Military Heritage Touring routes

The theme of the route focuses on national partisans, who resisted the Soviet occupation and sought to restore the in dependence. Partisans were called forest brothers because groups of partisans lived in bunkers in forests and swamps and carried out attacks against the occupation authorities. Partisans lived in the bunkers for a long time after the end of the Second World War. The route includes the sites of battles, burial and memorial sites of national partisans in south-east ern Latvia and north-eastern Lithuania. This route, or parts thereof, can be connected to the following routes or parts thereof in Latvia and Lithuania: “Along the Baltic Way from Vilnius to Riga”, “Partisan Roads and Trails in Aukštaitija”, “Scenes of Soviet Lithuania”, “Latgale – the Eastern Border of Latvia”, “World War I and the Wars of Independence in Southern Latvia”, “World War II and its Aftermath – Soviet Occupation in Southern Latvia and Latgale”, “The Great Cross-Border Route – Military Heritage of Latvia and Lithu ania over 100 Years”.

This one-day excursion to Naisaare Island allows students to explore several stages of 20th-century history – from World War I and the War of Independence to World War II and the Soviet occupation. The island, which has long been a military territory, features coastal defense batteries, bunkers, a narrow-gauge railway and other military infrastructure remains that reveal its strategic importance in different eras. The route combines active hiking with living history exploration in a natural and authentic environment.

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The route, located between Latvia and Lithuania, will introduce students to the legacy of World War II, national partisan battles and the Soviet occupation in Kurzeme and Samogitia. Students will visit the Ezere Customs House, the Saldus German soldiers’ cemetery, the Plokštine Cold War Museum and the Samogitian Museum “Alka”, where they can trace both the events of the war and the history of occupation and resistance. The excursion provides an opportunity to understand the impact of the 20th century conflicts on the people and landscape of the region.

This 105 km long route from Karosta to Klaipėda introduces the military heritage of the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Soviet occupation, on the Baltic coast. Students will visit the Karosta Prison and Redan Fort in Liepāja, the “Memel-Nord” coastal defense battery and the interactive “Escape bunker 1944”, where history becomes a living experience. The excursion combines authentic war testimonies in nature with educational activities, allowing them to understand both the events of the battles and the human experience during the occupation.

This route explores the legacy of the Soviet rule and the Cold War. During the Second World War, after the German oc cupation, Soviet power returned to Lithuania for the second time. Lithuania did not exist as a separate country during this period, as it was incorporated into the USSR. Resistance to the occupation regime and large-scale deportation opera tions by the Soviets began. As the Cold War arms race in tensified, the Soviet government also stationed their nuclear weapons in Lithuania. The route also includes some sites belonging to other periods of the military history of the 20th century. This route, or a part thereof, can be connected to the following routes in Latvia: “World War II and its Aftermath – Soviet Occupation in Southern Latvia and Latgale”, “World War I and the Wars of Independence in Southern Latvia”.

This tour of the Estonian capital takes you through the most significant events in the country's 20th-century history – from World War I and the War of Independence to World War II, the Soviet occupation and the restoration of independence. Visiting the War Museum, the Memorial to the Victims of Communism, the KGB chambers and the Vabam Museum, students will learn about both military history and people's personal stories of freedom, resistance and repression. The route encourages understanding the impact of historical events on society and the value of democracy today.

This route covers the evidence of World War II, national partisans and Soviet occupation, starting at the Īle national partisan bunker and leading through the former Zvārde training ground to Saldus and further - the Ezere Customs House. Along the way, you can get to know both the dramatic scale of the partisan battles and the impact of Soviet military infrastructure on the environment and local residents. Finally, a historical turning point is revealed in Ezere - the place of the capitulation of the Kurzeme Cauldron, which marks the final stage of World War II.

This one-day tour of Hiiumaa Island introduces Estonia's military heritage from World War I and the War of Independence to World War II and the Cold War. Students will visit coastal defense batteries, a military museum, historical fortifications and memorial sites that tell the story of the soldiers' daily lives, their courage and the impact of war on the local population. The route offers an opportunity to explore history in an authentic environment, combining learning with practical and emotionally engaging experiences.

