Burtnieki in your pocket

Roughly 20km north of Valmiera lies a lake community shrouded in myth and mystery. Inhabited for thousands of years, the shores of Lake Burtnieki served as the boundary between Estonian, Liv and Letgalian tribes. It is believed that the lake, Latvia's fourth largest, was a centre for ancient pagan religions. An old legend tells the tale of its peculiar name, Burtnieki. The shamans of the area claimed that they were so powerful that to cast a spell was mere child's play or in Latvian burt ir nieks.

Today this quiet town is a centre for horse raising and racing. International competitions are often held at the outdoor hippodrome and visitors can rent horses by the hour.