Lielirbe
Lielirbe combines a restored bridge, historic paths, and the multifaceted history of a Livonian coastal village. The place is particularly suitable for travelers who want to combine experiences in nature with traces of cultural history while also looking for concrete points of reference when choosing where to stay.
The area of Lielirbe borders the Ovīši Nature Reserve.
Key facts about Lielirbe
The bridge is part of the Jūrtaka long-distance hiking trail. Cyclists can use it on the international EuroVelo 13 and EuroVelo 10 cycling routes. Following its restoration, it also enables pedestrians and cyclists to use the historic nature trail “Līvzemes Mazbānīša taka.” Jūrtaka is a long-distance hiking trail; EuroVelo 13 and EuroVelo 10 are international cycling routes.
The bridge over the Irbe, renovated in 2020, is open for use and can be safely used by pedestrians and cyclists. At the same time, no more than eight people may be on the bridge at once. It is particularly important for crossing within the village: it is the only way to cross the river in Lielirbe.
What guidelines apply to the Jūrtaka?
Near Lielirbe, the Jūrtaka section passes a seasonal nature reserve at the mouth of the Irbe. Staying there is prohibited from April 1 to August 1. This time restriction is one of the specific conditions of the trail section and should be taken into account when choosing the travel period.
Lielirbe extends along both banks of the Irbe for approximately 6 kilometers to its mouth at the sea.
What role did the port play?
The maritime past goes back a long way. A map from the second half of the 17th century shows a port in Lielirbe. In the late 19th century, the small port was an active center for the timber trade and timber transport. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, more sailing ships were launched in Lielirbe than in any other coastal village in Courland.
What does the Livonian local history reveal?
In the 1920s and 1930s, Lielirbe was the only Livonian coastal village with a Livonian majority. In 1939, approximately 70 houses and around 300 inhabitants were recorded. At the same time, Lielirbe was one of the largest villages to disappear after the Second World War. The local history therefore encompasses both a clearly documented Livonian character and a profound transformation of the settlement.
A memorial plaque and a wooden cross mark the site in Lielirbe of the Baptist prayer house that stood there until 2011. Thus, in addition to the port, bridge, and transport routes, the site also points to the religious history of the former settlement.
For a further comparison of locations, you can also visit Dzirnavas, Zūras, Akmeņdziras, Ugāle, Vārve, Pasiekste, Jūrkalne, and Usma.
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What was Lielirbe formerly called?
The name Lielirbe was first recorded in 1387 in an arbitration document as “Irvemünde.”
What archaeological traces are there?
Several burial mounds in Lielirbe are classified as archaeological monuments.
When was the first school in Lielirbe opened?
The first school in Lielirbe was opened in 1872 as an Orthodox elementary school and existed until the First World War.
To the higher-level travel overview: Ventspils.
