SANATORIUM “SAULSTARI”
Due to the unique natural and infrastructural conditions, the Latvian Anti-Tuberculosis Society and two of the sickness funds (insurance organizations) decided to establish sanatoriums specifically in Ogre. The numerous hills, the Kangari Hills stretching through the entire city, and the dry pine forests were considered a particularly desirable environment for health improvement, as the air […]
Due to the unique natural and infrastructural conditions, the Latvian Anti-Tuberculosis Society and two of the sickness funds (insurance organizations) decided to establish sanatoriums specifically in Ogre. The numerous hills, the Kangari Hills stretching through the entire city, and the dry pine forests were considered a particularly desirable environment for health improvement, as the air in coniferous forests is rich in phytoncides, which possess a strong antibacterial effect. Moreover, the railway line from Riga to Ogre, in operation since 1861, made it possible to reach the sanatoriums almost as quickly as today.
The sanatoriums in Jaunogre and Pārogre were specifically built as sanatoriums from the outset, which is why their locations were chosen near hills and forests, and they have always remained relatively secluded. For the former sanatorium building in the central part of Ogre, the city’s development has significantly altered its original appearance. It is located next to the Riga-Daugavpils highway, so Ogre residents have most likely seen this building more often.
More information about Ogre’s sanatoriums can be found in Volume 1 of the book “Ogre Museum Writings” — in Ilmārs Dirveiks’ study “Sanatorium “Ogre”” and Pārsla Pētersone’s article “Ogresgrīva Manor,” as well as in Karīna Horsta’s book “Sanatorium Architecture in Latvia 1918–1940.”
We invite you to explore the history of Sanatorium “Saulstari” through images and a concise description.
“OGRE KANGARI” HIKING TRAIL
We invite you to explore the hiking trail to better discover the hills of Ogre. View the photo gallery and read the story on the museum's website or Facebook page. By looking at historical images, you can compare how the city has changed over time. We have marked the route in the "BalticMaps" map browser. The “GPX” file is convenient to use with the LVM GEO mobile app. The total length of the hiking trail marked on the map is 14 kilometers (7 kilometers in Pārogre and 7 kilometers in Ogre center and Jaunogre). The hiking trail winds through both the urban part of the city (with asphalt, cobblestone, and gravel surfaces) and green areas (park paths and pedestrian-trodden forest trails without special amenities).
