Holiday apartment in Talsu Novads: Coast, culture and nature

Talsu Novads offers a diverse perspective on northern Courland: coastal landscapes, natural areas, museums, art, living traditions and regional specialities are closely connected here thematically. Between striking headlands, wooded piles of stones and historic cultural sites, a destination with many different facets takes shape.

Nature and Coast

The Livonian Coast, also known as “Līvõd rānda”, stretches across an approximately 50-kilometre-long coastal strip in northern Courland near the Irbe Strait. This coastal area includes twelve villages: Lūžņa, Miķeļtornis, Lielirbe, Jaunciems, Sīkrags, Mazirbe, Košrags, Pitrags, Saunags, Vaide, Kolka and Melnsils.

Kolkasrags is a distinctive headland on the Latvian coast. Here, the waves of the open Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga meet; during bird migration, tens of thousands of birds pass over this site. Kolkasrags also has a visitor centre where local souvenirs are available, tourist information is provided and refreshments are offered. Visitors can rest there before continuing their journey.

Slītere National Park is located in the coastal area of northern Courland. Seacoast, deciduous forests, bogs and wetlands, boreal forests and black alder swamp forests create a diverse landscape there. Another characteristic coastal formation is Kaltenes Kalvas: large, wooded piles of stones near the coast of Kaltene. Circular trails of approximately 800 metres and 1.5 kilometres are available for exploring the area.

An approximately 100-kilometre-long route for walking and sightseeing runs through the Abava Valley, connecting viewpoints as well as natural and cultural monuments. It can be undertaken year-round.

Culture and History

The Talsu County Museum was founded in 1923 on Tiguļu Hill, the highest of Talsi’s nine hills. It researches, collects and preserves the history, nature, art and cultural heritage of the county. Sabile is home to the Sabile Synagogue, a Jewish religious building. The masonry building was erected in 1890, after its foundations had already been laid in 1875.

The Sabile Art, Culture and Tourism Centre is housed in the former Sabile Synagogue. It serves as a space for contemporary and professional art and hosts exhibitions at local and international levels as well as concerts. The Pedvāle Open-Air Art Museum offers a different approach to the connection between art and landscape: outdoors, it displays more than 150 works of art and brings landscape, cultural heritage and art together in a shared setting.

Lībiešu tautas nams is an architectural monument of national importance. Since 1989, a large Livonian festival has been held there every year on the first Saturday in August.

The Rojas Maritime Fishing Museum documents Krišjānis Valdemārs, the Roja maritime school, the construction of sailing ships in the 19th century, families of shipbuilders and sailors, the history of fish processing in Roja and the Soviet period on the coast of Roja.

Outdoor Experiences

Latvia’s first disc golf park opened at Laumu Nature Park in 2012. The facility is located in the forest; trees, shrubs, hills and water serve as obstacles. Along the Bee Trail, the park provides insights into the world of bees and beekeeping through guidance and playful activities. On warm summer days, visitors can put on protective clothing and get to know a bee colony under the guidance of an experienced beekeeper.

Laumu Nature Park also includes a 2.3-kilometre-long forest trail. Along it are a beaver dam, a meadow visited by wild animals and a pond-like habitat for numerous dragonflies. Cross-country skiing is offered there in winter.

Flavour and Tradition

The Taizeļi family’s culinary experience in Branki offers lunches, snacks and tastings in the Taizeļi family style by prior arrangement. It also includes a collection of old household objects as well as stories about the Livonians and the Taizeļi family.

Dundaga Castle offers visitors, among other things, tastings of local specialities. Traditional coastal dishes of northern Courland include sklandrausis and smoked fish. In Sabile, the vineyard on Sabiles Vīna kalns is a local landmark. For several years, it was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the northernmost vineyard with grapevines growing outdoors. The Sabile Wine Festival takes place in July.

Holiday apartment in Talsu Novads

If you are viewing or comparing offers for a holiday apartment in Talsu Novads, it is worth taking a close look at the individual listing page. Before booking, check the exact location, accommodation type and occupancy. Included services, individual price components and the booking and cancellation conditions may also be listed differently. The same points should be checked directly in the specific offer when considering a holiday home. This allows the available information to be compared objectively, without assuming features that are not explicitly stated.

More Places

To explore more of Talsu Novads, the town and village pages lead to Talsi, Roja, Mērsrags, Strazde, Sabile, Upesgrīva, Valdemārpils, Spāre, Jaunpagasts, Mordanga, Dzedri, Lielvirbi, Kalnmuiža, Ģibuļi, Brieži, Aklaisciems, Sukturi, Pastende, Dārte and Dižstende.

To the main travel overview: Latvia.