Linear landscape monuments

LATVISKI

General description

Road along Daugava west from Jaunjelgava
29.09.2007.

This landmark category includes scenic roads (trails as well) which have views on fascinating landscape in at least 1 km long distance. This is poorly defined category of landmarks without explicit border conditions. Most likely though here shall not be included those fragments of roads where the scenic value is determined by a single landmark of another category f.e. causeway along the road or beautiful castle seen along a longer stretch of road. Linear landscape monument is characterised by wide, diverse, scenic views in different directions. Currently linear landscape monuments in Latvia are not defined other than some rather vague exceptions - thus we can not speak about protection and management of such landmarks.

In several countries of the world there can be observed attempts to identify such sections of roads and to establish a certain regime of protection. Thus, f.e. already in 1913 in USA there was started a construction of specific road for enjoyment of scenery - Bronx River Parkway. Such roads gained much popularity in USA and in 1966 there was elaborated a detailed program for construction and maintenance of such roads and management of landscape around them.

Although such group of landmarks has not been strictly defined and its border conditions are somewhat unclear, such monuments of landscape should have a special value because they have an explicit capability to create a positive sense of identity for wider region.

Outstanding linear landscape monuments in Latvia

Linear landscape monuments are not well studied in Latvia and thus it is hard to make their comparison. But as outstanding scenic roads there could be identified those listed below (by historical districts from east to west):

Road between Elksni and Sauka
25.05.2004.

Courland

• Road between Vecpils and Ievade, Liepaja district, Vecpils and Aizpute municipalities;
• Road between Sabile and Capuli hillfort towards Kandava, Sabile region in Talsi district and Kandava region in Tukums district;
• Road between Talsi bypass and Sturisi (former leprosarium), Talsi district, Laidze and Lauciene municipalities;
• Road between Roja and Valgalciems, Talsi district, Roja municipality;

Semigallia and Selonia

• Roads around Abgunste, Zalenieki municipality in Jelgava district;
• Road between Zizani and Jaunjelgav along Daugava, Birzgale municipality in Ogre district;
• Road between Medumi and Egļukalns, Medumi, Sedere and Svente municipalities in Daugavpils district;
• Road between Varnavici and Robezdaugava, Kaplava municipality in Kraslava district;

Vidzeme

Balasta dambis in Riga
03.10.2005.

• Balasta dambis, Riga;
• K.Valdemara Street and Vantis bridge in direction from Zunds to Old Riga, Riga;
• Gauja Street with Gauja bridge between Sigulda Lutheran church and Turaida, Sigulda in Riga district;
• Road between Ragana and Krimulda, Rīga district, Krimulda municipality;
• Road between Ligatne and Karli through Skalupes, Cesis district, Ligatne municipality and Amata region;
• Roads between Koni and Dikeri, Valmiera district, Koni municipality;
• Road along Zobols Lake, Vecpiebalga municipality in Cesis district;
• Road between Gaizinkalns and Vestiena, Madona district, Vestiena municipality;
• Korneti - Druskas - Skepasti - Penki roads, Veclaicene municipality in Aluksne district;

Latgale

• Road between Spogi and Ambeli, Viski and Ambeli municipalties in Daugavpils district;
• Road between Zvidziena and Idena across Lubans Lake, Osupe municipality in Madona distrct, Gaigalava and Nagli municipalities in Rezekne district;
• Road between Lipuski and Folvarkova along Razna Lake, Makonkalns, Kaunata and Cornaja municipalities in Rezekne district;
• Road between Naujene and Markova (through Vasargeliski), Daugavpils district, Naujene municipality;
• Road between Andrupene and Virauda, Andrupene municipality in Kraslava district and Makonkalns municipality in Rezekne district;
• Road between Ziguri and Liepna, Ziguri municipality in Balvi district and Liepna municipality in Aluksne district;
• Road between Andzeli and Ezernieki, Andzeli and Ezernieki municipalities in Kraslava district;

List of described linear landscape monuments

Below are listed all the linear landscape monuments described in this website. Each column in this table is sortable by alphabet - just click on the header of the table. The first column - "No." - gives an order of appearance of the landmark in this website.