Nabe can be viewed from two perspectives: through the castle and manor as distinct building phases, and through the protected cedar plantation and the park of Nabe Manor. This distinction is useful when planning a trip: the architectural remains represent cultural history and architecture, while the plantation and park offer a landscape-focused perspective.

Castle and Manor: Two Building Phases

Nabe Castle was a 14th-century vassal castle of the Archbishopric of Riga, built on Lake Lāde in the historical region of Metsepole. The Nabe castle tower survives; it stands near the later-built Nabe Manor and is a state-protected cultural monument within the manor grounds. The manor house, by contrast, was built in the second half of the 19th century. This makes it easy to distinguish the castle and manor house chronologically: the tower points to a medieval castle, while the manor house represents a later building phase. For anyone interested in local history, this difference offers a clear starting point.

The architectural forms also differ considerably. The castle tower measures 11.2 × 11.13 metres, and its walls are two metres thick. The manor house consists of two wings of different heights, arranged at right angles to each other, as well as several extensions in the form of verandas in the style of Roman villas. This gives you specific features to compare: the tower’s wall thickness and the manor house’s articulated, angled layout. Arranged at right angles means that the wings meet at a right angle; their different heights further shape the building.

Cedar Plantation and Park

The dendrological plantation “Nabes Sibīrijas ciedrupriežu stādījumi” is a protected dendrological site. Together with the manor complex, it is included in the “Lādezers” cultural history educational trail. Nabe Manor Park covers 2.8 hectares and is overgrown. Dendrology is the study of woody plants; the plantation therefore adds a botanical dimension alongside the architectural history.

Choosing a focus involves a simple comparison: building history can be explored through dates of origin and the form of the buildings; the landscape dimension is represented by the protected cedar plantation, the educational trail and the park. This lets you decide in advance whether architecture or landscape should shape your trip more strongly.

Visiting and Planning a Cycling Trip

In 2020 and 2021, Nabe Manor, the castle tower and other buildings in the complex were not open to visitors because they were in a critical condition. If you are planning a visit, check current access before travelling. Nabe is listed on the Limbaži–Saulkrasti section of EuroVelo 10. If you are planning a cycling stage, check the current route, as route information may change. If you want to include the “Lādezers” educational trail in a specific itinerary, also check in advance whether it is currently accessible.

Visiting and planning a cycling trip are separate considerations: for the buildings, current access is what matters; for a cycling trip, it is the exact route. You can weigh the historical and landscape themes according to your interests, independently of these considerations.

Discover more destinations: Kaijciems, Šķirstiņi, Lādezers, Mustkalni, Vārzas, Bīriņi, Limbaži, Lāde

For the broader travel overview: Limbažu Novads.