8. Kurzeme

Kurzeme or Courland is one of the most colourful and interesting natural regions in Latvia.

Itinerary of excursion:

We depart from Riga at 09:00 am. The road tends to one of four administrative regions of Latvia – to Kurzeme.
Kuldiga district is the final district in the west; it is on the borders of Ventspils, Tukums, Saldus and Liepaja districts. Through this district flows river Venta. Kuldiga district is special with its nature when you compare it to rest of Latvian nature. There is maritime plain in the northeast of Kuldiga district, in the middle part there is highland of Westcourland, but in northern part there is highland of Eastcourland.
We arrive in Kandava – one of the finest provincial towns of Kurzeme – and a visit of Orders Castle ruins. Passage to Kuldiga.
Kuldiga was country of ancient Kurshi (an ancient Latvian tribe). We find the first written evidences about it in Scandinavian saga in 10th century. During the economical prosperity in 17th century Courland had had colonies in Africa and America. Kuldiga was the capital of Courland in ancient times.
As early as in 17th century Kuldīga became profitable for expeditors, because trade routs of river Venta tended as far as a Rumba fall, where goods were reloaded.
Acquaintance with the city of Kuldiga. We will have an excursion in the Old City and sightseeing tour of cultural heritage – St. Catherine’s Church (16th century), Trinity Church (17th century). You will also see well-preserved houses of 18th to 19th century. Kuldiga is the only city in Latvia, where solely wooden constructions has preserved with typical narrow streets and red tile roofs of the city.
You can visit playing-card museum – the only one of that kind in whole Baltic States. You will see Abavas falls (broadest waterfall in Latvia), Riezupes Sand Caves (longest caves in Baltic States). Labyrinths of Cave are made artificially. Abavas valley is one of the natural spacemen with worldwide significance.
We will return late in the evening.