When looking for a holiday apartment in Atašiene, you can tailor your stay to your interests: folk culture and architectural history go hand in hand with parkland, lakeside scenery and cycling. First decide whether cultural events, a day by the water or a bike ride should be the main focus of your stay.

Culture and History

The annual Annas and Jēkaba Day is held on 24 July in the courtyard of the “Annas Sāta” cultural centre in Atašiene. If you are planning a trip around the event, check the dates for the relevant year. The repertoire of the VĪRAKSNE folk group consists mainly of songs, games and dances collected in the local region. The group includes members from four generations. The first Catholic wooden church in Atašiene was built in 1804; Marinzeja Manor was built between 1845 and 1847. These mark two distinct periods in the town’s architectural history: the church and the manor house, built just over four decades later. Visitors can view the manor house from the outside only, so plan your visit around its exterior.

Collection and Parkland

J. Zalāns’ collection of retro motorcycles and antiques includes uniforms and weapons from various countries, as well as motorcycles used in different periods and for different purposes. Visitors to the collection have the opportunity to ride in a motorcycle sidecar or try on a military uniform. Marinzeja Park lies next to the manor house and is an English-French-style landscape park with many rare tree species. There is also a sound therapy trail in the park. The park offers both carefully designed grounds and rare trees, as well as a specific trail experience.

Lake and Natural Landscape

There are several developed recreation areas and swimming spots on the shore of Lake Marinzeja. The shore is also suitable for walks and experiencing nature, offering two different ways to spend time by the lake: swimming or taking a walk. For a view of a different landscape, visit the 27-metre-high Kristakrūgs observation tower, which overlooks the Teiči Nature Reserve. Founded in 1982, the reserve covers 19,779 hectares; an extensive raised bog accounts for 69 percent of its area. While Marinzeja Park is defined by its design and rare tree species, the reserve is notable for its vast bog landscape.

Cycling and Planning Your Visit

The 20–24 km cycling route in Atašiene Municipality was created to help visitors explore the surroundings of Atašiene. It can also be reached by train on the Rīga–Zilupe line. Another option is specifically intended for experienced cyclists: they can connect Atašiene with Jēkabpils via approximately 39 km of smaller country roads, avoiding the main highway. The two cycling options therefore differ both in their stated length and in their described purpose and level of experience.

There is a seasonal access requirement for visiting the Teiči Nature Reserve from the Mētriene side in Madonas novads: from 1 June to 31 October, visits are permitted only when accompanied by a staff member of the Nature Conservation Agency. Check this requirement before travelling. When choosing your accommodation, you can also consider whether a cultural event, a stay by the lake, the manor house or a cycling route will shape your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Rudzīši, Zīlāni, Kaķīši

Return to the main travel overview: Krustpils Municipality.