A view of the Daugava from a historic hillfort, a Neoclassical church surrounded by diverse plantings, and a narrow-gauge railway through a peat bog: in Ķekava Municipality, you will encounter varied traces of landscape, history and technology. Daugmale Hillfort combines river views with a history stretching back to earlier trading times. There are also marked trails, cultural attractions, and seasonal and water-based activities.
Climbing Daugmale Hillfort offers a chance to look down on the Daugava. In earlier times, the hill was a trading and craft centre on the riverbank. Historians believe that its foot, at the confluence of the Varžupīte and the Daugava, was the port of Zemgale mentioned in historical documents. This identification remains a historical hypothesis; the river view is one of the tangible experiences described at the hillfort.
Architecture, Plants and Collections
Katlakalns Evangelical Lutheran Church was built in 1794 as an outstanding monument of Neoclassical architecture. Its grounds contain dendrological plantings with more than 320 species of trees and shrubs. Architectural history and botanical diversity are therefore present in the same place.
The Ķekava Local History Museum displays around 1,800 caricatures and photographs from its collection. These two image forms offer different perspectives: caricatures and photographs give the collection visit a distinct visual focus. The park of Baldone White Palace is also notable for its rare trees. These include larches, firs, cedar pines, Manchurian cork trees, silver firs and red oaks.
The Baloži Peat Railway offers a glimpse into the history of technology. A 2.5-kilometre stretch of a former narrow-gauge railway has been preserved, along with a collection of rare locomotives and carriages. The railway also offers a ride from the peat bog to the factory. It operates seasonally; advance arrangements may be required.
Trails at Different Scales
The Baldone Story Trails comprise six walking and hiking routes ranging from 1.5 to 20 kilometres in length. Footprint markers in different colours and signposts mark the trails on the ground. Information boards show maps and details about the sites, while QR codes provide access to audio guides. The routes described therefore include both wayfinding and additional information.
There are also other routes, each with its own details: the digital route covering Baldone’s military heritage is 10 kilometres long and includes 13 information stops. One route through the Baldone Forest Stories features 16 tourism sites, with audio-guide stories available to listen to at each. A total of 29 works of art are exhibited in the Baldone Forest Stories woodland. One circular route through these stories is up to 20 kilometres long. These different lengths and formats offer a range of options when choosing a route, without being confused with one another.
Activities Among Snow, Water and Stars
The ski slopes at Riekstukalns cater to experienced skiers and snowboarders, those who prefer more leisurely runs, and beginners. Winter operations are seasonal. Baldone Observatory offers something different: guided tours include a creative workshop, and visits to the mini-planetarium “Count the Stars, Not the Time” are also available. Advance arrangements may be needed for the visitor programme.
Cycling and water activities are also among the options. The cycling route between Ķekava and Riga can be started in Riga and offers an alternative to the A7 motorway. In Ķekava, Murdiņi rents SUP boards, boats and kayaks on the Sausā Daugava River; advance booking is required. Dabas zirgi offers horseback rides or walks in Ķekava Municipality. You can tailor your explorations to the interests that appeal to you most on your trip.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Ķekava, Rāmava, Katlakalns, Baloži, Lielvārži, Daugmale, Vimbukrogs, Pulkarne.
For the main travel overview: Latvia.
