In the north-eastern corner of the Vidzeme province is the town of Aluksne, nestling on the shore of the Aluksne lake. In the town centre, between the lake and Pils Street, is Aluksne's Lutheran church, built between 1781 and 1788 on a foundation of natural rock. Unusually for a Latvian church, the walls are not plastered but of rubble. As you go towards Pils Street you'll come across the E. Gluck Bible Museum, named after the man who first translated the Bible into Latvian: until the 19th century spiritual books were the only ones available to Latvians. This museum contains a fascinating collection of sermons, texts and hymnbooks. Only a kilometre out of town, along the lakeshore, is the entrance to the Aluksne park, created at the end of the 18th century. A wooden bridge will take you across o Pilssala ('Castle Island'), with its castle ruins and open-air theatre.
Nearly 33 km long railway span Gulbene - Aluksne is
the last general usage narrow gauge railway in Latvia. This railway's
span is the maintained part of the narrow gauge railway line Stukmani-Valka
built in 1903. Almost hundred years long history has one of the
reasons why Gulbene - Aluksne railway line was recognized as cultural
monument of the state significance in 1998.Four pairs of trains provide
regular passenger traffic between Gulbene and Aluksne accordingly to timetable
every day. Diesel locomotive and carriages produced in
60-ties and 80-ties of the 20th century have use for
passenger transportation on the line.Historical railway has become
popular for tourists due to picturesque landscapes as well as natural
and historical sites around this railway line: http://www.banitis.lv/gulbene-aluksnebanisang.htm
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