26th Baltic German Symposium for Pathology – Program per day

09.00 – 16.00: Excursion Gauja Nationalpark – Ligatne

Meeting Point: Hotellobby

Historical centre of the paper mill village Līgatne.

Līgatne (Ligat) is one of the most beautiful corners of the Latvian natural landscape in the Gauja National Park.

On the one hand Līgatne is known in connection with the only Latvian paper mill, on the other hand with the glacial valley of the river Gauja (Livonian Aa) and the national park Gauja. But in the middle is the historical paper industry complex with the unique „Historical Centre of the paper mill village Līgatne“. The paper mill village Līgatne can look back on almost 200 years of historical development. Līgatne is located on 6 hills: Rīgaskalns, Spriņģukalns, Skolaskalns, Plučukalns, Ķiberkalns and Remdenkalns, between which the valley called Zaķusala lies.

Secret Soviet Bunker

Particularly secret object of the Soviet period with the alias „„Pansionāts“ („old people’s home“)
Nine meters below ground there is a well-equipped bunker with an area of over 2000 square meters, the secrecy stamp of which was only removed in 2003. One of the strategically most important places in Soviet Latvia in the event of nuclear war. The bunker is the strongest autonomous economic structure with all necessities and the latest equipment at the time. To this day the whole authentic underground equipment has been preserved!

Lunch at restaurant „Kungu Rija“ 

Historical centre of Krimulda

The historical centre of Krimulda is located on the right bank of Gauja. The residence of the Princes of Lieven (Latvian: Līveni), the owner of the manor, was built in the classicist style around 1848. The house is situated directly on the edge of the Gauja glacier basin, from which the princes had a wonderful view of the glacier basin and the opposite edge of the glacier basin, while the historical centre of Krimulda is on the right bank of Gauja.

09:00 - 16:00: Meeting Point - Hotellobby

White Dune:

The 18 m high dune is located on the shore of Inčupe, where the river flows into the sea. From the dune you have a wonderful view of the bay of Riga. Historically, the White Dune is a sandstone formation that formed 405-350 million years ago. Here the Riga film studio shot the historical feature films „Kā gulbji balti padebeši iet“ (1956) and „Nauris“ (1957).

The Münchhausen World:

The Münchhausen Museum is located in Dunte, on the scenic Vidzeme coast, 8 kilometers from Saulkrasti, about 50 kilometers from Riga and just off the Via Baltikum motorway. Many claim that Münchhausen was the most honest person in the world. What’s it really like?

Museum:

The guide will introduce you to the life of Münchhausen and Jacobine on the ground floor, give you an insight into the life of the 18th century, listen to the interesting stories of Münchhausen and learn how these funny stories came about. In the lobby you can see yourself reflected in the distorting mirror and on the upper floor you can admire the wax figures of famous Latvian people. In addition, about 2000 beer mugs from many countries are collected. You can also put on antique clothes and have your picture taken on Jacobine’s bed.

Castle Bīriņi:

The castle Bīriņi was built on a hill by the lake in 1860. It is a romantic, lovingly created place near Riga, Sigulda and the coast of Saulkrasti. The castle is surrounded by a picturesque park, lakes and the manor building with hotel, restaurant, magnificent rooms for weddings and seminars. Lunch at Castle Bīriņi.

09:00 - 16:00: Meeting Point - Hotellobby

Kemeri und Jurmala

Ķemeri – the historical health resort

Ķemeri is a part of the city Jūrmala, which was already declared a health resort in the 18th century thanks to the healing properties of sulphurous mineral water springs springing up in this area. Only the architectural monuments bear witness to its former splendour, but the sulphurous mineral water and the therapeutic mud are still present. Ķemeri is half an hour drive from Riga.

The National park Ķemeri stands out among other parks with its diverse wetlands. There are raised bogs as well as low grass bogs and transition bogs. The Great Ķemeri Moor is one of the largest raised bogs in Latvia, the Kaņiera Lake is an internationally important resting and feeding place for migratory birds. Moors, wetlands, swamps, lakes, pine forests, Baltic coast – all this can be found here.

Hiking trail in the Ķemeri Moor

The hiking trail in the Great Moor Ķemeri is the most popular sightseeing object in the National Park Ķemeri, where you will get to know the high moor and its inhabitants. The wooden footpath will lead you into the realm of moss, small moor pines, dark lakes and the scent of the marsh pine. If you look carefully, you will notice the carnivorous plant – the sundew, as well as the voices of various birds – the Wood Sandpiper, the wagtail, the tree pipit, and somewhere far away the call of cranes.

Lunch at Jurmala and free-time.

Abbas Agaimy, M.D.
Professor
Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen
Krankenhausstr. 8 – 10
91054 Erlangen, Germany

Reinhard Büttner, M.D.
Professor
Department of Pathology, University Hospital Cologne
Kerpener Str. 62
50937 Cologne, Germany

Hans-Peter Fischer, M.D.
Professor
Department of Pathology, University Hospital Bonn
Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25
53127 Bonn, Germany

Diane Goltz, M.D.
Institute of Pathology
Franz-Weis-Str. 13
56073 Koblenz, Germany

Alexander Quaas, M.D.
Professor
Department of Pathology, University Hospital Cologne
Kerpener Str. 62
50937 Cologne, Germany