Discover Tukums: Old Town, Art and Crafts

• The Castle Tower is a fragment of the oldest building in Tukums, the castle of the Livonian Order.
• The Tukums Art Museum is Latvia’s first provincial art museum (1935/1936).
• The weaving workshop at the Tukums Museum has been active since 1974.
• Brīvības Square is considered the starting point for a walk around Tukums.

Tukums Old Town includes Harmonijas, Dārza, Zirgu, Jaunā, Talsu and Lielā Streets. Many old timber-frame houses and outbuildings can be seen there, with few alterations. If you are interested in historic buildings, a walk lets you take in not only individual buildings but also these different types of structures.

The Castle Tower is a fragment of the Livonian Order’s castle, considered the oldest building in Tukums. This makes it a tangible point of reference for the city’s history. Another historic site is the town park, laid out in 1869 near Lielā Street at the suggestion of the Governor of Courland.

The Tukums Art Museum presents Latvian art through works from its own collection and private collections. Its distinction as Latvia’s first provincial art museum (1935/1936) also connects a visit to the country’s museum history. If you are interested in Latvian art, you will find a different way to experience Tukums here than by exploring its historic buildings.

At the Tukums Museum’s weaving workshop, visitors can learn about the traditional ethnic clothing of the Tukums area and try their hand at weaving. The workshop has been active since 1974. The straw workshop offers another opportunity to take part: visitors can learn basic straw- or hay-working skills, make their own figure and take it home. Both workshops offer insights into craft activities as well as the chance to try something for yourself.

Today, Brīvības Square has benches, flower beds and a fountain, and is considered the starting point for a walk around Tukums. The Rose Route was created to help people find their way around Tukums as the city of roses. This gives you different points of reference as you explore: the square as a starting point for a walk and the Rose Route as a dedicated orientation aid.

The Rose Festival also reinforces the city’s connection with roses. It grew from a small florists’ festival into a Tukums city festival held every two years. At the festival, visitors brought a rose of their own to add to the festival wreath. This gesture gives the event a tangible connection to the rose, rather than describing it by its name alone.

Slokenbeka Manor is in Milzkalne, on the bank of the Slocene River, 5 km from Tukums. Its ensemble houses the Latvian Road Museum. You can include this as a separate excursion outside Tukums when planning your trip; the distance of 5 km is from Tukums.

If you would like to compare other destination pages in the travel guide, you can also find Lapmežciems, Lamiņi, Lancenieki, Rideļi, Tume, Slampe, Zentene and Pētertāle.

What is special about the Tukums Art Museum?

It presents Latvian art through works from its own collection and private collections. It is Latvia’s first provincial art museum (1935/1936).

Can you try your hand at crafts in Tukums?

Yes. You can try weaving at the weaving workshop; at the straw workshop, you can make a figure from straw or hay and take it home.

How far is Slokenbeka Manor from Tukums?

Slokenbeka Manor is in Milzkalne, on the bank of the Slocene, 5 km from Tukums. The Latvian Road Museum is located in the manor ensemble.

For the broader travel overview: Tukuma Novads.