- Riga seaside
- Architectural landmarks of Jurmala
- Kemeri National Park
- Jurmala for children
- Delicious points on the map
- Shopping in Jurmala
Translated from Latvian, the name of the largest resort in the republic means "seaside". It was here that many Soviet citizens sought to get to the shores of the Gulf of Riga, but not everyone was able to get tickets to Jurmala and other Baltic resorts. Most often, the cream of society ended up on the seaside - bohemians, party functionaries and people who had the necessary connections and acquaintances. Today Jurmala is accessible to anyone who appreciates the dull beauty of the northern nature and the reserved intelligence of the Baltic resorts. You will not find bright shows, colorful performances, exotic colors and supermegs here, but you will not be bored either. Answering the question of where to go in Jurmala, you will certainly find a list of cute local attractions with natural beauties, cozy museums and cute events - more cultural than entertainment.
Riga seaside
Geographically, Jurmala is a chain of former fishing, and now - resort villages and occupies the territory of the Riga seaside. The resort area known by this name stretches for more than two dozen kilometers - from the Gulf of Riga to the Lielupe River.
The beaches of Jurmala are covered with pure quartz sand of a light straw color, which is pleasant to walk on barefoot. The seabed in the area of Jurmala beaches is flat, the depth increases gradually and far from the coast, which makes the Riga seaside ideal for families with children. In the high season - in July and early August, the water temperature in the Baltic Sea becomes quite comfortable even for the smallest bathing.
From the middle of the 17th century to the 20s. century of the twentieth coastal area was the property of the nobility of German descent. Summer cottages were formed historically and also had German names. Today, Jurmala includes several independent villages:
- Summer cottage development in Jurmala began from Lielupe. The first houses appeared in 1910, and a little later a railway station was built. In Lielupe you can go to the Museum of Nature, where the history of the fishing industry is presented. The highest dunes in Jurmala are located on the Baltic coast in Lielupe. They rise 15 m above sea level.
- They began to build up Bulduri even earlier, and the first summer residents appeared in this part of Jurmala in the middle of the 19th century. Thanks to the wealthy immigrants from Germany who lived in these places, Bulduri was called a "German fortress". On the territory of the horticultural college of the village there is a Dendrological Park, where you can go to get acquainted with the flora of Jurmala and the surrounding area.
- A little further to the west is Dzintari - the area of the most prestigious villas and expensive mansions. You will find here examples in the style of national romanticism, built at the beginning of the twentieth century, and modern palaces belonging to famous artists and politicians. Of the remaining architectural monuments, the Kurhaus is known - a pavilion built in 1879 for entertainment events.
- The village Majori is a striking representative of the Baltic country resort. On its streets, many mansions have survived, built in the period from the end of the 19th to the middle of the 20th centuries. The houses on the streets of Majori give an idea of the style of Jurmala architecture.
- In Dubulti, perhaps, the largest number of architectural monuments of the beginning of the last century is concentrated - a temple, summer cottages, sanatoriums and residential buildings.
- The name of the village Melluzi comes from the Latvian mellene, which means "blueberry". In the first third of the XIX century. the first baths appeared here, and the owner of the land began to build summer cottages and rent them out. Nikolay Leskov rested in Melluzi, and the writer Goncharov often attended concerts held in the resort park.
Most of the Jurmala villages are connected to Riga by a suburban railway line.
Architectural landmarks of Jurmala
The main historical buildings of the resort date back to the period of the XIX-XX centuries. There is no need to talk about the special architectural value of the objects, but you can look at typical examples of country villas and mansions while walking around Jurmala.
For example, a residential building in Dubulti at 4 Baznicas Street is a typical representative of the Jurmala dacha architectural trend. A pronounced eclecticism is present in it everywhere: in the open veranda, and in the mezzanine, and in the cozy balcony-loggia. A polygonal asymmetric turret and a gable roof complement the resort image, and the mansion demonstrates features of several styles at once - romanticism, classicism and even neo-Gothic.
Another nice example of the resort architectural style of Jurmala is Aspazia's house. The dacha at 20 Meyerovitsa Avenue in the Dubulti village resembles a gingerbread house. Glazed balconies fill the house with light, the facade is decorated with rich carvings, and two turrets on the roof add lightness to the mansion. Poetess Aspazia spent the last years of her life in the house, and therefore the mansion bears her name. You can get acquainted with the museum exposition located in the building.
