Latgale is the greenest and most expansive region of Latvia – a land of lakes where nature and human craftsmanship breathe between hills and blooming fields of buckwheat and hemp. The Dvietes floodplain nature park, the healing spring, and the mystical Velnezers (“Devil’s Lake”) add a special spiritual energy to this land.

 

Here, faith is alive – the Aglona Basilica, pilgrimages, roadside crosses, and chapel shrines are all symbols of Roman Catholic traditions deeply woven into everyday life. Traveling through the countryside, one can still see horses and carriages – a testament to respect for ancestral heritage and the rhythm of nature.

 

In Latgale’s villages, potters welcome visitors into their workshops, where brown and black ceramics shine with traditional symbols. You’ll meet weavers and craftsmen of ancient trades, and hosts dressed in Latgalian folk costumes serve home-baked bread, smoked meats from the black sauna, buļbešņīki (barley dumplings), and fermented oat jelly. At Lake Rāzna, enjoy freshly caught fish prepared using age-old recipes, enriched with Latgalian songs and heartfelt hospitality. For dessert – asuškas (sweet curd dumplings) and creamy pearl barley pudding.

 

Latgale’s homes are adorned with brightly colored handwoven blankets, delicate embroidery, and ornate jewelry – each piece carrying ancient knowledge and craftsmanship. Wooden churches, with their warmth and simplicity, bring a soulful peace to the landscape. The statue of Māra, symbolizing faith and hope, watches over the villages and fields, inspiring both locals and visitors.

 

Latgalian, a unique dialect, can be heard throughout the region – enriching Latvia’s cultural diversity and reflecting Latgale’s deep historical roots. The songs of the Latgale Song Festival fill the air, choir voices unite in harmony, and humor flows through tales and anecdotes that reflect the joy and wit of Latgalians.

 

Latgale does not reveal itself in haste – it opens to those willing to sleep in the hay, sip herbal teas, listen to folktales, and surrender to wonder. It is a place where nature and humanity breathe as one – Latgale, our green heart.