Ventspils, Latvia

Lighthouses in Ventspils, Latvia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ventspilis._Isplaukia_krovininis_laivas,_2006-09-22.jpg
Author: Algirdas
photo licensing

Ventspils is a coastal city in northwestern Latvia. Covering 55.4 sq km (21.4 sq mi), it has a population of 44,000 people, making it the sixth most populous city in the country. The city is located at the mouth of the Venta River as it empties into the Baltic Sea. Ventspils means "Castle on Venta River".

As with many cities in Latvia, Ventspils had its start around a medieval castle. Ventspils Castle, built next to the Venta River in the 13th century, is the oldest and best preserved of the Livonian Order castles.

In the 14th century Ventspils was a trading city and member of the Hanseatic League. The city was destroyed a number of times, during the Polish-Swedish War and the Great Northern War. Its population was shaved by a plague which swept through the region in 1711.

Ventspils Castle
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ventspils,_Latvia.jpg
Author: Toms Baugis
photo licensing

When the city came under the Russian Empire, its growth was stalled until the middle part of the 19th century, when it began to grow again through trade and shipbuilding. It also became one of the most important ports for Russia.

Today Ventspils has a highly developed economy compared to the rest of Latvia. Transport, storage and communication is the biggest contributor to its economy, followed by the construction sector.

Visiting Ventspils

You can reach Ventspils by bus from Riga and Liepāja.

Port in Ventspils
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ventspils_port.jpg
Author: liftarn
photo licensing

Places of Interest in Ventspils

Aqua Park
This is a water theme park for children and families.
Seaside Open-Air Museum
Museum that preserves the history of Latvia's fishing villages, it displays buildings used by the fishing community, reassembled here.
St Nicholas Lutheran Church (Sv. Nikolaja Luterāļu baznīca)
A lovely church in yellow and white at the old market square.
St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church (Sv. Nikolaja pareizticīgo baznīca)
Church consecrated in the early 20th century. It has an excellent collection of icons.
Ventspils Beach
A 1.2-km (0.7-mi) stretch of beach facing the Baltic Sea that is now proudly meeting international standards, when it was once a contaminated coastline.
Ventspils Castle
One of the finest castles in Latvia. Originally built in the 13th century, it attained its present shape in the 14th century.

Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

Discover with Timothy YouTube Channel

PG Food Channel

Learn Penang Hokkien YouTube Channel

SojiMart Videos

Latest from Discover with Timothy: Gurney Bay - what to see and do there

About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

Robbie's Roadmap

Terms & Condition of Use | Privacy Policy