The route introduces the activities of national partisans in Lithuania. During the Soviet occupation, a partisan war was fought, during which the territory of Lithuania was divided into nine partisan regions. The Lithuanian national partisans were well organised and armed, wearing military uniforms and carrying on the traditions of the inter-war Lithuanian Army. They fought with murderous NKVD (Soviet secret po lice) and Red Army units, and prepared plans for attacks. Hiding from persecution and prying eyes, Lithuanian par tisans built bunkers for themselves in the thickets of forests and swamps. The route also includes some sites belonging to other periods of the military history of the 20th century. This route, or a part thereof, can be connected to the following routes in Latvia: “Latgale – the Eastern Border of Latvia”, “World War II and its Aftermath – Soviet Occupation in Southern Latvia and Latgale”, “World War I and the Wars of Independence in Southern Latvia”, ''Resistance to the Soviet occupation regime in Zemgale''

Along the route, you will learn about the evidence of the resistance movement against the Soviet and German occupation regimes, authentically reconstructed national partisan bunkers , and visit well-maintained settlements, battle sites, and memorial sites. You will learn about the memories of the Kureli people in an audio guide, stories from local history experts, and the opportunity to spend the night in a Rubeni people's bunker.

The 55 km long route in Western Estonia leads through places related to World War II and post-war events, allowing you to learn about the fate of German prisoners of war, memorial sites of the War of Independence and the national partisan or Forest Brothers resistance movement. At the end of the journey, in the Pergupehja bunker, visitors can gain an authentic insight into the life of the Forest Brothers and the fight against the Soviet occupation.

This exciting excursion to the islands of Muhu and Saaremaa allows students to explore the military heritage of the First and Second World Wars on the Baltic Sea coast. The route includes historical coastal defense batteries, landing sites, memorials and a war museum, which help to understand military strategy and the impact of war events on the islanders. The excursion provides an opportunity to learn about history in an authentic environment, exploring preserved fortifications and evidence of war in nature.

The route “The First World War on the Borderlands of Latvia and Lithuania” introduces the events of the First World War on the Eastern Front in Latgale and Aukštaitija. It begins at the Medumi First World War Museum, where you can learn interactively about the everyday life of soldiers and military equipment. The route then leads to the Turmantas exhibition and the Kimbartiškis German army positions, where bunkers, artillery positions and historical evidence of battles can be viewed. Overall, the route provides a brief but educational insight into the life of the front and the impact of the war on the borderlands.

The route takes you through the former ballistic missile base and its surroundings, introducing you to the legacy of World War II, the tensions of the Cold War, and the reality of Soviet occupation. Students will visit underground missile silos, a military camp, and memorial sites that reveal both the everyday lives of soldiers and the importance of the resistance movement and the preservation of historical memory. The excursion provides an opportunity to understand 20th-century security policy, ideological conflicts, and human experiences under totalitarian regimes.

Saaremaa and Hiiumaa are the two largest islands in Estonia and form the Estonian border in the west of the country. Efforts to construct and improve the coast protection infrastructure on the islands have been ongoing at all times. Battles between different troops took place during both World War I and World War II. National partisans remained active on the island of Hiiumaa even after the war.

The tour features sites related to the events of the Estonian War of Independence from Pärnu in western Estonia to the Latvian border town of Valga. The Estonian War of Independence was fought from 1918 to 1920.

The route introduces the places of memory of the War of Independence, World War II and the Soviet occupation. Students will visit the deportation memorial site "Railway Tracks Remember", the War of Independence monuments in Nigula and Haapsalu, as well as the Haapsalu Railway and Communications Museum, where history becomes tangible through objects and stories.

On the route, you will get to know the events and memorial sites of significant events of the Awakening in the Latvian capital of Riga and its surroundings, starting with the manifestations of non-violent resistance at the Freedom Monument on June 14, 1987 and ending with the adoption of the legal act of state sovereignty expressing the will of the Latvian people - the Declaration on the Restoration of the Independence of the Republic of Latvia on May 4, 1990 and the Law on the State Status of the Republic of Latvia - on August 21, 1991.

