Ventspils Things to Do

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Town hall square is a small surrounding in Ventspils old town, where two main buildings are St. Nicolaus church and Writers’ and Translators’ house are located. The place is famous for local people; it is the second most popular places in old town, together with Market square. Actually square name was different one (or no name), but later town hall was moved here from these days market square, so things changed.

In October 2010 the place was richly decorated by nice plants, most of them consisted of decorative cabbages.

The building was constructed in 1905, historicism style. The owner for that time was district chairman Golubevs. Ventspils museum was located here from 1945 till 2000.

Nowadays it is renovated place with nearby standing Ventspils library and monument to Janis Fabriciuss, Latvian riflemen division commanding officer (1877 – 1929).

Carillon clock tower is a new structure in Ventspils market square, it appeared here after reconstruction of 2009. When a current hour comes, clock rings as much as it is hours now. Two times per day clock gifts a special melody (at midday and midnight).

It is a nice sighseeing object in newly refurbished market square.

Sculpture of Valdemars is a nice example how recently created attributes of town could easily become main symbols. It is a place quite frequently used in Ventspils postcards; it is very famous place for taking photos.

Monument to Krisjanis Valdemars was built in 2000 by Miervardis Polis. Valdemars (1825 – 1891) was also famous in his maritime activities (besides he was educator, writer, so on), so that’s the right place for commemorating him.

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The Ventspils castle nowadays is named as the most preserved and having the most modern museum in Latvia (as for 2010). Actually it is hard to agree with both, as I am not big expert of Latvia. Anyway, museum could be better.

Venstpils castle was constructed by Livonian Order in 1290. Nowadays the oldest part is tower, from 14th century added as a part of castle. This tower was used as a lighthouse for a long time.

The castle served a prison from 1832 till 1959, later, till 1983 was a quarters for Soviet army. The castle is not big one, built on a plane place. Nowadays it houses a museum about history of Ventspils.

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The place is known from 17th century, in older times actually here was town hall, but not in the place where town hall square is now. Pity, but town hall here was abandoned and demolished in 1850. Place became more popular for markets.

Nowadays here you could see some nice older buildings, the market place, and modern clock tower.

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St. Nicolas’ Lutheran church is the main attraction of Town Hall square. Church was constructed in 1834-1835 in Classical style and named after St. Nicolas, who is, by history, a patron of sailors and fishermen.

Church interior is quite typical for Lutheran churches – not too much adorned.

“Ship watcher” was constructed in 2002 by Rita Dobicina and Igors Dobicins. It is made of red granite, shape as a head and turned into water side. Instead of hair is water spurts. Seems it looks into ships around.