Abava Valley
A green river valley of vineyards, old towns and waterfalls, sometimes called the Switzerland of Kurzeme - the mildest, most cultivated corner of the region.
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The Abava carves a soft, sheltered valley through Kurzeme, warm enough that Sabile has grown wine on its slopes since medieval times. It is a landscape of small old towns, a rapids and a waterfall, and the gentlest walking and cycling country in the region.
What you actually see
- Sabile wine hill - a terraced slope that once made the Guinness book as one of the world's northernmost outdoor vineyards.
- Abava rapids and Kalnmuiza waterfall - the small drops that give the valley its scenery.
- Kandava old town - a compact historic centre with an old stone bridge.
- Valley trails - marked walking and cycling routes along the river.
When to go
Late summer and early autumn for the wine and harvest festivals; spring for higher water in the rapids. The valley is at its best on a slow cycling day.
Honest expectations
The scenery is pretty rather than dramatic - rolling valley, not gorge. The wine is a curiosity of latitude more than a rival to southern regions, and quantities are tiny. Come for the gentle landscape and the string of small towns, not for one big sight.
Nearby
Kuldiga and its wide falls are further west; the Riga road passes Tukums and the palaces of Zemgale.
What to pack for Abava Valley
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