This 20 km long excursion in the Setomaa region takes students through important stages of 20th century history – from the Freedom Struggle to the Soviet occupation. On the route from Värska to Saatse, you can explore the Freedom Struggle Monument, the former Northern Camp and the Värska Visitor Center, as well as the Saatse Museum, which reveals stories of border life and culture. The excursion combines historical knowledge with real-world experience, allowing you to understand the unique role of the Setomaa region in Estonian history.

The route runs through the southern part of Latvia along the Lithuanian border, and then turns along the border of the European Union – through Latgale towards Balvi. It con nects the two most distant points of Latvia – Liepāja in the south-west of Latvia and Balvi in the north-east of the coun try, presenting evidence of the Second World War both in the Kurzeme Pocket, and in eastern Latvia. The route also reveals the consequences of the war – the Soviet occupa tion and its heavy impact on the fate of the people of the 20th century. This route, or a part thereof, can be connected to the following routes in Lithuania: “Legacy of the Cold War and Soviet Occupation in Žemaitija”, or “The Scenes of Soviet Lithuania”, or “The Military heritage along the Iron Curtain”.

On the route, you will learn about the evidence of the armed resistance movement against the Soviet occupation regime in Sēlia , the sites of national partisan bunkers, and visit battle and memorial sites, as well as learn about the memoirs of partisans and their supporters.

Karosta is the largest historical military area in the Baltics, occupying almost a third of the territory of Liepāja. It is a unique complex of military and fortification heritage on the Baltic Sea coast, where luxurious late 19th-century architecture and military severity intertwine.

The port was built for the needs of the Russian Empire by order of Tsar Alexander III. Construction began in 1890, creating an autonomous military city with a port, fortress, church, schools, power plant and water supply. The new port was opened in 1893, and the main construction work was completed in 1906.

At the beginning of World War I, part of the port and fortress were destroyed, and in 1915 Liepāja was occupied by German troops. During the Soviet era, Karosta was a closed military area, but the last Soviet soldiers left it in 1994.

Today, Karosta is one of Liepāja's most popular tourist attractions.

On the route, you will learn about the evidence of the armed and non-violent resistance movement against the Soviet occupation regime in Zemgale , the activities and memorial sites of school youth and national partisans , and get to know the memoirs of resistance movement participants and their supporters.

This educational tour takes you through the most important stages of Estonian military and aviation history – from World War I and the independence struggles to World War II and the Soviet occupation. On the route from Valga to Lange, students will visit the Valga Military Museum and the Estonian Aviation Museum, where they will not only learn about history, but also experience it through interactive activities. The tour combines educational content, practical experience and exciting technology.

This short but very intensive excursion to Riga, the capital of Latvia, introduces the system of repression and mechanisms of power during the Soviet occupation. By visiting the Latvian Occupation Museum and the “Corner House”, students experience an authentic insight into the fate of people, the conditions of imprisonment, and the impact of the totalitarian regime on society.

The tour explores the presence of the Soviet army and the KGB* during the 50 years of Soviet occupation in Latvia and Estonia. Army bases, secret military facilities and military airfields were constructed and operated during this time, and closed military territories were established. The loyalty of the country’s population to the Soviet regime was tested by the KGB, and those who resisted were morally and physically destroyed.

The tour features sites related to the Christmas Battles: the attack of Latvian Riflemen on German army units in 1916 in especially harsh winter conditions. Christmas Battles are considered to be the most well-known and dramatic event in the history of Latvia in World War I. 

The route is located in Kaunas and introduces the stages of Lithuania's military history - from the First and Second World Wars to the Soviet occupation and the Cold War. Students will visit Kaunas Fort IX, the KGB nuclear bunker and the Vytautas the Great War Museum, where they can understand war crimes and repressions, as well as the activities of the secret services and the development of military equipment.

The counties of Pärnu and Lääne are located on the west coast of Estonia. Osmussaar is a 4.8km2 Estonian island situated in the mouth of the Gulf of Finland, which was used as a border outpost. A Soviet army unit was stationed on the island after World War II, and the island became a closed military zone. 

