Bērzciems: Nature, Trails and Regional Culture

If you would like to combine nature observation, active trails and maritime craft experiences on your trip, Bērzciems offers several clearly distinct points of interest. The options range from landscapes around Lake Engure and a marked 65-kilometre route to insights into fishing, fish smoking and cheese production.

Nature at Lake Engure and the Orchid Trail

The “Engures ezers” Nature Park includes Lake Engure and the surrounding areas. Around 200 bird species breed in the protected area of Lake Engure. The area around Lake Engure is home to 860 species of vascular plants. Those who focus on birdlife and plants during their trip will therefore find a particularly nature-oriented range of experiences here. Two different nature themes are thus at the forefront at Lake Engure: the birdlife of the protected area and the plant diversity in its surroundings.

A separate trail leads through different landscape areas: the Orhideju taka (Orchid Trail) is 3.5 km long, begins at the Engure Ornithological Research Center and passes through calcareous marshes and wooded areas. This distinguishes it from a longer route plan both in terms of length and the landscape experience. The most suitable time to visit the Orhideju taka is from the end of June to August. The 3.5 kilometres connect the starting point at the research center with calcareous marshes and wooded areas; the trail therefore passes through two different landscape areas.

A Marked Route Through Several Places

For longer active days, you can consider including the marked 65 km route Engure – Bērzciems – Mērsrags – Ķūļciems – Ezermuiža – Engure in your plans. The route passes through exactly these places and thus offers a different perspective on the surroundings from the 3.5 km Orchid Trail. In the sequence, Bērzciems lies between Engure and Mērsrags, before the route continues via Ķūļciems and Ezermuiža back to Engure. The route connects several places; the Orchid Trail remains considerably shorter at 3.5 km.

Fishing and Regional Production

At “Dieniņas”, the owners have been practicing the fishing trade for three generations. By prior arrangement, interested visitors can accompany the fishermen at sea. Visitors can also gain insight into the fish-smoking process there. Accompanying the fishermen at sea and learning about smoking represent two different aspects of the same craft: catching and processing the fish. This makes “Dieniņas” a point of interest for anyone who wants not only to observe maritime culture but also to connect it with a specific craft.

Another culinary experience is offered by the “Kundziņsiers” cheese workshop. There, visitors can take part in various cheese tastings and learn about cheese production during a visit. “Kundziņsiers” therefore combines two forms of visiting: various cheese tastings and an insight into production. Together with the insight into fish processing, this creates a regional program that places two different forms of traditional food production side by side.

Other Places to Compare

If you would like to compare Bērzciems with other places at the same higher-level administrative division, you can also open Lapmežciems, Plieņciems, Engure, Klapkalnciems, Ķesterciems, Radziņciems, Smārde and Milzkalne.

For the higher-level travel overview: Engures Novads.