Mark Rothko was born in Daugavpils in 1903, the Mark Rothko Art Centre opened in his birthplace in 2013, with six original works on permanent loan from the family. From there we move west through the Latgale lakes, the Aglona basilica, and end at Rundāle, Bartolomeo Rastrelli's Latvian Versailles.
Mark Rothko was born in Daugavpils in 1903, the Mark Rothko Art Centre opened in his birthplace in 2013, with six original works on permanent loan from the family. From there we move west through the Latgale lakes, the Aglona basilica, and end at Rundāle, Bartolomeo Rastrelli's Latvian Versailles.
Begin in Riga, then take the scenic train east to Daugavpils for two nights at the Rothko Centre, set inside a 19th-century fortress arsenal. Move west through the Latgale lakes, an Old Believer fishing village, and the Aglona basilica, ending the week at Rundāle Palace with three private state rooms.
Marcus Rothkowitz was born in Daugavpils in 1903. The Mark Rothko Art Centre opened in his birthplace in 2013, with six original paintings on permanent loan from the family. We visit with the curator.
Bartolomeo Rastrelli — the Italian who built the Winter Palace in St Petersburg — designed Rundāle in the 1740s for the Duke of Courland. Three private state rooms only opened by special arrangement.
The most important Catholic pilgrimage site in Latvia, set above a lake in deep Latgale. We try to align dates with a feast where possible.
The Latgale lakes shelter villages of Russian Old Believers — a 17th-century Orthodox schismatic community who fled here from the Russian church reforms. A long lunch and a lake walk.
Each day is built around one or two anchor experiences with deliberate slack for free time. Departure timings adjust slightly with daylight and weather.
Arrival at RIX. Late-afternoon walk through the Hanseatic Old Town. Welcome dinner with our art historian — long, conversational, focused on what the week is about.
Inside an Eisenstein-era inner-ring building.
Train east to Daugavpils (3h 30m, scenic via Krustpils). Afternoon walk through the city — the most multilingual in the country (Russian, Latvian, Polish, Belarusian on the same street), on the Daugava 25 km from the Belarusian border.
Full day at the Mark Rothko Art Centre, set inside the restored 19th-century Daugavpils Fortress arsenal. Private morning tour with the curator. Afternoon at the fortress walls, with an architectural-historian walk through the 1810s Russian-imperial military complex.
A quiet city-centre hotel five minutes' walk from the Mark Rothko Centre.
Drive west via the Aglona Basilica — the most important Catholic pilgrimage site in Latvia, set on a lake. Stop at an Old Believer fishing village on Lake Cirma for a long lunch and a walk on the lakeshore. Continue to Mežotne Palace for the night.
Sleeping inside the small palace Rastrelli's circle built for the Lieven family. Original parquet, painted ceilings.
Full morning at Rundāle Palace — Rastrelli's 1740s baroque palace, with three private state rooms only opened by arrangement. Lunch in the palace gardens. Drive back to Riga, evening departure.
Every departure of this tour is private, no strangers join, no fixed dates. Pick a start date that suits you; per-person pricing scales with your group size.
Single supplement €320. Children under 12 receive a 20% discount.
Group sizes, fitness, children, cancellations, the lot. We have answered the common ones.
This is a fully private tour. Your start date, your group, your pace. We confirm availability and pricing within 48 hours and hold your dates for a week, no obligation.