Explore the Manorial Heritage of Alūksne in Lativa, Aluksne, Latvia

Alūksne in Latvia, has inherited some beautiful buildings and stunning parkland from its manorial Barons.

Amid the forests of Vidzeme, a region of Latvia, the fascinating town of Alūksne stretches along the shores of one of the largest lakes in the country, Lake Alūksne. This lovely town features historic buildings linked to the ancient Livonian Order and, more recently, the Baltic German aristocratic von Vietinghoff family. An additional delight is the opportunity to approach the town in the old-fashioned carriage of its narrow gauge railway (Gulbene-Alūksne bānītis).

Alūksne is at the end of a thirty-three kilometre stretch of narrow gauge railway commencing at the neighbouring town of Gulbene. It is the only remaining part of the line between Pļaviņas to Valka line which was built in 1903. In those days, narrow-gauge railways were used to connect rural settlements to the broad-gauge network. Today a limited service operates between the two towns. The little station at Alūksne now features a museum in the old wooden luggage store. Also of great importance to the town, situated in its centre, is the Ernst Glück Bible Museum (Ernsta Glika Bībeles muzejs). ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).