The picturesque Latvian city of Kraslava is located in Latgale in the south-eastern part of the country. It is located in a very picturesque place - in the bend of the river bed of the Daugava . The settlement is famous not only for natural, but also for architectural sights that have existed on its territory since ancient times.
Natural attractions
Kraslava region is truly a lake edge. In the area of the city of Kraslava there are about 30 lakes, in the very province there are about 270 lakes. They are located separately from each other, and integrate into whole systems with rivers and streams. The most famous water bodies are the following:
- Its amazing types of tourists attract Lake Chortok . This is one of the most mystical places in Latvia , which is enveloped in mystery and legends. It has the right geometric outlines with smooth banks, and in its waters there is no fish. The lake has a hard bottom, and its color is constantly changing, becoming then black then dark green;
- Lake Driedis has been famous for its depths since the times of the USSR. One of its depressions has a depth of more than 65 m;
- Lake Sivers attracts fishermen, who love a quiet hunt for eels.
A noteworthy natural object is the Daugava National Park , which collects numerous tourists and residents of the country. When rafting on boats along the river, extremely beautiful views are opened, from Kraslava to Nauena Daugava makes 8 sharp turns. Enjoy this magnificence of nature can be from a modern observation tower, whose height is 32 m. In the park there are also organized hiking routes, which also allow you to view the river from the most profitable sides.
Architectural and cultural attractions
The city of Kraslava has a rich history, which is reflected in the monuments of architecture located on its territory and in the surrounding area. Among the main of them you can list the following:
- Palace of Platers - a family estate, which leads the history of its existence from the end of the XVIII century. It had rich interior decoration, today parts of stunning wall paintings have been preserved. For its application, the head of the house invited Italian masters. The palace has a huge park area of more than 20 hectares, which was divided into several parts: French, Italian and English. Near the mansion the park was decorated in the style of French gardens, the Italian part of the park was dotted with grottos and ruins. In the English part of the park guests of the owners of the house and the family members themselves walked along the alleys and rested on the banks of the ponds.
- The fresco of Filippo Castaldi - is a valuable historical heritage. Frescoes of the XVIII century were found in the Catholic Cathedral in the Kraslava under another painting. The fresco "St. Louis, going to the Crusade" was given the status of a valuable specimen of monumental painting of Latvian art. It was restored by Polish restorers, and now it is open for tourists and connoisseurs of historical painting.
- Kraslavsky windows . Kraslava has already been famous for its craftsmen by woodcarving for several centuries. As in ancient times, the masters deftly make lace to the windows, decorating the shutters and trim. Previously, such specialists were invited to decorate their homes in other villages and regions, because everyone wanted his house to be more beautiful than the neighbor's. This kind of craft in Kraslava is still transmitted from generation to generation.
- Ethnographic museum "Rural courtyard in Andrupen" collects tourists for listening to Latgalian lullabies. Latgalian language preserves the richness of local color, which you can feel by visiting this museum. Also here, guests are invited to go for a rich table consisting of a huge number of dishes. Recipes of dishes of Latgalian cuisine are carefully preserved in this museum.