Mazkalēti-Bārta hike

 GPX

Route type: Linear, available in both directions

Start: Mazkaleti or Barta

Duration: 4 - 7 hours

Accessibility: Both on foot and by bike

Surface: Mainly gravel roads, unmarked forest trails and off-road ~3km

Getting there: The most convenient way to get to the start is by intercity bus, going to the "Mazkaleti" stop. You can also leave the car in Barta and take the bus to the "Mazkaleti" stop.

Route description:

This route leads along gravel roads and forest paths. Where the most beautiful places begin, the roads end, there awaits you a ~3km completely off-road section along the Vārtājas river. The route is perfect for adventure seekers who are not afraid of difficulties and are ready to discover new places.

Sights:

(7) Vārtāja river – its entire length is full of wonderful natural views. After all, Vārtāja together with Durbi form one of the most impressive ancient valleys of Latvia with several mounds on its shores. The largest of them is the Vārtāja castle hill, which was once inhabited by Kuras. The straight sections of the river are interspersed with many bends. On April 15, 1837, the well-known Latvian publicist, linguist and pedagogue Kronvaldu Atis was born on the banks of the Vārtājas river in Krotė.

(8) Krūtes pilskalns (confluence of Vārtāja and Bārta rivers) – Vārtāja and Bārta are still rivers rich in water, useful for floating trees. Both of them come together in a wooded area and under the name of Barta flows to the Liepāja lake already about 40 meters wide. According to stories, its embankment has attracted people's attention for a long time due to the fact that many barrels of gold were stored under it, but the current excavations of the Curonian mound show only the remains of ashes.

(9) Bartas Catholic Church – The congregation was founded and services were initially held in the Bartas House of Culture, but later in the premises of the Bartas Museum. Initially, the construction of a chapel in Barta was planned, but thanks to the activities of two parishioners Marija Ceriņa and Erika Frišmanes, the support of the parish, the bishop and the parish was received so that the previously planned chapel construction turned into the construction of a church. On July 6, 2002, Bishop Wilhelms Lapelis of Liepāja diocese consecrated the church in Barta, dedicating it to the honor of the Resurrection of Christ.

(10) Memorial stone to Arvīds Manfeld - Dedicated to reclamation Arvīds Manfeld - the former head of the Liepāja district reclamation company as a thank you from the local residents for the roads and bridges.

(11) Barta Museum - exists since 1985. It was created with the aim of studying and reflecting the history of the village of Barta and the kolkhoz. It was created thanks to the bearded man, local researcher, journalist and poet, Jēkab Rūsiņas (1917-1994), who was already retired at the time. Since 2004, the Barta Museum has been operating as an accredited museum. In accordance with its mission, the museum collects, preserves and studies sources characterizing the cultural history of Barta. Between 2004 and 2009, the number of objects in the museum collection increased from 597 to 1323 objects. http://www.bartasmuzejs.lv/ +371 28687254