Hotels in Ventspils between the Baltic Sea coast and nature trails

The Ventspils Municipality is located in northwestern Latvia, in the Kurzeme region on the Baltic Sea coast. Its coastline is approximately 97 kilometres long, while forests cover 64 percent of the municipality. The landscape also includes the avenue of Zūri Manor, which is considered the longest double-row avenue in Latvia.

Nature

The Moricsala Nature Reserve encompasses Moricsala, covering 83 hectares, the 33-hectare island of Lielā Alkšņu, and the 702-hectare Luziķērte Bay in Lake Usma. Moricsala is home to more than 100 rare and protected species, as well as a distinctive, rare primeval forest landscape. The Usmas Elkrags nature trail offers views of Moricsala, which forms part of the Moricsala Nature Reserve established in 1912.

The Ance Bogs and Forests area is a Natura 2000 nature reserve in the parishes of Ance and Tārgale. It contains little-altered forest, bog and lake habitats that are important for rare and endangered breeding bird species. The Stiklu purvi bog complex is the largest bog complex in western Latvia and is particularly important for breeding and migratory birds. In the Vasenieki Bog, a boardwalk leads through the landscape, allowing visitors to discover the flora and fauna of a peat bog.

At the mouth of the Irbe River, a 2-kilometre-long sandbar forms. The Baltais kalns dune between Jaunciems and the mouth of the Irbe is 23.6 metres high. Near Rīva, there is a scenic spot with a waterfall and a fish passage built in 2020.

Trails and Coast

The Usmas Elkrags nature trail is 700 metres long, lies on Lake Usma, and is specially adapted for people with reduced mobility, senior citizens and families with small children. “TAK-Ugāle” is an approximately 6-kilometre-long, surfaced walking trail laid out as a loop through Ugāle, a hundred-year-old forest and ravines formed during the Ice Age.

The Jūrkalne Nature and Recreation Park comprises a wind park, a fire pond and two nature trails leading to the central beach. The “Rīvas loki” hiking trail begins at the Ulmale-Labraga Lutheran Church in the Jūrkalne Parish and offers views of river bends and steep coastal outcrops. The Jūrkalne bluff rises up to 20 metres above sea level in places; there is a viewing platform, benches and stairs along the bluff.

The pedestrian bridge over the Irbe was renovated in 2020 to make travel for pedestrians and cyclists along the former narrow-gauge railway line easier and safer, and to connect Miķeļtornis with routes for active tourism.

Culture and History

Ovišu Lighthouse is considered Latvia’s oldest surviving navigational structure. It is a 33-metre-high, cylindrical masonry tower. Tours of Ovišu Lighthouse should be booked in advance. Nabeļkalns is a state-protected archaeological monument and marks the historical boundary between the territories of the Livonian Order and the Bishopric of Courland.

Zlēku Karātavu kalns is a state-protected cultural monument with a recreation park, the environmental installations “Fēnikss” and “Visuma acs”, and a landscaped walking path. The “Vētru muzejs” local history museum in Jūrkalne tells of victims of the Baltic Sea’s natural forces, as well as antiquities found on the beach and recovered from the depths. One of the three historic churches of the Suiti region forms part of the Suiti cultural space, which has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The local history exhibition in Zūri presents old tools and work processes and offers guided tours and master classes.

Regional Products

The Pasiekste Windmill is a place where families can enjoy a meal together. A farm offers slowly raised, fresh poultry meat as a 100 percent Latvian regional product. A small family business maintains the tradition of home-smoked products and makes them according to recipes passed down through generations.

Other Places

Other places: Vendzavas, Liepene, Ugāle, Vārve, Pasiekste, Zūras, Akmeņdziras, Ziras, Ventava, Leči, Ventspils, Jūrkalne, Lielirbe, Pope, Užava, Miķeļtornis, Usma, Dzirnavas.

To the main travel overview: Latvia.