Kandava: Old Town, Abava and Special Discoveries

Kandava combines a distinctive townscape with culture, bridges and a protected wetland landscape in the surrounding area. The town lies on the Abava River and is divided into two areas: the Old Town is on the left bank, while New Kandava is on the right. This division provides a helpful starting point for planning your trip if you are looking for a holiday apartment in Kandava and considering which experiences should be the focus of your stay.

Old Town, Courtyards and Historic Buildings

Kandava’s Old Town includes enclosed courtyards and two-storey utility buildings with galleries. As a result, its historic character is evident not only in individual sights but also in the structure of the built environment. One notable building is Pulvertornis, constructed during the time of Duke Jacob. Anyone interested in urban history and historic architecture can combine these elements on a walk through Kandava.

The Promenāde plays a special role. It includes seven bridges built over the stream there according to wedding traditions. The Promenāde is designed as a place of recreation for adults and children, offering a different way to experience the town from the historic buildings of the Old Town. For families, this change between the townscape, small bridges and a quieter outdoor stay can make the day’s itinerary more varied.

Bridges and Paths as Special Experiences

Kandavas tilts is Latvia’s oldest boulder bridge over the Abava River. The bridge has four arches and is 66 m long. These specific dimensions give the structure a distinctive presence and make it a worthwhile subject for anyone who appreciates historic construction and unusual details while travelling. Its connection with the Abava also underlines the river’s importance to Kandava’s character.

An interactive walking route begins at the Kandava Tourist Information Centre. QR codes are used at every point of interest. This makes it possible to explore the town in a way where individual stops and information structure the walk. Those who prefer to travel independently can use this route as inspiration for discovering Kandava without focusing their visit exclusively on a single building.

Museum, Local History and Art

The Kandava Local History Museum was founded in 1995 on the initiative of Viktors Vītols, a historian and teacher at the Kandava boarding school; it was based on the materials he had collected. The museum features the exhibition “Ar zirgu uz Kandavas tirgu”. Another local specialty is a tasting of Kandava acorn coffee, offered by prior arrangement. Both provide different ways of engaging with the town: the exhibition introduces local history, while the tasting highlights a culinary specialty of Kandava.

Art is also part of the town’s cultural profile. Art plein-air events have been held in Kandava in summer for more than twenty years. If you would like to combine your trip not only with buildings and walks but also with regional cultural life, this recurring summer feature is an interesting aspect to consider when planning.

Čužu Mire in the Surrounding Area

The Čužu Mire, a rare and specially protected calcareous fen with several sulphur springs, lies nearby. The Čužu Mire Trail is also located in the same surrounding area. The wetland landscape therefore complements Kandava’s cultural impressions with a nature-related theme. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether you mainly want to explore the Old Town and museum or also plan time for the mire trail and the landscape.

Which Location Suits Your Trip

The division between the Old Town and New Kandava, the course of the Abava and the town’s various destinations give your search for accommodation a clear direction. A holiday apartment can serve as a base for historic discoveries, the interactive walking route, the Promenāde or cultural activities. If nature experiences are more important to you, the Čužu Mire and its mire trail should be part of your considerations. What matters is not a blanket recommendation but which combination of urban history, bridges, art and landscape you would prefer during your stay.

For more travel ideas, you can also visit the pages about Vāne, Rūmene, Kārkliņi and Cére.

For the higher-level travel overview: Kandavas Novads.