Jacob's Road

This is a unique small town in a certain sense, and it is the only one in the Baltic States which has remained in place since the 17^th and 18^th century. The town is around the small Alekšupīte River, and in some places the stream runs along the walls of the buildings. Because of this fact and the many bridges that are in town, Kuldīga has become known as “the Venice of Latvia.” Baznīcas, Liepājas, Kalna and other streets are full of interesting cultural monuments.

Alsungas vecajā muižas rijā ir iekārtots suvenīru veikals, kur var iegādāties Suitu novadā ražotus praktiskus suvenīrus „Tapis Suitos” un citas noderīgas lietas: lakatus, cimdus, zeķes, traukus, zāļu tējas u.c. Bērniem te organizē radošās darbnīcas. Rijā var satikties (iepriekš piesakoties) ar Suitu sievām, uzzināt par suitu tradīcijām, dziedāt un iet rotaļās. „Rijai” piešķirta kultūras zīme „Latviskais mantojums”. 

Saimniecība atrodas ļoti skaistā vietā - Talsu pauguraines rietumu nogāzē, no kuras paveras skats uz Talsiem un to apkaimi. Atvērta saimniecība, kurā audzē un pārstrādā ābolus (žāvēti, ābolu čipsi, sulas). Viesus gaida izzinoša ekskursija, produkcijas iegāde un degustācija. Atrodas īpaši aizsargājamā dabas teritorijā – Talsu pauguraines dabas parkā. Vasaras sezonā ceļotājiem piedāvā telšu vietas. Rāda, kā veidot augļkoku vainagu. Saimniecības dārzos, kas plešas Talsu pauguraines nogāzēs, ir savāktas dažādas ābeļu šķirnes - saimniece veido un attīsta vietējo šķirņu kolekciju. Pie saimniecības uzstādīts arī informatīvs stends, kas iepazīstina ar Talsu pauguraines dabas parka nozīmīgākajām vērtībām.

Saimniecības teritorijā tiek piedāvāta svinību un ceremoniju vieta; pieejama stikla oranžērijas un teritorijas noma pasākumiem. Piedāvājums jaunlaulātajiem - ābeles stādīšana “Kurzemnieku” paradīzes dārzā, foto sesijas.

Blakus Lestenes luterāņu baznīcai esošajos kapos ir pārapbedīti vairāk nekā deviņi simti 2. pasaules karā kritušo karavīru, galvenokārt Kurzemes cietokšņa, Zemgales un Vidzemes kaujās kritušie. Karavīru piemiņai uzstādīts tēlnieces Artas Dumpes veidotais piemineklis “Dzimtene Māte – Latvija”. Lestenes brāļu kapi ir otrā lielākā 2. pasaules kara laikā kritušo latviešu karavīru apbedījumu vieta Latvijā aiz Rīgas Brāļu kapiem. Uz kapu plāksnēm ir iegravēti ~ 11 000 karavīru vārdu, taču domā, ka to skaits nākotnē pieaugs līdz 20 000.

Pret dienvidiem vērsta Abavas senlejas krasta nogāze, kur jau hercoga Jēkaba laikā audzēja vīnogas, no kurām darināja skābenos Kurzemes vīnus. Vīnogu audzēšanas (tālākais ziemeļu punkts Eiropā) tradīcijas šeit turpina arī mūsdienās.

Lauku sēta “Lūķi” ir vieta Jūrkalnē, kur būt mierā un klusumā pie dabas. Atpūtu iespējams baudīt namiņos dārzā vai lielajā mājā. Katra vieta ir iekārtota tā, lai viesi justos ērti un netraucēti. Sētā ir gadiem veidota ainava ar lieliem ozoliem, tējas dārzu, autentisku pirti un dārza nojumi. Apskatei pieejams arī salons ar seniem un mūsdienīgiem amatnieku darinājumiem. Sēta piemērota mierīgai atpūtai vai ģimenes svētkiem.

Atrodas iepretim Sv. Trīsvienības baznīcas tornim. Piemineklis (autore A. Dumpe) veltīts pirmajam Latvijas Valsts prezidentam Jānim Čakstem (1859. – 1927.).To atklāja 2003. g. 14. novembrī, kas sakrita ar laiku pirms 81 gada, kad valstsvīru ievēlēja nozīmīgajā amatā.

Muižas ansamblis Milzkalnē - Slocenes upītes krastā ir sācis veidoties 15. gs. kā franku tipa slēgts komplekss ordeņa saimniecības vajadzībām un mūsdienās ir vienīgais saglabājies šāda tipa nocietinātas muižas (kā muižnieku patvēruma vieta uzbrukuma gadījumā) paraugs Latvijā. 17. gs. beigās tika uzcelti vārtu torņi ar grezniem vējrāžiem, bet 18. - 19. gs. - arī saimniecības ēkas. No sākotnējās apbūves saglabājies mūris ar šaujamlūkām. Vienā no kompleksa spārniem ir izvietots Latvijas Ceļu muzejs. Muižas galvenajā ēkā izveidotas naktsmītnes, te piedāvā ekskursijas un lauku labumu degustāciju. 

