The mound was registred the first in 1882 by A.Bilensteins. In 1926 E. Brastins published the description of the mound. There was an expedition lead by J. Graudonis in 1968.

There is a well-equipped recreation place.

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It is located between Zabornaja and Podgurji. People also call it Napoleon redoubt. In 1812 according to the order, the guns of the French army were placed on the mound to repeal attacks of the Russian army.

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Located in Vecracina of Naujene parish on the right bank of the River Daugava, 2.5 km to the south of the railway station in Izvalta. The settlement is surrounded by a deep ravine (depth about 18-27 m) from the east and south-east. There is a small observation tower. A memorial cross of Old-believers is erected here to remind about the cemetery, that was destroyed because of the planned construction of the Daugavpils HES. Vecracina Mound is a National Сultural Monument.

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It is a new-opened mound (1998) and is located near Belarus border. It is visually impressive and well-preserved. The flick ceramics is found in the cultural layer. It was inhabited from the end of the first millennium BC till the middle of the first millennium AD. Robeznieki Mound with the settlement is a National Сultural Monument.

On May 25 in 1998, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage Expedition while visiting the archaeological monuments in Daugavpils region, discovered a mound, which was previously unknown to scientists. It is a mountain, about 15 m high, where trees do not grow, with a broad, evened area, with artistically formed descents and with the pronounced mound silhouette. The mound is not damaged, though, probably before WWII it had been destroyed. The cultural layer was found not only at the top of the mound itself, but also at its foot, and judging by the dish fragments that were found there, the mound dates to the first half of the first millennium BC till the first half of the first millennium AD.
The mound has connections with a widespread and ancient Baltic typical flick ceramic culture of Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus, that is characterized by its forming without potter’s wheel and with dish that was worked up with the help of plant mops.

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It is located on the left ancient bank of the river Daugava near Daugavpils. It is partially damaged by the war trenches. The goods for fishing network, the handmade dish fragments and other antiques were found in cultural layer. It was inhabited from the first millennium BC till the first millennium AD. Lasini (Lasenberga) Mound (Gorodok) with the settlement is a National Сultural Monument.

Additional information:
The first information about Lasini mound appeared in late 30s of the 20th century. Lasini mound is made on a ravine formed by a stream on the left bank. In other places the mound rises above the nearest surrounding 4-5 m height. The mound has a round form. The dimensions of its plane are 40×43 m. The plane has a small descent to the East direction. On the East and on the East side, 6-8 m below the plane, the mound is covered with 2-3 m wide terrace, which in SE direction turns into up to 3 m deep ravine between the mound and up to 3 m height rampart. The second rampart is made on the SW mound’s foot where the height is the smallest. The first rampart is crossed by the mound’s entrance which goes deeply into the ground. The mound’s plane is partially damaged by a number of the war-time trenches.
In the mound plane, in slopes, SE and NW, the intensive cultural layer was discovered, where the goods for fishing network and the handmade dish fragments (smooth, iron, flick and other ceramics) were found and this allows Lasini mound dating from the first millennium BC till the first millennium AD.

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It is situated 0,5 km from Maskovska Orthodox Church in the direction of Ambeli. There is a picturesque view on the Viski Lake.

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In the surroundings of Markova Mound, there is a 1.6 km long Markova cognitive trail. There are several objects located on this trail: Markova Cemetery, Markova Mound, Putānu Streem, Putānu Streem Boulder etc. There are a number of protected plant species, such as snowdrop windflowers and rolling hen-and-chicks.

Freely available to visitors every day.

Free of charge

Excursion offer “The Secrets of Augsdaugava” 
Naujenes novadpētniecības muzejs, +371 65471321, naujenesmuzejs@inbox.lv, www.naujenesmuzejs.lv
Preliminary reservation is obligatory!

The aim of this excursion is to give and insight to the Augšdaugava Landscape Protected Area and Daugavas Loki Nature Park, objects included in the route: Naujene Local History Museum, Vecpils Hillfort, Dinaburg Castle Model and a nature path, Vasargeliski Sightseeing Tower, Markova Cognitive Path, Slutiski Old Believer’s Village and exposition “Slutiski Old Believers’ Rural Court”.
Guide services – 7.00 €  excursion for a group from 1 to 35 persons.

