Inviting visitors to discover North Vidzeme through its flavours, people and experiences, the “Ziemeļzemes kods” gastro-tourism network has been created, bringing together local home producers, farms, food establishments, and cultural and nature attractions in one place.

“Ziemeļzemes kods” allows everyone to choose the way of exploring North Vidzeme that suits them best. Along the routes, visitors can stop by local producers and purchase their products, while those wishing to stay a little longer can enjoy tastings and meet the people behind the farms and businesses. Many places welcome groups, and individual visits or product purchases can also be arranged in advance by contacting the hosts.

“North Vidzeme is home to many enterprising people who create outstanding products through their work and care for places with a special atmosphere. Yet they often operate independently of one another. This project provides an opportunity to connect these people, places and stories into a single travel experience. It is more than just a guide – it is an invitation to discover North Vidzeme at a leisurely pace, meeting along the way the people whose work shapes the region’s story of flavours. Everyone is invited to explore North Vidzeme in the way that suits them best – by following one of the suggested routes or creating their own journey by choosing the stops that interest them most. We would like people not simply to visit, but to take the time to truly discover North Vidzeme – to stop, talk, taste and return again and again,” says project manager Ineta Andersone.

The diversity of its partners is one of the greatest strengths of “Ziemeļzemes kods”. The gastro-tourism network brings together small family farms and home producers, experienced food and beverage producers, chocolate makers, fruit and berry growers, food establishments, manor houses, and other places that together tell the story of North Vidzeme through its flavours. Each stop is unique, yet they are all united by the people whose dedication and hospitality create a genuine and authentic experience.

“We do not see one another as competitors. We complement each other’s offerings with local products, recommend one another to our visitors, and work together to shape the story of North Vidzeme through its flavours. When someone visits us, I am happy if they also stop by a neighbouring farm, visit a cultural site, and discover even more of our beautiful region. I believe this kind of cooperation has great long-term potential – it helps strengthen local businesses while also encouraging more sustainable travel, where the aim is not to visit as many places as possible, but to truly get to know the region and its farms,” says Maija Zvirbule, owner of the organic farm “Stores”.

Ten themed routes lead across North Vidzeme – from historic manor houses and trails exploring Livonian heritage to the landscapes of the Gauja and Salaca rivers, borderland stories, local producers’ farms, and nature attractions. They provide inspiration for a journey that everyone can tailor to their own interests, either by choosing one of the suggested routes or by combining several stops into a single trip.

“When developing the routes, we wanted to create a travel experience that encourages people to slow down and discover the diversity of North Vidzeme. Each route has been planned so that it can be comfortably completed by car in a single day, while still leaving enough time to stop, take a walk, explore cultural and historical sites, and meet local hosts. We deliberately sought to create synergy between gastronomy, nature and cultural tourism, so that travellers can not only taste local products but also get to know the people, landscapes and stories that shape the character of North Vidzeme,” adds Toms Treimanis, Head of the Valmiera Municipality Tourism Department.

The cloudberry, a rare northern berry that grows in places where nature has retained its true character, has been chosen as the symbol of the project. It has become a metaphor for the character of North Vidzeme, embodying naturalness, value, resilience and a touch of mystery. Just like North Vidzeme itself, the cloudberry reveals its richness to those who are willing to stop, explore and savour the experience.

Inspiration for your next trip, suggested routes and information about participating farms can be found at: www.ziemelzemeskods.lv

The project “Ziemeļzemes kods – Strengthening Value-Added Cooperation between Local Food Producers and Tourism in North Vidzeme”, Project No. 25-00-C0LA2002-000008. The project activities are implemented with support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) under intervention LA20 “Cooperation to Promote the Operation of Short Food Supply Chains and the Marketing of Local Products”.

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Prepared by: Ineta Andersone, Project Manager of “Ziemeļzemes kods”