Sēlija is home to five towns—Aknīste, Ilūkste, Jaunjelgava, Subate, and Viesīte—as well as the parts of Aizkraukle, Daugavpils, Jēkabpils, and Krāslava located on the left bank of the Daugava River. The region also comprises 42 rural parishes.
Viesīte is widely regarded as the centre of Sēlija. This status is linked to its historical importance as the main hub of the narrow-gauge railway network that once connected much of the region, with its principal depot located in Viesīte. The town is also home to the Viesīte Cultural center “Selonia”, one of the largest and most impressive cultural buildings in rural Latvia.
The spirit of Selonia (Sēlija) resonates in the music of Pēteris Barisons and Arvīds Žilinskis. Its landscapes, people, and traditions are reflected in the literary works of Jānis Jaunsudrabiņš, Rainis, Aleksandrs Grīns, and Jānis Veselis, while artists such as Ligita Caune and Valdis Kuprs have captured the region’s beauty on canvas.
The cultural and historical heritage of Selonia is shaped by its traditional farmsteads and farmstead clusters known as salas (“islands”), charming small towns, ancient Selonian hillforts, and winding gravel roads that lead through forests and fields. The region is also distinguished by its rich religious heritage, where Lutheran, Catholic, Old Believer, and Orthodox churches stand as enduring landmarks of faith and community.
Selonia is a place of unspoilt landscapes, deep-rooted traditions, and authentic cultural experiences—a region where history and nature exist in harmony.
Sēlija welcomes you!