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The Naujene mound, which was inhabited since the 8th century, is considered the founding site of Daugavpils. In 1275, instead of the Naujene mound, the castle of Dinaburg, as a border fortress facing Lithuania, was built by the Livonian Orden Master Ernest von Racenburg. Almost immediately after the castle was built, it was surrounded by Lithuanian troops under the leadership of King Troiden. Nowadays only ruins of the castle remained, but there is a stone model of this castle on the mound, and historical exposition about the castle in Naujene local history museum.

Nearby is located Dinaburg Nature Trail and recreation area “Knights’ glade”.

Excursion offer “The Stone Dinaburg Livonian Order’s Castle”
Naujenes novadpētniecības muzejs, +371 65471321, naujenesmuzejs@inbox.lv, www.naujenesmuzejs.lv
Preliminary reservation is obligatory!

This excursion introduces Vecpils Hillfort – the place where Dinaburg (Daugavpils) was founded; it is possible to walk by the nature path to the ruins and the model of the Dinaburg Castle, after the excursion – have a rest on the “Knights’ Glide” (“Bruņinieku laukums”) – equipped outdoor rest place.
Guide services – 7.00 € for a group from 1 to 35 persons

From the history of Dinaburg Castle:

In 1275, the Dinaburg castle was built by Ernest von Raceburg, the Livonian Order Master, in the place of Naujene castle mound as a border fortress to protect against Lithuania. As soon as the castle was built it was surrounded by the Lithuanian army under the leadership of king Troiden.

In the 13th century the area inhabited by Latgalians included also the current south-east part of Latgale, which was the property of the Order since 1264. Regions inhabited by the Selonians on the west bank of the River Daugava stretched to Naujene, which was on the right bank of the River Daugava that was mentioned in the document dated 1259 as the farthest eastern point of the border of the Selonians’ land.  One of the three main crossing points of the Daugava River was near Naujene (the other two were near Selpils and Dole Island) which were used by Lithuanians in order to invade Vidzeme. In this place (near the Lithuanian border) the Livonian Order decided to build the Dinaburg castle. The evidence to this can be found in the travel description written by Chillebert de Lannua in 1413, “From Koknese I went up the Libyan river (Daugava) with my sledge and reached a castle owned by the Livonian masters and called Daugavpils, which is the last castle they own on the Lithuanian border.”

In 1888, the first excavations were conducted under the guidance of V. Neimans. As a result, they discovered ancient foundations of the castle covered by 7-9 feet of ruins and rubbish. From 1811 to 1829 castle ruins were intensively used as a building material, by the time of the first excavations the upper part of the castle wall had already been destroyed – the stones and bricks had been broken out and taken to Daugavpils for the construction of the new fortress. Despite the brutal destructions, enough information was obtained to get a clear picture about the size and the layout of the castle.

The castle building was approximately 59 m long at its largest place and approximately 26 m wide at its widest place (on the west). Very large bricks (dimensions 30 x 14 x 10 cm), stones (mainly for foundations) and limestone plates were used as a construction material. The entrance to the Dinaburg castle was on the east through 2 front castles which were surrounded by stone walls and ditches. They could be easily dammed up and filled with water and thus it was harder to force them. The castle could be entered by crossing a drawbridge through the gate protected by special towers. The oldest (eastern) wing of the castle was likely built when Ernest von Raceburg was the Livonian Order Master, while the northern and the western wings were likely built around 1313 when Master Gerhard von Jorke restored the castle and Master Gosvin von Herike built 4 towers in 1347. Only two tower places – in the SE and SW corners – were certainly found during excavations. It might also be possible that the Master Gosvin von Herike also fortified front castles with tower-like constructions. Three cellar rooms were located in the eastern wing of the castle. The entrance building of the castle comprised a castle chapel, which had been accurately built with colourful profiled vault ribs, door and window edges, on the second floor. The hall of chapter of priests was in the northern wing, next to the chapel, while the meeting and dining room was in the western. The western wing on the Daugava side also comprised living rooms of the manager. There were kitchens, stores, heated rooms and dormitory of the Order brothers (bedrooms) under the mentioned rooms. A wide courtyard was in the southern part of the castle. All buildings of the castle were surrounded by a thick masonry wall, near which in the southern part was either a narrow wooden building or a breastwork support building.

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