Vilgāle: Discover Lakeside and Culture

• The pier on Lake Vilgāle is 80 metres long.
• The lake is the largest in Kuldīga Municipality. Its average depth is 1.9 metres and its maximum depth is 3.6 metres.
• The Rīva flows out of Lake Vilgāle and reaches the Baltic Sea.
• Vilgāle can be reached by public and private transport.

A wide belt of reeds surrounds the lake. A pier provides access to the water, and there is also a swimming area by the lake. There is also a changing cabin and a recreation area on the shore.

A pontoon pier extends into Lake Vilgāle and was built in 2024. The pier on the lake is 80 metres long. It is located on the shore beside the reed belt and the swimming area.

The connection between the stage hill and the shore is also clearly described: steps lead down to the lake from the hill by the open-air stage. There are several viewing points and rest areas along the steps. This means you can consider the elevated area by the stage and the shore as two connected points of your visit.

An open-air stage overlooking Lake Vilgāle is located in the centre of Vilgāle. It serves as a cultural landmark in the village, while the steps down to the shore connect the stage hill with the lake.

The Pagastmāja building houses a local history exhibition. Its content may vary depending on the event theme. The Pagastmāja also houses the Ēvalds Valters memorial room, which opened in 2024.

A description of the opening in April 2024 lists furniture, musical instruments, documents and paintings from the artists’ estate, as well as an extensive library belonging to the two artists. The Ēvalds Valters memorial room opened in April 2024.

The “Peldam Vilgālē” swimming event has been held at Lake Vilgāle since 2015. One documented event was the ninth edition. This gives the event a verifiable place in the lake’s recent history without assuming that it takes place on a fixed annual date.

Lake festivals are also held at Lake Vilgāle. If you would like to combine your trip with a festival or the swimming event, check the dates of the respective events in advance. That way, you can plan around a specific date instead of assuming the event takes place regularly.

Vilgāle can be reached by public and private transport. A notice dated 30 May 2025 describes a regional bus service connecting Kuldīga with Vilgāle via Pūces, and then returning to Kuldīga. Check the current timetable before travelling so your plans are based on the services running on your travel date.

The lake’s geographical setting may also be of interest when planning your trip: it is the largest lake in Kuldīga Municipality. The Rīva flows out of the lake and reaches the Baltic Sea. Both the lake itself and its connection to the river are therefore notable geographical features of Vilgāle.

Discover more destinations: Veldze, Padure, Kuldīga, Īvande, Renda, Vārme, Ķimale.

How do you get from the open-air stage to the lakeshore?

Steps lead down to the shore of Lake Vilgāle from the hill by the open-air stage. There are several viewing points and rest areas along the steps.

What facilities are there in the swimming area at Lake Vilgāle?

There is a swimming area, a changing cabin and a recreation area on the shore. A wide belt of reeds surrounds the lake.

What can you discover in the Pagastmāja?

It houses a local history exhibition, whose content may vary depending on the event theme, and the Ēvalds Valters memorial room, which opened in 2024.

Which regional bus service is described?

A notice dated 30 May 2025 describes the route from Kuldīga via Pūces to Vilgāle and then back to Kuldīga. Check the current timetable before travelling.

For the broader travel overview: Kuldīga Municipality.