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Town and capital of Madona Municipality, Latvia
Photo: Santa Jaujeniece, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
One of the greenest and most beautiful places in town, and right in the heart of it.
Novadpetniecibas muzejs
With a variety of events and ever-changing exhibitions.
The central square of the town, with a small fountain and lots of flowers in the summer season.
Adolf von Wolf Palace / Cesvaines Pils
Enclosed by a romantic park and an ancient manor houses. The palace is considered one of the brightest architectural achievements of the 19th century. It is a masterpiece of eclectic art, which combines architecture, metallurgy, sculpture and painting.
The castle was built between 1893 and 1896. Since 1919, a school inhabited the castle. In 2002 a fire destroyed the castle roof. Thus, a new school was built in Cesvaine, and the castle gradually recovered its former appearance. Between 2003 and 2006 the left wing and a castle tower were restored, with restoration work continuing today.
The castle also inhabits a museum.
It is closed for renovation of the roof until end of 2018, but it should still allow for great pictures and a visit to the surrounding area.
Famous Latvian composer, who lived between 1875 and 1910.
Ziestu
The Sestukalns marker of the world heritage listed Struve Geodetic Arc is a bit off built-up areas but not that difficult to access if you have a car. It is about 100 m from the P79 road into the forest, the hill (216.5 m ASL) is nowadays called Ziestu.
The highest point of Latvia (311 m). But it is more famous for winter and summer recreation possibilities offered by numerous ski slopes, lake Kaķītis (rafting, fishing), the Lido recreation complex, etc.
A real and the only true Italian pizza in Madona, restaurant run by an Italian, so you can refresh your Italian language skills. Take away and eat on spot pizzas of different sorts available.
Offers authentic Latvian food.
Hotel with restaurant.
By bus
Madona is well connected by bus service with Riga and smaller cities in eastern Latvia. Ticket price from Riga to Madona is about €8 and it takes usually 3 - 3½ hours to get there.
By train
Going by train is a relatively cheap and quick option (€5, <3 hrs). Unfortunately trains run infrequently, often just once a day.
By car
There are two main roads from the capital, Riga – one through Sigulda and Bērzakrogs, the other through Plavinas.
By thumb
It is pretty popular to hitch-hike in Latvia and if you can get to Madona as well.
By plane
There is no airport with scheduled flights.
By public bus
There are 3 public bus lines in the town. Tickets (€0.70) can be purchased on board.
By bicycle
In late spring/summer/early autumn probably the best way to get around is bicycle. Do not leave your bike unlocked on the street as bicycle thefts are not uncommon.
On foot
Getting around the center by walking is a good option in any season.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Riga · International · RIX
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Articles and travel topics about Madona and Latvia.
ItinerariesStruve Geodetic Arc is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesVia Baltica is a road leading through the Baltic States and Poland in Northern Europe.
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Travel tipsThe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) (Russian: Союз Советских Социалистических Республик (СССР)), or Soviet Union, emerged as the successor state to the Russian Empire in 1917, and was dissolved in 1991.
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Travel tipsThe Baltic Sea is in many ways good for cruising on small craft. There are many towns worth seeing, an abundance of guest harbours – and large archipelagos with thousands and thousands of islands and islets.
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