The must-see attraction of Ventspils has got to be the Livonian Order Castle, one of the oldest medieval castles still standing in Europe. The restoration uncovered details from down through the centuries but it was finally restored to its 19th century greatness.
An unusual visit that relies on good weather and and car hire Ventspils to get you there is to the Seaside Open Air Museum which celebrates everything to do with the sea in Latvia. From bathing machines to smokehouses, fishing boats to lighthouses, there’s so much to see and do there.
Ventspils Mini Guide
The city of Ventspils has a populous of around 43,000 and is located in the north west of the country of Latvia.
The city sits on the river Venta and also the coast of the Baltic Sea. The city is an important sea port for the country with much trade in and outbound due year round. Much of the city's success as a port is due to the ice-free nature of the port enabling merchant traffic to trade.
This successful port has made the city the wealthiest of the country. The city can also be accessed by Ventspils Airport that handles both national and international flights.
One of the most historic buildings of the city is Ventspils Castle which dates back 700 years and is preserved in its original layout. The castle has had many purposes throughout the history of the city including being a school, a military base and a prison. Today, however, it has been converted into a museum.
Ventspils today has made a great effort to attract a growing tourist trade to Latvia and promotes itself as a modern European city filled with cultural events and entertainment. The streets around the city are kept to the highest standards of cleanliness and make for great driving around and sightseeing.
In past decades due to the oil trade in the port the beaches were considered an ecological disaster area but with a lot of hard work by the city it has cleaned up the spills and now has a blue flag beach award.
The promenade on the coast is now a great location to spend evenings with festivals frequently held there.
Useful Links: