Working hours
Mon.
8:00 – 18:00
Tue.
8:00 – 17:00
Wed.
8:00 – 17:00
Thu.
8:00 – 17:00
Fri.
8:00 – 16:00
Smiltene is a delightful little town with beautiful parks, blooming streets and low-rise buildings enveloped in flourishing gardens. Smiltene stands out with the beautiful Abuls river valley and the surrounding park.
Smiltene County was established on 1st July 2009 unifying Smiltene City and eight surrounding parishes – Smiltene, Blome, Branti, Launkalne, Variņi, Palsmane, Grundzāle, and Bilska.
The total are of Smiltene County composes 946.84 km2. The largest area of the county territory takes Launkalne Parish – 221.8 km2 or 23.5% of the total territory of the county. The area of Smiltene City is the smallest one, namely, 7.2 km2, which composes only 0.8% of the county territory.
Density – 13 inh./km2
Administrative centre – Smiltene City
Population – 12,727 (OCMA data on 01.01.2019), 42% of the county’s population lives in Smiltene.
Distance from Riga, the capital of Latvia – 132 km, from the Estonian border – 40 km.
Borders the counties of Strenči, Valka, Ape, Gulbene, Rauna, Beverīna, Vecpiebalga, and Priekuļi.
Smiltene County is crossed by main roads – highway (A2) Riga-Veclaicene-Saint Petersburg (Russia) and the national regional roads Valmiera-Smiltene, Smiltene-Valka, Smiltene-Gulbene, and Smiltene-Strenči.
The most important natural resources of Smiltene County are agricultural and forest areas.
Agricultural land occupies 36.4%. In Variņi, Blome and Smiltene parishes of Smiltene County, there are aerials of agricultural lands of regional importance with a potential of competitive agriculture.
Forests occupy 53.3% of the county territory. The largest forest massifs spread in the northern, middle and southern parts of the county. Launkalne, Variņi and Palsmane parishes are the richest ones in such land.
The largest watercourses on the county territory are rivers Abuls, Palsa, Nigra, Rauza, and Vija.
The most important natural resources of Smiltene County are agricultural and forest areas.
Agricultural land occupies 36.4%. In Variņi, Blome and Smiltene parishes of Smiltene County, there are aerials of agricultural lands of regional importance with a potential of competitive agriculture.
Forests occupy 53.3% of the county territory. The largest forest massifs spread in the northern, middle and southern parts of the county. Launkalne, Variņi and Palsmane parishes are the richest ones in such land.
The largest watercourses on the county territory are rivers Abuls, Palsa, Nigra, Rauza, and Vija.
The largest water bodies are Lizdole, Niedrājs, and Spiciera lakes. Rivers, lakes, slopes and the relatively small distance between lakes provide a suitable environment for the development of landscape space. Wilderness areas and biodiversity are resources that can be used, with appropriate adaptation, to increase the economic potential of the county’s urban and rural areas, to promote economic activity, and to improve the life quality of citizens.
Mineral deposits in parishes of Smiltene County are evenly distributed, each parish has an average of 3 to 5 deposits. Raw material resources fully meet the needs of the internal market and also allow the export of some of the raw materials or the products obtained from them.
Mineral deposits in parishes of Smiltene County are evenly distributed, each parish has an average of 3 to 5 deposits. Raw material resources fully meet the needs of the internal market and also allow the export of some of the raw materials or the products obtained from them.
Ideas for a vacation with family and friends!
Be it peace and quite in nature, outdoors activities or breathtaking views, everyone will find something to enjoy when taking a leisurely stroll through the beautiful Abuls river valley and the surrounding old park reaching the Tapers lake promenade. See Smiltene hydro power plant, enjoy refreshing drinks or a delicious meal in the park hotel “Brūzis”, enjoy art in a form of large-format painting, visit the splashing waterfall or try out some outdoors activities – go paddle boarding, rollerblading, play beach volleyball, go roller skiing or go-karting, work out on open-air training equipment or simply enjoy the beauty of nature.
An exciting adventure for both adults and children will be a visit to the petting zoo “Ezerlejas”, where you will be able to meet and feed deer, mouflons, bobak marmots, rabbits, foxes, raccoons and many other local and foreign animals and birds.
Visit Smiltene regional museum in the Mēru manor and view a modern exposition on the history of medicine in Smiltene region. Here you can also view the great Mēru oak, which is the largest oak in the Baltics in terms of size of the crown.
Play a fun match of disc golf in Palsmane and visit the Love park where you can find various stone sculptures reflecting on the theme of love.
An exciting adventure for both adults and children will be a visit to the petting zoo “Ezerlejas”, where you will be able to meet and feed deer, mouflons, bobak marmots, rabbits, foxes, raccoons and many other local and foreign animals and birds.
Visit Smiltene regional museum in the Mēru manor and view a modern exposition on the history of medicine in Smiltene region. Here you can also view the great Mēru oak, which is the largest oak in the Baltics in terms of size of the crown.
Play a fun match of disc golf in Palsmane and visit the Love park where you can find various stone sculptures reflecting on the theme of love.
Visit the recreation complex “Trīssaliņas” and go on the approximately 400m long nature trail “Grove of the Friends of Forest” to find all the animals and checkpoints with the help of a map. Take a breather in the large gazebo and play one of the many family games. After you have completed the nature trail, visit the viewing tower to see the beautiful landscape of Trīssaliņas from above. For those who enjoy more active recreation, try out the gymnastics bars, a pulley-ride, sports area and children’s playground, a ride with the tiny car or a paddle board, bat or water bike.
Choose one of the scenic cycling routes and enjoy the natural, historical and cultural riches of Smiltene region. There are several cycling routes of different lengths and levels of complexity so that everyone can choose the one that best suits their strengths and interests.
In the very center of Smiltene you can play an active and fun game of bowling and then have a delicious meal and drinks in the cafe “Pasēdnīca”.
Choose one of the scenic cycling routes and enjoy the natural, historical and cultural riches of Smiltene region. There are several cycling routes of different lengths and levels of complexity so that everyone can choose the one that best suits their strengths and interests.
In the very center of Smiltene you can play an active and fun game of bowling and then have a delicious meal and drinks in the cafe “Pasēdnīca”.