The route “National Partisans on the Border of Latvia and Estonia” introduces the heritage of World War II, the Soviet occupation and the Forest Brothers resistance movement in Vidzeme and Setum. The journey begins at Stompaku Bog and Alūksne Museum, continues with memorial sites and bunkers, including “Jumba” and the places where the Forest Brothers lived, as well as Metsavenna Talu, where you can experience the everyday life of the partisans. The route ends at Võru County Museum, providing a broader insight into the history of the region and the significance of the resistance movement in Baltic history.

The route “Border Towns of Two Countries – Valka and Valga” introduces the most significant historical evidence of the 20th century on the border of Latvia and Estonia. During the tour, participants learn about the First World War, the Latvian independence struggle, the Second World War and the period of Soviet occupation, visiting such objects as the exhibition “Valka – the Cradle of Latvian Independence”, the Valka underground bunkers and the Valga railway station.

The next stop is Valga, where you can visit the Freedom Struggle Monument and the Valga Military Museum – a theme park with interactive activities and military equipment exhibits. The approximately 5 km long route provides an opportunity to understand the common historical development of the two cities and the importance of border towns in the history of the Baltic States.

Activities and memorial sites of the Ventspils Communications Group of the Central Council of Latvia , dedicated to the secret refugee boat operations from the coast of Kurzeme to Gotland in Sweden.

During the Soviet occupation period in World War II and immediately after the war, many in Latvia and Estonia could not accept life under the occupation regime and wanted to restore the independence of their countries. They went into the woods, lived in dugouts that they built themselves and carried out attacks on Soviet repressive authorities. People hoped that Western nations would not tolerate the Soviet occupation and that Latvia and Estonia would soon be independent again. National partisans continued to fight battles until the end of the 1950s.

This 25 km route from Tartu to Lange introduces students to the heritage of the Estonian War of Independence, World War II and the Soviet occupation, combining battlefields, monuments and museum exhibitions. The trip includes learning about the history of Tartu military aviation, seeing the KGB camera museum, the remains of the anti-tank line and monuments of the War of Independence, and finally exploring the Estonian Aviation Museum.

The tour features sites associated with the events of the end of World War II, from October 1944 to May 1945 when the German army retreated from Rīga to Kurzeme, where 6 major battles took place in different parts of the Kurzeme front. Because of the brutal battles, this period of the war is known as the Courland Cauldron, Curland Pocket or Kurzeme Fortress. The Red Army was unable to conquer Kurzeme until the capitulation of the German army.

This route in Kurzeme covers the Latvian struggle for independence, the legacy of World War I and the Soviet occupation. It starts at the Oskars Kalpaks Museum “Airītēs” and leads through Skrunda to Liepāja and Karosta. Along the way, you can get to know Kalpaks’ personality and the events of the War of Independence, as well as the environment of the Skrunda Manor and the military heritage of Liepāja, including Redan, the Northern Forts and Karosta Prison. Finally, in Karosta, a strong historical contrast is revealed — from coastal defense fortifications to the experience of imprisonment and military life, which allows you to experience several layers of 20th-century history in one place.

The route introduces the history of World War II, the national partisan and Soviet occupation periods, as well as the restoration of independence. Students will visit military fortifications, museum exhibits, a mine-clearing ship and a resistance movement museum, which reveal the reality of war. The excursion combines authentic places, interactive experiences and personal stories about the historical events of the 20th century.

This route in Vidzeme leads through the battlefields of the First and Second World Wars and the legacy of the Soviet occupation, tracing the events from Tīnūži to Morei. Students will visit the surroundings of Tīnūži Manor, Ropaži and Allažmuiža, as well as the Morei Battle Museum and Memorial Park, where they can understand the significance of the battles of 1944 in the history of Latvia. The excursion combines historical knowledge with an authentic battlefield experience in a natural environment.

