Summertime retreats offered at manors and castles for travelers
The **"Pilis.lv" campaign**, a Latvian initiative, is focusing on education, cultural, and historical building restoration, and promoting visits to castles and manor houses. This campaign invites families, school groups, and everyone interested in Latvia's rich heritage to explore its castles and manors, engaging in educational activities and learning about the historical significance of these sites, thereby fostering cultural awareness.
Participants in the campaign can collect points in one of three categories: Enjoyer, Explorer, and Traveller. In the 'Enjoyer' category, staying overnight or enjoying a meal at a campaign destination earns 10 points. Taking a tour, visiting an exhibition, or purchasing a local souvenir earns 5 points in the 'Explorer' category. Meanwhile, a photo with a manor house in the background at a campaign destination can earn 1 point in the 'Traveller' category.
The campaign also offers prizes and incentives for visiting these historical buildings, aiming to motivate more people to engage in cultural tourism and heritage preservation. To enter the prize draw, participants must collect at least 50 points. The winners of the most active castle and manor house visitors competition will receive prizes.
The association behind the campaign aims to educate and raise public awareness about the restoration of cultural and historical buildings. They believe that well-maintained cultural and historical infrastructure leads to business, tourism, and local infrastructure growth, particularly in the upcoming local elections.
Over the past 25 years, the focus of the association has shifted from travel to education, reflecting a commitment to long-term investment in cultural and historical heritage. The campaign aligns with Latvia’s broader efforts to enhance public interest in its cultural monuments and to support sustainable tourism involving historical architecture.
To ensure a smooth visit, participants are encouraged to check the opening hours and admission fees of their chosen destinations before visiting. This initiative not only promotes cultural tourism but also supports the restoration and maintenance of these important architectural monuments, helping to preserve Latvia’s history for future generations.
During the campaign, participating in cultural tourism by overnight stays or meals at manor houses earns points, as does taking a tour, visiting an exhibition, or buying souvenirs, thereby contributing to the 'Enjoyer' and 'Explorer' categories. In addition to the points system, the campaign offers rewards and incentives to visitors of historical buildings, aiming to boost participation in cultural heritage preservation. The association behind the campaign believes that well-maintained infrastructure of cultural and historical buildings can positively impact business, tourism, and local infrastructure growth, which is crucial in the upcoming local elections.
