Visitors to the Lejasciems Cultural Heritage and Traditions Centre can see the permanent exhibition “Lejasciems Ancient Tools and Household Objects”, get acquainted with the museum’s unexhibited collections and view current exhibitions in the exhibition hall.
In the early 1970s, the idea of the secondary school headmistress Aija Pavāre to establish a museum of local history in Lejasciems began to be realised, and it was opened in the school premises on 18 May 1972. In the early 1990s, under the leadership of teacher Jānis Kubulnieks and museum manager Inta Balode, a memorial room to the local writer Zenta Mauriņa was set up in the school premises. In 1997, the Parish Council took over the materials of the school museum and on 1 December of the same year the Parish Museum was opened to the public.
As Lejasciems became a popular tourist destination, the specifics of the museum’s work changed and in December 2002 the museum was reorganised as a cultural heritage centre.
Lejasciems is the birthplace of many well-known people in Latvia and around the world, whose life story can be explored at the Cultural Heritage Centre. The following people were born in Lejasciems parish or worked in Lejasciems parish during their lifetime: composer Helmers Pavasars, writer Anna Sakse, actor Kārlis Sebris, bibliographer Jānis Misiņš, poet Tirzmaliete, literary philosopher and essayist Zenta Mauriņa, as well as many others.
The Lejasciems Cultural Heritage Centre offers various tourist information materials, as well as souvenirs with Lejasciems and Gulbene district themes.
Entrance fee:
- Adults: 2,00 EUR.
- Students, pensioners: € 1.00.
- Guided tour for up to 6 people (1-1.5 hours): EUR 6.00.
- Guided tour for more than 6 persons (1-1.5 hours): EUR 1.00 per person.
Photo from the Gulbene TIC archive.