Known as Alšvanga in the past, this place was mentioned for the first time in 1231 in an agreement that was signed between the deputy legate of the pope in Rome and the Courlandian tribes of the region.  The Livonian Order ruled the territory until 1561, and from 1573 until 1738 the order’s castle belonged to the von Schwerin dynasty from Pomerania.  It during the rule of this aristocratic family that a stone church was built in honour of Archangel Michael, and local residents began to convert to Catholicism.  Alsunga became the Catholic centre for all of Kurzeme, and local residents became known as the Suiti (from the Schwerin suite).

For nearly 400 years, Alsunga has been the historical centre of the Suiti territory.  This is Latvia’s most conservative region and is widely known with unusual songs, colourful folk costumes and various folk traditions and beliefs.  The Suiti have their own dialect, foods and many other things that have been long since abandoned or forgotten elsewhere in Latvia.  The religious has commingled with the folk here in one unique whole.  The Alsunga District covers 191 km2 and has some 1,500 residents.

One of the most unusual houses of worship in the national park, this one has a red brick tower, and together with local residential buildings it makes up an interesting cultural landscape.  The prayer house is not open to the public.

The craftsman manufactures barrels, hot tubs, furniture, stairs, doors and other useful objects. You can take a tour, learn about the relevant skills and experience, and help in manufacturing something that will be of use in the household. You can watch how barrels are made from start to finish, and also try your own hand at the craftsmanship.

The Vējupīte ravine is meant for those who are not afraid of long and steep wooden stairs of the type that lead you up and down the ravine. From the Līvkalns guesthouse, you can climb the stairs downward, where you will find a shallow (3.6 m) but high (6.1 m) cave – the Pēters Cave. It is something of a gap or a niche. Another 10 minutes or so downstream (toward the Gauja) will lead you to the deep Pūces ravine and its Kraukļupīte River. The Satezele castle hill is at the confluence of the two rivers (90 x 75 m). A wooden castle was there during the feudal era in the early 13th century. Its main entrance was on the western side of the castle hill. You can get to the hill from the depths of the ravine via a wooden staircase. The Kraukļi ravine, in turn, is accessible if you climb down the same stairs and continue on your way toward the Gauja. The ravine is found on the left bank of the Vējupīte, and its sandstone walls are up to 11 m high. The Kraukļi cave, which is 5.2 m deep, is on the wall. Another 10-15 minutes (crossing the Vējupīte on a wooden bridge), and you will find another staircase leading you to Paradīze Hill (see the description above).

You can learn how to cook fish soup here, and the recipes are based on hundreds of years of fishermen's traditions in the Upper Aukštaitija region.  You'll learn all about local dining traditions, local lifestyles and traditions since the 13th century.  You can go fishing, as well as mushroom and berry picking.

Līga Reitere is a ventiņi story teller and a specialist in herbs, and in an old school classroom, she teaches penmanship and the ventiņi dialect.  An informational tour is available, and visitors can purchase products and souvenirs from Kurzeme.

Along the A9 road and 500 metres from the turn in the direction of Rīga in Lestene is a memorial by Ojārs Feldbergs which was set up in 1991 in the former Rumbas homestead to commemorate defenders of the Kurzeme fortress.  Despite the fact that the Soviet forces were ten times larger, the Latvian troops allowed some 300,000 Latvian war refugees to escape the horrors of the Soviet Union.

The farm produces tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers, strawberries, apples, plums and cherries. The fruits and vegetables are available for purchase.

Camping, sauna by the sea, picnic places, rest in a romantic wooden house and accommodation in tents, canopy rental, rental of places for outdoor events.

A friendly place for families, children and all interested parties. You can go on a tour or individually look at and learn about marmosets.