Mazirbe – Livonian Cultural Heritage and Coastal Trails

The annual Līvu svētki is a Livonian cultural festival; it also included a hands-on workshop on making symbolic torches.

Mazirbe combines Livonian cultural heritage with coastal trails and historic memorial sites. The village is home to the Lībiešu tautas nams, the “Stūrīši” Museum and the Jūrtaka section that runs through Mazirbe. Historic buildings and transport routes provide further insight into more recent history.

The Lībiešu tautas nams was built in 1938–1939 with support from Estonia, Finland and Hungary. The 16-kilometre Jūrtaka section from Sīkrags to Saunags passes through Mazirbe. The restored museum of ethnographic objects, “Stūrīši”, was opened in Mazirbe and received official museum status.

The Lībiešu tautas nams was built according to a design by the Finnish architect Erki Hutunen. It is considered his only project completed abroad. In the building, you can learn about a collection of Livonian household objects and listen to recordings of the Livonian language. The site therefore offers not only an architectural connection to Livonian culture, but also access to everyday objects and language.

Further memorial sites complete this picture. A memorial plaque in Mazirbe commemorates the Livonian poet and cultural figure Kārli Stalte. The Stūrīši Museum is located in one of the oldest houses in Mazirbe, built in 1888. The Mazbānīša Trail also includes the site of the former railway station, marked by a memorial stone.

More recent history can also be seen in the buildings and transport routes. The former Mazirbe maritime school building also served as a primary school. The building also housed a Soviet army post; a border checkpoint was located on the Ventspils–Kolka road. This information should be understood as historical context, not as a description of current functions.

The Jūrtaka route running through Mazirbe is available for a longer coastal section. The route from Mazirbe to Saunags can be cycled along the historic coastal trail. On the Jūrtaka section running through Mazirbe, the signs are labelled in Latvian and Livonian. This is particularly relevant if you want to take the local bilingualism into account when choosing a route.

A sandy coastal strip stretches between Sīkrags and Mazirbe Beach, crossed by the Mazirbes upīte. As a result, the possible experiences differ clearly: a longer Jūrtaka section connects several villages, while the historic coastal trail between Mazirbe and Saunags is also described as a cycling route.

At Sudrabkalni in Mazirbe, you can buy smoked fish. This specific local offering complements the cultural and trail-related themes with a culinary aspect, without implying that the entire village has a general dining offer.

Other destinations include Košrags, Saunags, Dundaga, Kolka, Dūmele and Pitrags.

What is the boat cemetery of Mazirbe?

The boat cemetery of Mazirbe is the only site of its kind on the Latvian coast. It consists of old fishing boats that were dragged into the dunes in the 1950s and 1960s after individual fishing was prohibited in the border-regime zone.

What is the significance of Mazirbe Evangelical Lutheran Church?

Mazirbe Evangelical Lutheran Church was built in 1868. Services were formerly held there in the Livonian language. The 36-metre-high church tower served sailors in the Irbe Strait to determine the vessel’s location.

What is the “Pa līvu takām” walk?

“Pa līvu takām” is a 3.5-kilometre guided walk. It conveys Livonian cultural heritage and leads to significant historic sites in Mazirbe. In terms of its format, it therefore differs from a route that can be cycled or walked independently.

Where can you buy smoked fish in Mazirbe?

You can buy smoked fish at Sudrabkalni in Mazirbe.

To the overarching travel overview: Dundagas Novads.