Cērtenes Castle Mound is considered the oldest witness to Smiltene’s history and a fortification of the castle type. Together with the church, parks and waterside trails, it gives the town a varied character: you can combine historical themes with walks or choose from different routes and ways to get active.
Culture and History in Smiltene
The area around Cērtenes Castle Mound is wooded and hilly. A dense network of paths crosses the terrain, making it suitable for leisurely walks as well as sporting activities. Anyone interested in the area’s historical character will find a tangible point of reference here, without needing an extensive programme.
Smiltene Evangelical Lutheran Church also makes its own distinctive impression: it was built in the shape of a cross and is listed as a state-protected cultural monument in Latvia. Its design and official heritage listing offer two different ways to appreciate the church: through its architecture and through its status as cultural heritage.
Another cultural option is the Latvian Signs Trail. This interactive walking game in the “Actionbound” mobile app explores the symbolism of Latvian signs and Latvia’s cultural heritage. This app-based format adds a playful approach to the historical and architectural themes.
Parks, Lakes and Waterside Trails
The Old Park lies on the shore of Lake Vidusezers and stretches along the Abula River to Lake Teperis and its promenade. Its paved paths are suitable for cycling and inline skating. The park therefore combines waterside trails with a practical way to get active on paved surfaces.
Lake Teperis has an island connected to the shore by two footbridges. Lake Klievezers has a sandy, gently sloping shore. The two places therefore offer different landscape features: an island connection at Teperis and a distinctive shoreline at Klievezers.
The Abula Nature Trail runs along the shore of Lake Teperis, follows the bends of the Abula River and passes through woodland paths on the outskirts of town. It is a route provided by the Tourism Information Centre, but is not an officially marked hiking trail; natural conditions may change. Therefore, check the current trail conditions before setting out.
Hiking and Cycling Routes
The 9-kilometre “Samīļo Smilteni” hiking route loops around the town. The circuit alternates between woodland paths, roads, town streets and park paths. It is a hiking route provided by the Tourism Information Centre, but is not an officially marked or regularly maintained hiking trail. When planning, consider both the mix of path types and the route’s length.
For cycling, there are colour-coded routes in three approximate lengths: an easy route of about 10 kilometres, a moderate route of about 20 kilometres and a more challenging route of about 30 kilometres. This makes it easier to compare routes by length and stated difficulty, while keeping in mind that the distances are approximate rather than exact.
A shorter option for different kinds of activity is the “Teperis” Sports and Recreation Complex, which has a 1.1-kilometre asphalt go-kart track that can also be used for cycling, roller skiing and inline skating. The “Smiltiņš” Active Leisure Park has two children’s play areas and an asphalt pump track suitable for riders of all ages. The facilities therefore differ both in track length and in the activities they offer.
Discover more destinations: Blome, Aumeisteri.
Return to the main travel overview: Smiltenes Novads.
