Guide of Ventspils

Ventspils is a port city in Latvia, it is situated on the Baltic Coast and has received substantial investment thanks to shipping money. This chilled-out small city is an excellent place to spend a few days thanks to its good museums, beaches and parks.

A brief history of Ventspils

Ventspils developed around the Castle built along the Venta River. It was chartered in 1314 and became part of the Hanseatic League. The settlement developed as a shipbuilding centre for war and trading ships. The Duke's fleet set out from Ventspils to colonize Gambia and Tobago. Ventspils was destroyed during the Polish-Swedish War and the Great Northern War, and in 1711 a plague wiped out most of the remaining inhabitants. In 1795 Ventspils went under the control of the Russian Empire; subsequently, the port was modernized in the 1890s and connected to Moscow by rail. By 1913 it had become one of Imperial Russia's most profitable ports. The population also population soared, growing from 7,000 in 1897, to 29,000 in 1913, but during the German occupation from 1915–1919, the population decreased almost by half. In 1939, once again under Soviet rule, an oil pipeline to Ventspils was built and became the USSR's principal port for exporting crude oil. After independence in 1991, the Latvian government began a city-beautification process to make the city more attractive to tourists.

Things to do in Ventspils

The old town is a beautiful place to stroll around, and most of the beautiful buildings are situated around the Market Square. There are some nice former storehouses from the 17th century preserved and at the crossing between Tirgus and Skolas Street, is one of the oldest houses in Latvia, built in 1646.

Ventspils Castle is well worth a visit because its one of the oldest and most well preserved remaining Livonian Order castles and has retained its original layout form the 13th century. Through its 700-year history and has been used as a fortress, residence, garrison, school, military base, and prison; in 1995 it was restored to its 19th-century appearance, and converted into a museum. The International Writers' and Translators' House opened in 2006, housed in the former City Hall. The building has been reconstructed to accommodate creative work, and everyday needs of writers and the Ventspils Central Library is just next door. Another fun place for kids and adults is the Ventspils Adventure park; it features a 140m long tube sliding track, bumper cars and boats, a trampoline complex as well as inflatables! There are easily enough activities to keep the whole family entertained for the entire day. Beach waterpark is another fun place to visit; it features waterslides, saunas and pools. Ventspils House of Crafts is a delightful shopping experience; the shop sells lots of handmade gifts and handicrafts.

Beaches around Ventspils

Ventspils zila karoga pludmale is Ventspils' most popular sandy beach.  There are lifeguards and volleyball nets on the beach during the summer months. If you travel north along the coast, you reach Pārventas pludmale, which is another sandy beach, the water is clean, and there are beautiful dunes at the back of the beach.