The museum offers information about the history of chocolate, allowing you to learn all about the process, from raw materials to finished products. You can also prepare and taste your own bitterly sweet treat in the creative workshop. Products are available at the little store that is next door to the museum.

The late Baroque and early Classicism building was commissioned by Duke Peter Byron of Courland and Zemgale, and it was built between 1773 and 1776 on the basis of a design by a Danish architect.  It was the castle of Duchess Anna.  The first university in Latvia, Academia Petrina was established here in 1775 and named after Duke Peter.  The first observatory was installed at the academy in 1772, and a high school was in the building during the age of the Russian Empire.  Among graduates are distinguished Latvians such as Krišjānis Barons, Jānis Alunāns and Jānis Čakste, as well as the Lithuanian Antanas Smetona.  The Jelgava Museum of History and Art took over the building in 1952, and in 1975 it was named after the Old Master Ģederts Eliass (1887-1975).  The exhibition speaks to the history of the city and surrounding area during and after the period of the Duchy of Courland and Zemgale.  Outside the impressive building are four cannons from the period of the duchy, as well as monument to Eliass that was designed in 1987 by the sculptor Jānis Zariņš.  Another monument, “Lāčplēsis and the Black Knight,” was designed by the sculptor Kārlis Jansons and commemorates the liberators of Jelgava.

The first wooden church was built here in 1252, and the brick church was built in 1665.  It burned down and was restored in 1672, but it was rebuilt in later years.  There are important artistic monuments in the interior of the church – the altar, the pulpit and the painted organ.  Legendary Duke Jacob Kettler of Courland (1610-1682) was baptised in the church and married Princess Charlotte Louise from Brandenburg in it.  During the Soviet era, the church housed a museum and a concert hall.  According to legend, the name of the church is based on a woman called Catherine, who donated funds to build the church, was subjected to lies, tortured and then proclaimed as a saint.  Above the side entrance is a medallion of a woman with a crown of thorns, torture equipment and a sword in her hand.  Elements of this story can also be seen in the herald of Kuldīga.  The steeple of the church offers a good look at the roofs of the ancient part of the city.

This Latvian tradition farmstead, located 12 km from Jelgava, offers to learn about ancient bread baking traditions, Latvian annual festivals, and various types of handicrafts, such as weaving and making puzuri decorations and beeswax candles. The house is designed and decorated in the traditional Latvian style and exudes an authentic ambience while having modern facilities. The heart of the farmstead is a barn with a bread baking stove. The hosts bake rye sourdough bread from “Dobeles dzirnavnieks” flour and the traditional salinātā rye bread from “Grauda spēks” flour. Salinātā rye bread is registered in the EU food quality scheme as a product with traditional speciality guaranteed.

The hosts offer to enjoy various traditional seasonal activities. Please arrange your visit in advance.

Piltene is one of the smallest and oldest cities in Latvia, first mentioned in 1295, and being granted the rights of a city in 1557.  Between the 14th and 16th century, Piltene was the administrative centre for the Bishopric of Kurzeme.  The historical streets that surround the castle ruins feature wooden buildings from the first half of the 19th century.  The bishop’s castle in Piltene was built at the turn of the 14th century and used until the 16th century.  Only its foundations and fragments of its tower on the banks of the Vecventa River survive.

The first stone castle in Alsunga was built in 1372, starting with the central part of the southern wing. The authorised representative of the Livonian Order, who was subject to a higher-ranking official in Kuldīga, lived here. The guard towers and other parts of the castle were gradually added between the 15^th and the 18^th century. The Baroque castle with its two towers is quite impressive. The castle is unique in and outside of Latvia in that it is one of the rare Medieval castles to have survived to the present day in part, but in its original historical appearance.  The castle offers an exhibition about its history.  Visitors can look at a Suiti kitchen, write a letter with a fountain pen in Barbara’s boudoir, or celebrate a special event in the romantic venue of the castle’s round tower. Renovation of the castle began in 2018, and it is closed to visitors.  Still, you can look at its exterior and tour its garden.  

The Jelgava Castle stands between the Lielupe and Driksa rivers. The Baroque castle was designed by the well known Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, and this was the most important piece of early work that he did. The Latvian Agriculture University is housed in the castle today. A museum was established in 1968. +371-6300-5617. The socle story of the south-eastern wing has the graves of rulers from the Duchy of Courland – members of the Kettler and Byron dynasties, which ruled from 1569 to 1791. There are 18 restored sarcophagi here.

