Dzimtā meža Stirnu buks

At the end of last year, as we gathered feedback from participants of the Stirnu buks 2024 trail running series, we were delighted to see that, just like Sprīdītis, all roads for our runners lead to the happiest land—home! The creatures of Mūsmežs (Our Forest) also dream of having at least one stage each season that feels like a place to return to every year.

Where else could that be, if not in the beloved and native Pietukums Forest, the home of Stirnu buks? Our local poet Imants Ziedonis once said:
"There must be a place where you arrive burdened with worries, and suddenly—your heart aches from the beauty. Latvia is a breathtakingly beautiful country, but beauty needs help to reveal itself."

We wholeheartedly recommend to all our kinfolk to take a moment atop Āžu Hill, breathe deeply, and take in the stunning expanses of Latvia’s nature and the enchanting Mūsmežs (Our Forest).

These forests near Rauda are not only the birthplace of the trail running series in 2014 but also steeped in mystical stories and legends—truly a forest of specters! Wise men say that, in terms of energetic power, this place rivals the legendary Pokaiņi Forest. The Rauda Forest is unique because it exhibits a striking contrast of energies—here, positive and negative energies meet face-to-face. Theologian Ralfs Kokins delved into the forest's mysticism in his book "Kurzemes vilkaču nostāsti" ("The Werewolf Tales of Kurzeme").

Whether you come for the legends, the trails, or the sense of home, Rauda Forest is a place that invites you to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the magic of Latvian nature.

Read more:: VisitTukums.lv