Fishermen’s toughness and Couronian pertinacity cultivated through the centuries have helped inhabitants of Ventspils to make informed decisions and work professionally and purposefully, bringing their city to previously unseen levels of development over the last two decades. What was once a place nobody wished to live in has turned into a modern, tidy, flourishing city with a pleasant and friendly living environment, sprawling infrastructure and a vast variety of cultural, educational, sporting and leisure facilities.

We have set ambitious goals and learnt from world’s best practice, acting out our skills and knowledge in the development of the city. Last twenty years have changed the community’s opinions about what excellent communications and street pavement is, what urban architecture and landscape must be like, and what high-quality social and physical infrastructure is. The wide choice of services at sports & fitness clubs, libraries and cultural, medical and educational institutions is a matter-of-fact. Inhabitants of Ventspils are used to perfection. If something goes wrong, they immediately notice and try to fix it.

Ventspils is a family-friendly city opening up various possibilities both for families living here, and visitors with children from other cities and countries. Harmony between the modern port, innovative plants and factories, and the beautiful and tidy beach that has been flying the Blue Flag since 1999 makes Ventspils a very special place.

Ventspils is a city that won’t leave you indifferent! It is like a small country within a country. There is no need to travel outside Latvia to feel a breath of Europe – you will find everything in Ventspils where even time is counted differently and where flowers, in spite of rhythms of life dictated by nature, break into blossom earlier than in other places of Latvia, and holidaymakers can enjoy an easy walk along city’s cobbled streets. Ventspils is a capital of flowers and fountains; all over the city (even in electrical posts) you can find colourful cow sculptures, but streets, parks, squares and courtyards are decorated with flower sculptures, figurative flower compositions and tasteful flowerbeds. Ventspils is in unwithering bloom even during the hottest summer days.

Ventspils does not accept the popular excuse “It’s not possible!” We always find a creative solution to all problems. For instance, excavated soil after the street reconstruction was used to create an artificial ski hill. Ventspils is attractive in all seasons: the Adventure Park is for adrenaline lovers; the Narrow Gauge Railroad Train and children’s recreation parks are perfect for families with children; the Beach of the Blue Flag and dunes offer good sunbathing conditions even if the air temperature is just 15° C, not to mention the Water Adventure Park’s and SPA Complex’s pleasures, stargazing with an up-to-date telescope at the observatory and unforgettable cosmic impressions at the most contemporary digital planetarium in the Baltics (which is the only one in Latvia)… Ventspils offers all this and much, much more.

In 2002, Ventspils hosted the Cow Parade 2002, which is one of the largest and most successful public art events in the world.

27 natural-size glass fibre cows were then turned into spectacular works of art and sold in a charity auction. Six exhibits from this Cow Parade in Ventspils are still remnant in the city.

In 2012, marking the 10th anniversary of the “Cow Parade Ventpils 2002” events, Ventspils streets, squares and parks once again gave

home to 24 colourful and diverse participants of “Cow Parade Ventspils 2012”. After the charity auction the cows have moved to their new owners, but some of them still delight the residents and guests of Ventspils. All in all there are seventeen of them 3, a little bit bigger cows have joined this herd- Sailor Cow, Travelling Cow, Flower Cow – all of them 4m high and 7m long.

The Livonian Order Castle (of 13th century) is the only medieval building in the Ventspils City preserved till nowadays. However, the ancient network of streets and dimensional structure of squares are still here.

Ventspils developed rapidly as a commercial harbour in the years of growth of Kurzeme Dukedom, therefore the most active building works took place in vicinity of the present Market Square where a number of former storehouses of 17th century are preserved, and a dwelling house at the crossing of Tirgus and Skolas Streets is one of the most ancient houses of such type in Latvia (built in 1646).

Next to the Market Square, in historical school building on Skolas street, there is located Ventspils House of the Crafts (2007). International Writers’ and Translators’ House (2006) was opened in premises of the former City Hall (1850), on the City-Hall Square. The building is reconstructed to accommodate creative work and everyday needs of its writers. The recently renovated Ventspils Central Library (2006) and Evangelic-Lutheran Church of Nikolay (1835) are located next to it. The City-Hall Square, the Market Square and the Ostas Street Promenade are popular walk places.

Bushnieku lake is unique with its location positioned about 10 meters above sea level, while distanced only 1,5 km from the Baltic Sea. The water surface area of the lake makes up 330 hectares, and the maximum depth of the lake bed is 2,8 m. The lake homes many different kinds of fish: perch, carp, crucian carp, pike, tench, roach, rudd, burbot all live here, as well as an eel.

Bushnieku lake is a lagoon lake that has formed in the interdune trough. The elevation of the ridges of the dunes varies within 20,8 m to 23,6 m height above sea level. There is a nature park at the western side of the lake that is a part of the network of NATURA 2000 European protected natural areas called “Сoast of Bushnieku Lake”, that was created in 2004 and occupies an area of 49 hectares.

Bushnieku lake became a wonderful nature reserve for anyone who loves outdoor activities, the stunning natural beauty can be enjoyed by swimmers, boatmen, but also by cyclists, joggers and anyone who enjoys to go for a walk, as well as the bird watchers.

The Implementation of the “Improvement of the infrastructure of natural nature reserve “Shore of Lake Bushnieku”” project provides the citizens of the town and its guests with a wonderful opportunity to try out the 8 km trail around the Bushnieku lake: the Nature trail of Bushnieku Lake. Nature trail of Bushnieku Lake is surrounded by pedestrian and bicycle paths that were built around the lake and also by 187 m long pedestrian bridges, at the end of which there is an observation platform for bird watching, and a place for swimming and picnics.

The Livonian Order Castle is one of the oldest medieval fortresses that has survived to this day. In 1290 the castle was first chronicled and this date is now considered to be the year of Ventspils’ foundation.

In 1995 there was begun extensive archaelogical research and renovation of the Castle. Renovating the Castle, there were retained both niches of the 14th century and wall paintings of the 15th century, door openings of the 17th century and prision doors of the 19th century. Now outwardly the Castle has obtained its 19th century look.

The Livonian Order castle differs from other medieval fortresses with its interior, where modern design of museum exhibits’ stands harmonizes with the historic environment. There is located the museum of Ventspils which is recognized as one of the most up-to-date museums in Baltic States.

You can learn about the

history of the Castle, the city and the port via the digitalised exposition “Living History” which has earned the praise of historians and is regularly updated with new information. For great visual effects you may visit the image gallery “Ghost Cellar”. There was opened the Exhibition of the Prison Kroņa maizē which is established in a building built in the Castle yard (in 1850). The exposition lets you catch a feeling of supervision and spying inherent to prison, and also witnesses the versatile history of the Livonian Order Castle.

The Livonian Order Castle offers activities all year round: concerts, history and art exhibitions on various topics.

For younger audience museum’s employees offer educational activities and creative workshops, which in active way stimulate interests about Ventspils’ history. With booking in advance you can try your skills in archery or shoot with real cannon.

You can experience spirits of the passed times and test your skills in archery.