The square structure with walls that are nearly two metres thick became known as the Gunpowder Tower during the rule of Duke Jacob, because that is what was stored here.  There might have been a well here, because groundwater is close to the surface.  The tower and the castle were linked by a 12-metre bridge on one pillar.  The tower is only visible from the outside.

Tukums in the historical sources is mentioned in 1253 agreement of the Livonian Order and the Bishop on the division of Kursa. If the town's name is translated from the Liv language, it means "a pile, mountains of sand". at the beginning of 14th century German merchants and craftsmen settlement was formed at the Livonian Order stone castle, whose flowering was facilitated by the proximity of Riga - Prussian road. Later the city was largely influenced by the construction of Riga - Tukums railway in1877. During the Soviet period the on the eastern outskirts of Tukums, the largest Soviet military airfield and military town in the Baltic States was deployed. Today Tukums is a district centre of the same name with a wide range of services offered to tourists.

A country farmstead in vicinity of Valdeķi. A room for guests in the hosts' home. Guests can see farm animals. Country sauna with birch and juniper besoms, herb teas. Volley-ball grounds, 10 tent places.

The owners have a large collection of old-time tools and can talk about how they were used at the farm. Families with children can help to take care of livestock in the evening (feed the animals, milk a goat, etc.)

This is the widest water fall in Latvia – 249 metres wide and up to 1.75 metres high.  This is an interesting natural, cultural and historical object in that it is linked to various events and legends.  Duke Jacob of Courland invented equipment to catch fish.  It was fastened to the cliffs of the waterfall, and this created the tale of a city where salmon and other fish who were leaping across the waterfall fell into the nets and were thus caught in the air.  During Jacob’s rule, there was talk about digging a canal around the waterfall to ensure shipping, and work began on the project.  During the early 18th century there was the idea that the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea could be connected via the Venta, Nemuna and Dnieper rivers.  Turkish prisoners of war continued to dig the canal, but the local dolomite cliffs were a problem.  Attempts to blow up the cliffs led to damage to nearby buildings, so the work ended.  The impressive ditch can still be seen today.  In 2012, a wooden pathway was installed on the right bank of the Venta to offer a good look at the waterfall.  It is worth visiting here during various seasons of the year, when different types of fish migrate.

The church was opened in 1651 after half a century of sometimes interrupted construction.  It was fully rebuilt and took on its current appearance in 1876.  The church contains one of the most important church objects in Latvia – the oldest pulpit in the country (1590).  It was designed in the style of Mannerism.  The church also has a bell from a wrecked chapel of the local knighthood.  The bell was manufacture in 1450 and was installed at the church in the 19th century.  It is the oldest church bell in Latvia.  The German painter F. Wolff painted the altar painting, “Christ on the Cross,” and it, along with the altar, have recently been restored.

The Gardening Institute is the leading scholarly centre for fruit and vegetable research in Latvia.  The institute specialises in selection and introduction of plant cultivars that are suitable for cultivation under the agro-climatic conditions in the Baltic countries, have high nutrition value and are rich in fibre content.

Kandava is first mentioned in the articles in 1230. In 1253 the Livonian Order built a stone castle at the upper part of Abava valley shore, at the foot which of an urban area formed. In the 17th century Kandava became an important trading centre. The plague epidemic and developments of World War I hit the town and its people hard. Kandava got the town rights in 1917. During soviet Soviet times, Sports Complex of Jaunkandavas agricultural Technical School became a popular training venue.

In the Berzini homestead they bake exceptionally tasty wheat and rye bread in accordance with the old folk recipes. The taste and smell is the result of baking bread in a special oven which is more than 70 years old. It is possible to order bread, or, having booked a visit beforehand,  to make and bake your own bread loaf. The owners will teach you bread baking traditions and use recipes from their ancestors to bake loaves in a true bread oven.

On the banks of the Venta River is a treasure of wooden architecture – the so-called Bangerts Villa, which relates to romantic stories and legends and was recently restored.  It is said that a man known as Captain Bangerts bought the villa as a gift to present to his Parisian bride.  The Kuldīga Administrative District Museum has been in the building since 1940.  Since reconstruction, unique wall paintings and other interior design details have been restored, and the flat of the Bangerts family allows people to see how wealthy residents of the city lived in the early 20th century.  Also on display are some of the sets of playing cards that have been collected by Jānis Mētra.

Painted in dark colours, this building dates back to the 17th century (the square around it is cited in documents).  The city’s first prison was in the cellar of the building, and the square was historically a place for residents of the city could gather and suffer punishments.  A pole of shame was at the south-eastern corner of the square.  The building now houses the Kuldīga Tourism Information Centre and a workshop for weavers.  Visitors can purchase products and souvenirs from Kurzeme and watch weavers at work.