Valles Parish brings together distinctive bog landscapes and a rich cultural history, from the Amtmaņi family’s theatrical life to historic buildings and memorial sites. This gives you two different areas to focus on when planning your trip: nature and habitats, or cultural and architectural history. If you are interested in both, you can give each topic as much attention as you like.
Bogs, Lakes and Protected Habitats
Seržu tīrelis is a nature reserve and a Natura 2000 site in Valles Parish. It is an important protected area for bog woodlands, which are considered a priority habitat of European importance. Protected plant species include stāvlapu dzegužpirkstīte and plankumainā dzegužpirkstīte. Species listed in the EU Birds Directive also occur here, including the black stork, Eurasian pygmy owl, black woodpecker and osprey. At Seržu tīrelis, the diversity of protected species is as much in focus as the bog woodland.
Dūņezera purvs presents a different landscape: this raised bog is relatively open and level, and is surrounded by bog woodland. Habitat types found here under the EU Habitats Directive include active raised bogs, transition mires and quaking bogs, as well as bog woodland. At Vāveres ezers, the site includes the lake, the surrounding transition mire and wet black alder forests. It is an important protected area for the species spilgtā purvuspāre.
The lakeshores also differ. Aklais ezers has low, level, peaty shores, and Vitkopupīte carries its water towards the Daugava. These details offer nature enthusiasts different topics to consider when planning a trip: bog habitats, the importance of individual species, and the character of a lake and its outflow.
Theatre History, Architecture and Memorial Sites
The Aktieru Amtmaņu muzejs focuses on the Amtmaņi family, their lives and their contribution to theatre. The permanent exhibition also preserves the history and family roots of the actors and directors Teodors Amtmanis and Alfreds Amtmanis-Briedītis. Every year on 5 August, the director’s birthday is commemorated in the museum garden. The tradition includes a service at Valle Church and celebrations in the museum garden.
The present-day Lutheran church in Valle was built between 1781 and 1785. Beside it stands “Kardiogramma plus”, an environmental artwork made of fireclay, installed in 2001. The church and observation tower can be visited by prior arrangement. If you would like to visit, check the arrangements before your trip. An audio guide to Valles Parish is available in the “izi.travel” app.
Pētermuižas skola opened in 1878 and served as a school until 1964. Today it is a locally significant architectural monument. The two-storey building has an ornately decorated balcony; at the gables on both ends of the façade are finely crafted stone reliefs depicting a winged angel. A fragment of a high earthwork defensive rampart survives at Valles muiža. It belonged to a hydro-technical defence system built in the late 16th century, with drawbridges and a lock system.
The cemetery for soldiers killed in the First World War is in Taurkalne Forest, near Reizeni. It is enclosed by a moss-covered earth bank and a brick wall at the entrance. Inside are a granite monument and four concrete slabs bearing the names of the fallen. The graves are dated to 1915–1916. According to the inscription on the monument, 17 German and 29 Russian soldiers are buried there.
Trails and Activities
The Reizeni–Taurkalne route offers cycling trips to cultural and historical sites and landmarks. It also passes through Taurkalne Forest, where you can enjoy walks that are both beneficial to your health and informative. Cycling to cultural sites and walking in the forest are different ways to experience the route; no specific walking time or distance is provided.
At Vallbrieži, visitors can get to know fallow deer, walk with them and feed them oats and apples. The fallow deer park is open to visitors; individual photo sessions and guided group excursions accompanied by a responsible person are also available. Check the arrangements in advance, as reservation and capacity rules may change. For orientation, the two major regional roads Bauska–Aizkraukle and Vecumnieki–Nereta–Subate run through the centre of Valle.
Discover more destinations: Valle
Return to the main travel overview: Vecumnieki Municipality.