The route connects two capital cities – Riga and Vilnius – as well as two major cities outside the capital cities of Lithuania and Latvia – Kaunas and Daugavpils – passing through five historical regions. On the route, you may visit the most important military sites bearing evidence of the historical events of the last century and the beginning of this one. This is a continuation of “The Great Cross-Border Route – Military Heritage of Latvia and Estonia over 100 Years”, which covers Estonia and Latvia (Vidzeme, Kurzeme). This route, or parts thereof, can be connected to the following routes in Latvia and Lithuania: “Military heritage along the Iron Curtain”, “Scenes of Soviet Lithuania”, “World War I and the Wars of Independence in Southern Latvia”, “The Sites of Battles of Latvian and Lithuanian National Partisans – the Forest Brothers”, “World War II and its Aftermath – Soviet Occupation in Southern Latvia and Latgale”, “Partisan Roads and Trails in Aukštaitija”, “Latgale – the Eastern Border of Latvia”.

This route takes you through the most significant memorial and educational sites from the Soviet occupation of Latvia, starting from the “Corner House” in Riga to exhibitions in Sigulda, Līgatne and Skaļupės. Students learn about the mechanisms of the totalitarian regime, people’s fates and stories of resistance, using both authentic buildings and museum exhibitions.

Latgale is the eastern border area of Latvia, the Baltic states and the European Union. Historically, Latgale has been at the crossroads of various historical events and territories. It was neither spared by the two world wars in the 20th cen tury, nor by the period of Soviet occupation that followed the last war. The route offers a wide variety of military herit age sites, with objects from all periods of the military his tory of the 20th century, as well as the opportunity to learn more about the creation and protection of national bor ders, both historically and in the present day. This route, or a part thereof, can be connected to the following routes in Lithuania: “Partisan Roads and Trails in Aukštaitija”, “The Sites of Battles of Latvian and Lithuanian National Partisans – the Forest Brothers”.

The tour features military heritage sites and formerly closed areas as visitors make their way through the Lahemaa National Park, the city of Rakvere in the northern part of the country and Narva, a Russian border city in the east.

The tour explores the events of the Battles of Cēsis in 1919 when the armed forces of the Latvian Provisional Government, together with the Estonian army, defeated units of the German Landeswehr and the Iron Division. In Estonian war history, these battles are known as the Landeswehr War. The Battles of Cēsis are among the key events in the Latvian War of Independence and in protecting the independence of the newly established Latvian state proclaimed on 18 November 1918.

The Baltic states were the westernmost frontier of the Soviet Union during the Soviet era and the Cold War. Behind the frontier was what Soviet propaganda called the “rotting West”. The borders of the USSR were thoroughly guarded to prevent the Soviet people from seeing and experiencing what life was like for people to the west of the border of the USSR. Even individual fishing in the Baltic Sea was banned for fear that people would flee in their boats across the Baltic Sea to Sweden. This was a time when the Baltic states were located within the territory behind the so-called Iron Cur tain, which could only be crossed by a “chosen few”, who were often those close to the regime. When the totalitarian Soviet regime collapsed, so did the Iron Curtain. Although the main theme of the route is the Second World War and its aftermath – the Soviet occupation, the Cold War and the Iron Curtain – it also includes sites from other military periods of the 20th century and the present day. This is a continuation of the route of the same name, which starts in Tallinn, Estonia, and runs along the coast of Estonia and Latvia: “Military heritage along the Iron Curtain. Route by car from Tallinn to Liepāja”. This route, or parts thereof, can be connected to the following routes in Latvia and Lithuania: “Scenes of Soviet Lithuania”, “Legacy of the Cold War and Soviet Occupation in Žemaitija”, “World War I and the Wars of Independence in Southern Latvia”, “Along the Baltic Way from Vilnius to Riga”, “World War II and its Aftermath – Soviet Occupation in Southern Latvia and Latgale”.

The route enables the traveller to understand the extent of the Soviet occupation and the traces it left in Lithuanian history, while revealing the ability of people to preserve their identity and fight for independence. The Soviet occupation of Lithuania lasted for about five decades. World War II was followed by Soviet repressions, resistance by national partisans, the militarisation of Lithuania during the Cold War and the regaining of independence by Lithuania. Lithuania was also strategically important to the USSR due to its proximity to Western countries, which is why military installations were deployed there. The route also includes some sites belong ing to other periods of the military history of the 20th cen tury. This route, or a part thereof, can be connected to the following routes in Latvia: “World War II and its Aftermath – Soviet Occupation in Southern Latvia and Latgale”, “World War I and the Wars of Independence in Southern Latvia”.

