, which offer the chance to discover the area’s natural treasures and local cultural history.

The Drusku Hillfort Nature Trail is a circular route in Veclaicene, approximately 3.5 kilometres long. It winds through a hilly and scenic area, offering views of Drusku Hillfort, Drusku Hill and the surrounding countryside. The trail is steep in places, making it suitable for school groups prepared for a more active walk.

The Kornetu observation tower is situated on Dzērves Hill, and from the 27-metre-high tower there are impressive views of the surrounding hills, lakes and the Estonian border. On a clear day, you can even make out Lielais Munameģis in the distance. This stop is well worth combining with the Drusku Hill Fort trail.

Dēliņkalns is one of the most beautiful vantage points on the Alūksne Uplands. An approximately 800-metre-long path leads from the car park to the 27-metre-high tower. From the top platform, you can take in the sweeping views of the surrounding landscape and gain a better understanding of the hilly terrain of the Alūksne district.

Suggested route: Veclaicene landscape area → Drusku Hill nature trail → Korneti observation tower.

Alternative: Jaunlaicene → Dēliņkalns observation tower → a walk in the Alūksne Uplands.

Malēnieši culture and traditions

In Alūksne District, you can discover Malēnieši culture, the local dialect, humour and ancient traditions. These places are particularly well-suited for exploring the Latvian language, history and cultural heritage.

Jaunlaicene Manor Museum “The World of the Malēnieši”

At the Jaunlaicene Manor Museum, schoolchildren can learn about Malēnieši culture, old dialect words, local stories and humour. During the visit, it is also possible to learn about the history of Jaunlaicene Manor and its surroundings. It is a good choice for an excursion where you want to combine culture with exciting activities.

Exploring the town of Alūksne

Alūksne Manor Park, Pilssala, Tempļakalna Park and the historic buildings offer the chance to discover the town’s cultural history whilst out for a walk. The class can organise a themed activity – spotting details of historical architecture, comparing buildings from different eras and learning about local legends.

The day’s excursion can also be complemented by an introduction to local culinary traditions, such as sampling Alūksne’s signature profiterole broth.

Suggested itinerary: Jaunlaicene Manor Museum “Malēnieša pasaule” → a walk in Alūksne Manor Park → Tempļakalna Park.

Educational adventures in Alūksne District

In Alūksne District, history can also be learnt through hands-on experiences – by discovering traditional farm work, railway technology, the history of writing and the military heritage of the 20th century.

Viktors Ķirps Ate Museum “Vidzeme Farmstead”

At the museum, schoolchildren can explore a traditional Vidzeme

farmstead

, ancient tools and everyday activities. Educational programmes offer the chance to explore the cartwright’s workshop, the smithy and other farm attractions, as well as to try out traditional methods of washing and ironing clothes.
At the Bible Museum, visitors can learn about Ernst Glik’s achievements and the history of the Latvian written language, view editions of the Bible from various periods, and discover the principles of ancient book printing. A visit to the museum can complement lessons on the Latvian language, literature and history.

The Zeltiņi Museum and the former Soviet nuclear missile base offer an opportunity to explore 20th-century military history and the legacy of the Soviet era. Pupils can view the museum’s exhibits and, accompanied by a guide, learn about the history of the former secret military site. This stop is particularly suitable for history excursions for older pupils.

Suggested itinerary: Viktors Ķirps Ate Museum → Alūksne town’s historical attractions → Ernst Glik’s Bible Museum.

Alternative for older school pupils: Alūksne Bānīša Station → Zeltiņi Museum and the former USSR nuclear missile base.

Ideas for one-day excursion routes

Alūksne history route:
Alūksne District Museum → Alūksne Manor Park → Marienburg Castle Ruins → Tempļakalns Park and observation tower.

The Bānītis Adventure:
Rides on the Gulbene–Alūksne Bānītis → Alūksne Bānītis Station → Alūksne Manor Park.

Nature and Viewing Towers Route:
Veclaicene Landscape Area → Drusku Hillfort Nature Trail → Korneti Viewing Tower.

The Malēnieši Cultural Route:
Jaunlaicene Manor Museum “The World of Malēnieši” → Dēliņkalns observation tower → Tempļakalna Park.

Educational route for primary school pupils:
Viktors Ķirps Ate Museum “Vidzeme Farmstead” → Alūksne Bānīša Station → a walk in Alūksne Manor Park.

20th-century history route:
Alūksne Bānīša Station → Zeltiņi Museum and the former USSR nuclear missile base.

Budget-friendly nature route:
Alūksne Manor Park → Tempļakalna Park → the area around Lake Alūksne.

These routes are recommended combinations of excursions, not fixed itineraries. When selecting several stops, please take into account travel times, the pupils’ ages, the group size and the opening hours of each attraction. It is particularly recommended to book museum educational sessions and group tours in advance.