Since 1870, the Marienbad sanatorium was located at 43 on Meyerovitsa Avenue. A stone fence and a gate appeared at the beginning of the last century, and a little later a tower and a gallery were added. The interior of the building also has a certain cultural value.
The oldest building in Jurmala is located on Rudolf Blaumana Street. House 15 has existed since 1818. It is believed that its owner at that time was MB Barclay de Tolly.
Lutheran Church in Dubulti on st. The construction of Baznicas began in 1907. The construction took only a couple of years, and in 1909 a magnificent example of the Art Nouveau architectural style adorned Jurmala. The authors of the project tried to reproduce some elements of the Gothic architecture of the Middle Ages, and they succeeded quite well. The bell tower of the temple resembles the main tower of a feudal castle, and the altar, laid out in the shape of a cross, brings the faithful back to the immediate purpose of the visit. The organ balcony and the temple choir are carved out of wood. The craftsmen who worked on the interior followed the traditions of the architectural style called national romanticism in northern Europe.
Kemeri National Park
On the territory of Latvia in 1997 a national park was founded, which partially included the territory of Jurmala. The park is called Kemeri, and you can visit it when you come to the village of the same name in the western part of Jurmala.
Kemeri is the most important balneo-mud resort in Latvia, and its forest zone is part of the national park. Now a sanatorium is being restored in Kemeri and a modern balneotherapy institution is being built, but the main natural healing factors are already available to vacationers on the Riga seaside. In the national park there are springs of mineral water and curative mud. Kemeri waters help in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, and peat and sapropel muds are successfully used in dermatology, neurology, gynecology and other areas of medicine.
Jurmala for children
The best place to relax in Jurmala with children is a modern water park, where you can go every day in summer and on any day except Mon. and Tue - in winter.
The park is stylized as an old ship sailing the southern seas. It is full of light and greenery, and the attractions are designed for visitors of all ages. The water temperature in the park's pools at any time of the year is about + 28 ° С.
The territory of the Jurmala water park is divided into four zones:
- Tropical forest, where the famous attraction "Tornado" is located.
- Captain Kidd's land for the youngest guests. On the Orinoco River in this part of the park, you will find many caves, and the pirate ship always delights fearless kids.
- The main advantage of Paradise Beach is the Caribbean with solid waves, ideally imitating the distant warm sea. From the height of the lighthouse on Paradise Beach, you can see the entire territory of the water park.
- Fans of extreme sports will love Shark Attack. There are slides, towers and even funnels in this area.
In the park you will find bars and cafes, a solarium, a banquet hall, a spa and even a salt cave.
Delicious points on the map
From a gourmet point of view, Jurmala is the perfect place to spend a vacation or at least a long weekend. At the resort, there is room for the soul of a person who is in love with food to unfold, especially since this food is prepared and served with taste and a solid dose of sophistication:
- Orient Jura in Jurmala is called a legend. The restaurant first opened at the resort in the 1930s. last century and has recently been renovated and revived. The establishment is stylized in the form of a ship's wardroom. On the menu you will find a variety of fish and seafood dishes cooked over an open fire.
- In addition to the exquisite menu and live music, one of the advantages of the Caviar Club restaurant is the perfect view from the windows. Guests can admire the sea and the white Jurmala beach.
- In "Jurmala" anniversaries, weddings and business meetings are often held, but a romantic dinner in this classic establishment of the Baltic resort will be held at its best. In summer, guests can enjoy outdoor seating, fresh seafood and creative cocktails.
- When choosing Orizzonte, book a table in advance. The only Latvian restaurant located on the beach, during the summer season it enjoys increased attention of the resort's guests. You can go here if you are in Jurmala both on business and on vacation - the menu includes dishes for two or for a large company, and the wine list will allow you to choose a drink that suits any occasion.
- Cafe 53 on Jomas is an ideal place for those who have devoted a day to shopping. Located on the most shopping street in Jurmala, the institution offers magnificent desserts, perfectly brewed coffee and a pleasant view from the huge windows, behind which the resort life of the Riga seaside flows unhurriedly.
When choosing a restaurant, focus more on your financial capabilities. Quality and service will turn out to be impeccable a hundred out of a hundred cases.
Shopping in Jurmala
The best shops of the Baltic resort, according to its regular visitors, are concentrated in the village of Majori. The shopping street is called Jomas.
In Lielupe you will find a shopping center of the same name selling traditional Latvian goods: knitwear, jewelry, crafts and jewelry with amber, ceramics, linen home textiles and, of course, “Riga Balsam”, without which coffee is simply not prepared in Latvia.