This tour in Tallinn introduces students to significant sites of military history and occupation heritage from the First World War to the Soviet occupation period. By visiting the Paterei Sea Fortress and the Lennusadam Museum, students will be able to understand both the harsh reality of war and repression, as well as the development of naval and aviation technologies. The route offers an exciting and emotionally engaging opportunity to learn about history in an authentic environment.

The tour features military heritage sites near the capital Tallinn and museums that introduce the history of wars at different times and the period of Soviet occupation across Estonia.

The tour introduces the military heritage of Latvia and Estonia, which dates back more than 100 years from World War I to the present day. The focus is on the emergence of both countries at the end of World War I, explaining how they protected their existence in the Wars of Independence, how both countries were destroyed during World War II, why national partisans resisted Soviet occupation more than ten years after the war and how independence was restored after decades of occupation.

The route passes through the southern part of Latvia, ap proaching the Lithuanian border, and stretches from the extreme west – Liepāja – to the south-east – Daugavpils, the second largest city in Latvia. The route is themed around World War I and the subsequent Latvian War of Independ ence. This route, or a part thereof, can be connected to the following routes in Lithuania: “Legacy of the Cold War and Soviet Occupation in Žemaitija”, or “The Scenes of Soviet Lithuania”, or “The Military heritage along the Iron Curtain”.

The route follows the so-called Baltic Way Corridor. The Baltic Way took place on 23 August 1989 at around 19:00, when two million people in the three Baltic states joined their hands for 15 minutes to form a living chain of around 670 km that joined the three Baltic capitals – Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn. The route also includes some sites belonging to other periods of the military history of the 20th century. This route, or parts thereof, can be connected to the following routes in Latvia and Lithuania: “Military heritage along the Iron Curtain”, “Scenes of Soviet Lithuania”, “World War I and the Wars of Independence in Southern Latvia”, “The Sites of Battles of Latvian and Lithuanian National Partisans – the Forest Brothers”, “World War II and its Aftermath – Soviet Occupation in Southern Latvia and Latgale” and ''Resistance to the Soviet occupation regime in Zemgale''.

This route, located in Vidzeme, connects the testimonies of the Latvian War of Independence, World War II, the Cold War and Soviet repressions, starting in Cēsis - at the exhibition "The Fire of Conscience" and ending at the Melanija Vanaga Museum on the Amata side. Along the way, students will be able to experience both the historical significance of the Cēsis battles at Ieriķi station, and the stories of the national partisan movement in the forest brothers' bunker, as well as learn about the experience of Soviet deportations through museum exhibitions and virtual installations. The route provides an emotionally multi-layered insight into Latvia's 20th century history, combining battle sites, memorials and personal stories of survival into a single experience.

The Baltic coast served as the country’s western border during the Soviet period. The border between the USSR and the western countries was known as the Iron Curtain, as it functioned to isolate those living in the Soviet state from the rest of the world. Home to army bases, coast guard towers and batteries, most of the coastal area in both Latvia and Estonia was closed during the Soviet era. Local residents needed special permits for leaving and entering the area. Despite strict security measures, there were frequent attempts to cross the border and flee the USSR to the West.

The route is dedicated to the Christmas battles of the First World War. It starts at the Antiņi Brothers' Grave Memorial and leads through the Latvian Riflemen's battle sites in Tīrelpurva to Ložmetējkalns and the Christmas Battle Museum "Mangaļi". Along the way, you can see trenches, dugouts, a hospital warehouse, the LVM observation tower and the "German Wall", which is a unique section of German defensive fortifications in the Baltics, providing a vivid picture of the experience of the riflemen's battles. Finally, in the "Mangaļi" museum, you can explore both the indoor and outdoor exhibition with authentic fortification elements, as well as go on a 7 km educational trail with 18 stops, which expands your understanding of the place of historical events.