Balvi Old Park lies right on the shore of Lake Balvi. A pontoon-style walkway leads from the park to the water, where fishing and swimming are possible. The park thus combines lakeside relaxation with activities right on the shore. Conditions for accessing the water may vary seasonally. There are also developed recreation and picnic areas; as park facilities can change over time, it is worth checking their condition before planning a visit.
Water activities: from cable wakeboarding to a boat trip
The “Wake up Balvi” wake park has a 200-metre cable wakeboarding course. The facility also includes an inflatable water adventure park covering almost 1,000 square metres. Water sports equipment and SUP boards are available to rent there. The park may operate seasonally, and rental availability may vary. Check these details if you want to plan your water activities around them.
Another way to experience Lake Balvi is aboard the motorised raft “Vilnītis”: it can accommodate up to 25 people and takes them across the lake. Trips are available by prior arrangement. SUP expeditions across the town’s three lakes are also organised in Balvi; booking is required. The activities differ mainly in format: a cable wakeboarding course, an expedition across several lakes, or a group raft trip.
Manor complex, museum and works of art
Balvi Manor House was built at the end of the 18th century. The Balvi Regional Museum is also located within the manor complex, in a reconstructed manor outbuilding. The two sites reflect different aspects of the grounds: the manor house tells the story of its architecture, while the outbuilding is now used as a museum.
A distinctive environmental artwork is “Gaiss,” a symbolic wind-chime tree. It consists of 324 wind pipes bearing the coats of arms of all the regions of Latgale, as well as 48 wind chimes. The Bear Garden features a rock garden with 23 compositions made up of 49 stones. The two installations have different emphases: “Gaiss” brings together sound and regional coats of arms, while the rock garden creates its impact through arrangements of stones.
The Centre for Sacred Culture hosts lectures on Christian topics, exhibitions, concerts and other themed events. Visits are arranged on request. If you plan to visit, you will therefore need to make an advance enquiry.
Workshops, sauna rituals and local products
The “Pie Eglītes” ceramics studio runs workshops for groups of four to five people. A workshop lasts 1.5 to 2 hours, and booking is required. The “Azote” studio offers a range of creative workshops, whose dates may vary. At “Pie Eglītes,” the group size and duration are fixed, while dates at “Azote” vary.
Latvian sauna rituals are offered at Arnitas Wellness Studio. They include sauna whisks, herbal scrubs, masks, foot baths and herbal teas. There are also tastings and sales of home-baked bread, North Latgalian herbal teas, syrups and other homemade products. Participation is arranged with the provider. The experience combines sauna traditions with regional produce, though the two activities are not the same format.
Bike park and disc golf
The Balvi Bike Park has a paved cycling track, an adventure track and a jump track. The cycling track can be used free of charge, regardless of age or cycling ability. This information applies to the cycling track; the park also has the other two types of track. Disc golf is another activity in Balvi: the course can be used free of charge with your own equipment. The conditions differ between the two options: the cycling track is free to use, while for disc golf you need to bring your own equipment.
Discover more destinations: Bērzkalne, Gailīši, Vītoli.
Return to the main travel overview: Balvu Novads.
