Ape offers a range of themes to choose from for your stay: Devonian sandstone cliffs, literature and local history, cycling and hiking trails, boating, and motocross. You can plan your trip around what interests you most. The natural landscape is shaped by sandstone and water; cultural experiences introduce you to the writer Elīna Zālīte and the history of Ape. There are also activities, each with its own focus.

Sandstone Landscape and Outdoor Activities

The Raganu Cliffs consist of Devonian sandstone outcrops. Their features include two large escarpments, five individual springs, several spring-fed areas, and four niches. The cliffs are up to ten metres high. The natural landscape therefore encompasses the sandstone formations and escarpments, as well as springs and niches. An outcrop is a place where rock is visible at the Earth's surface; “Devonian” places the sandstone in the geological period known as the Devonian. This also helps put the rock in its geological context.

Boating is possible on the Vaidava River in Ape. Another option is the Green Railway cycling and hiking trail from Ape to Valka/Valga. The route is marked through the landscape, and you can discover historical information along the way. When planning, it is important to distinguish this trail from a different section: Ape–Alūksne is not an official Green Ways hiking trail and is not maintained regularly.

Literature, Local History and Crafts

The Elīna Zālīte Memorial House commemorates the writer's birthplace and the family home where she spent her childhood. The exhibitions cover her life and work, as well as the world of her birds and flowers. An escape room adds an interactive element to these themes. The same house also presents the history of Ape, with an exhibition and a model of Hoppenhof Manor. The themes thus range from Zālīte's biography and work to local history.

The modern Ape Crafts House is located in the centre of Ape and focuses on crafts. It offers a different point of interest from the Memorial House and its exhibitions about Zālīte and Ape. A bridge over the Jašupīte River also has its own name: locally, it is called the “Demography Bridge.”

Motocross as a Travel Theme

The “Vaidava Cup” motocross competition is held every year at the Ape motocross track, named after Arvīds Levans. If you want to plan your trip around this event, check the specific event dates before making your plans. This lets you choose between a stay focused on nature or culture and a trip centred on the competition.

Discover more destinations: Zvārtava, Vireši, Trapene.

For the broader travel overview: Apes Novads.