Lāde combines a marked section of the Greenway with architectural history on the shores of two lakes. If you are looking for cycling or hiking trails and historic sites, you will find both here as clearly distinct themes: the route from Lāde station and buildings on the shores of Lakes Lāde and Auziņu. There are also named stops along the route itself.
Greenway section and stops
The Lāde–Aloja route starts at Lāde station, runs via Limbaži and continues as far as Aloja. The “Zaļie dzelzceļi” network uses former railway lines for cycling and hiking trails. The route section between Lāde station and Limbaži is marked; the Lāde–Limbaži section includes the Mucenieku Bridge. The route is therefore described both by the sequence of places and by a specific attraction on the section between Lāde and Limbaži.
On this section of the route between Lāde station and Limbaži, you can also visit and shop at the N. Bomja “Lielezers” bakery. The bridge and bakery thus offer two different stops: the bridge is an attraction along the way, while the bakery is a place to visit and shop. This is a practical distinction to bear in mind when deciding which interests to prioritize while exploring the section.
Castle and manor houses by the lakes
The medieval Nabes Castle is included in the state register of protected cultural monuments as an archaeological monument of national importance. The tower of Nabes Castle (Nabben) stands on the southwestern shore of Lake Lāde. Nabes’s subsidiary castle was first mentioned in writing in 1318; a residential tower is all that remains today.
Lāde Manor lies on the eastern side of the same lake. Its manor house was built in 1870 in the neoclassical style, when Heinrihs Bērens von Rautenfeld was the manor’s tenant. Jaunlādes Manor, the former Lāde primary school, lies on the eastern shore of Lake Auziņu; it was built in 1933. The references to the shores thus distinguish the historic sites on Lake Lāde from the former school building on Lake Auziņu.
Medicinal plants and activities by the water
A municipal visitor brochure from 2017 describes an open-air exhibition by Jānis Ulmis at “Avotiņi,” on the eastern shore of Lake Auziņu, featuring more than 300 medicinal plants. According to the brochure, visitors could learn how to make medicinal teas and other plant-based preparations there. Check the current visitor arrangements before your visit.
A 2017 municipal visitor guide lists licensed fishing and boat rental at the “Skariņu” recreation center. Check whether these activities are currently available before you travel. The experiences described are therefore different: “Avotiņi” focuses on learning about plants and taking part, while “Skariņu” offers the listed fishing and boating activities.
Historical context
Local history offers several points of reference: the subsidiary castle first mentioned in writing in 1318, the neoclassical manor house built in 1870, and the former primary school built in 1933. These differences help distinguish the history of the castle and manor houses from the building’s later use as a school, while the lakeshores help locate the sites. When choosing your destination, you can consider whether you are most interested in the marked route section, architectural history, or the described themes of medicinal plants and water.
Discover more destinations: Limbaži, Mustkalni, Vidriži, Šķirstiņi, Ainaži, Bīriņi, Vārzas, Ķirbiži
For the broader travel overview: Limbažu Novads.
