Into Gauja National Park

After our tour around town, it was time to leave the city and get into Gauja NP proper. The first stop here was at the Ligatne wine cellar with a tasting of fruit wines and some harder spirit – including some surprises (e.g. spirit made from carrot or beets). After the tasting and a visit to the shop, we made it – slightly inebriated – to a nearby restaurant for lunch, followed by a short walk along the Ligatne river to Ānfabrikas klintis with views of the river and a closed papermill. From here we continued to the trailhead for the walk to Zvārtes iezis, first following a nice trail along the Gauja river, then using a bridge to get to the other side of the river and up to the viewpoint.