Dole Island is the largest island in the Daugava and lies in the area of the old river delta between Salaspils and Katlakalns. Here, the Daugava Museum offers a historical perspective on the landscape: it is housed in the New Manor House of the Dole estate complex, built in 1898. The permanent exhibition brings together two themes: the history of the Daugava and the history of Salaspils Municipality in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its 1,174 exhibits include objects as well as physical and digital photographic copies. This gives visitors a clearly defined view of both the river’s history and the area’s history during a specific period.
Two distinct historical perspectives
The Salaspils Memorial also tells its story through an exhibition. It covers the history of the camp and memorial, as well as the development of the memorial complex into a site included in Latvia’s Cultural Canon. It also features multimedia with video testimonies from former prisoners. Its thematic focus therefore differs from that of the Daugava Museum: here, the subject is the camp and memorial, while there it is the river and regional history. Those interested in different historical perspectives will find two clearly distinct approaches.
A commemorative stone recalls the victory of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Duchy of Courland over Swedish troops at the Battle of Salaspils, also known as the Battle of Kircholm, on September 27, 1605. The specific date links the commemoration to a named historical event.
Plant life and trails
At the National Botanical Garden, the “Botania” Environmental Education and Information Centre focuses on plants: six thematic exhibitions explore more than 100 topics related to plant life. The route there is also easy to identify: the garden entrance is directly opposite Salaspils railway station on the Riga–Daugavpils line. There is also a spacious car park for visitors on the grounds.
Natural features complement the cultural picture on Dole Island. Rare plant species have been recorded in the nature park, and rare and protected bird species breed there. The park of Dole Manor is a landscape park dating from the late 18th to early 19th century. These different historical and natural features can be considered side by side when viewing the island, without conflating the history of the manor house with that of the landscape park.
For some exercise, the grounds of the Daugava Museum offer an orienteering course during opening hours. A municipal tourism brochure from 2021/22 also describes the more than 15-kilometre-long protective embankment of Riga Hydroelectric Power Plant as a popular place for walking and particularly suitable for cyclists. The 2021/22 brochure also listed boat rentals in Dole Island Nature Park. It mentioned a 2.5-kilometre archery course with 3D animal targets, as well as horseback riding and wakeboarding in Salaspils Municipality. Details of these recreational activities may change; check what is currently available in advance.
Tea, culture and event dates
The family business “Doles Tejas” on Dole Island offers guests natural herbal teas and medicinal plants grown and gathered in the island’s nature park. The 2021/22 municipal tourism brochure also listed garden tours, tours of tea production and tea tastings in the garden pavilion. If you would like to plan one of these experiences, check booking requirements and availability in advance.
The 2021/22 municipal tourism brochure listed summer open-air cinema evenings, concerts, theatre performances and art exhibitions at the Ragavas Music and Art Garden. Theatre performances at the Salaspils Culture House were also among the cultural activities featured there. The brochure described the Salaspils Municipality Festival as taking place annually in late May and attracting thousands of visitors from across Latvia. For a specific travel date, check the dates and programme for the relevant year.
Discover more destinations: Salaspils, Skrunda Municipality, Mērsraga Municipality, Beverīna Municipality, Riga, Alūksne Municipality, Skaista Parish, Lubāna Municipality
Return to the main travel overview: Latvia.
