On the banks of the Daugava stands the old barn of the Lielvārde manor, which houses the Andreja Pumpura Lielvārde Museum. Lielvārde’s cultural offering ranges from this museum to medieval castle ruins and a reconstruction of an ancient Latvian wooden castle, as well as a park in the river bend where the Daugava and Rumbiņa meet. This means that choosing Lielvārde as a destination is about more than a single building: literature, local history and landscape offer different ways to shape your stay.

Museum and Lāčplēsis

The Andreja Pumpura Lielvārde Museum opened in 1970. It provides information about Lāčplēsis, the poet Andrejs Pumpurs, Lielvārde and the Lielvārde belt. Visitors can try on the belt themselves at the museum. This brings literary and local themes together with a hands-on visitor experience, rather than limiting the museum to a simple description of the belt.

The epic poem “Lāčplēsis” also features in the sculpture garden of Lielvārde Park, where 16 figures from Andrejs Pumpurs’s work are on display. The same cultural theme therefore appears in two different forms: as subject matter in the museum and as figures in the park. If you are interested in Lāčplēsis and Andrejs Pumpurs, you can take these two connections into account when choosing which cultural attractions in Lielvārde to visit.

Castle Ruins, Reconstruction and Church

The ruins of Lielvārde’s medieval castle are about 800 years old. A different type of construction can be seen in the reconstruction of an ancient Latvian wooden castle from the 10th to 13th centuries, which is also located in Lielvārde. It is based on materials from archaeological excavations at various sites in Latvia.

Lielvārde Evangelical Lutheran Church is another of the town’s architectural attractions. Built in 1747, it is a state-listed architectural monument of national significance. The castle ruins, wooden castle reconstruction and church offer different points of interest if you are interested in historic architectural styles; the church, in particular, can be clearly dated by its year of construction.

Park and River Landscape

Lielvārde Park lies in the river bend where the Daugava and Rumbiņa meet, on the grounds of the former Lielvārde manor. Its location reflects both its historical connection to the estate and its natural setting. Rumbiņa Waterfall is 1.8 metres high, adding a natural feature with a specific measurement to the historical attractions.

Practical Information

The “Lielvārdes pilsētas bibliotēka” library offers current newspapers and magazines, local history materials and thematic folders, as well as further information about current topics in the municipality. If a particular service is important to your plans, check in advance to confirm what is currently available, as individual services may change.

The ticket counters at Lielvārde railway station are open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Check the opening hours before travelling. There are also marinas on the Daugava near Lielvārde. If you have specific plans on the water, check the operating status of the relevant marina in advance, as it may change.

Discover more destinations: Jumprava, Kaibala, Dzelmes, Lēdmane, Gobas.

Go to the overview of the wider travel area: Lielvārdes Novads.