The name of our village derives from an old Latgalian word iudiņi, which means water. Īdeņa is possibly the only fishing village in Latvia, which is not located by the sea. It is situated on a hillock overlooking the Lubāna Plains and offers a magnificent view of the lake, especially at sunset.
In the earlier days, Īdeņa was an island surrounded by a lake and wetlands. Traditional island architecture and fishing traditions are still partially preserved in the area.The houses are located not by the modern road running through the village, but on the side of the lake, because boats were earlier used for transportation and fishing. Other features of old building traditions are also visible, including reed roofs and windowless walls facing the lake and protecting the houses from the strong, chilly winds from the lake. Fishing is still main occupation for the inhabitants of the village and guarantees a daily supply of fresh fish.
The area of Lake Lubāns is extremely rich in archaeological heritage, including over 30 settlements and other monuments. The first settlers arrived in the area more than 9000 years ago, and the region was densely inhabited by Stone Age fisher-hunter-gatherers over the next several millennia. The later phases of prehistory in the village are represented, for example, by the Brikuļi fortified settlement of the Bronze Age and the Īdeņa Late Iron Age hillfort.
