Kurzeme’s Treasures

Route:

Rīga – Ķemeri – Kandava – Buses – Zemīte – Irlava – Rīga

Length of the route – km: 150 km

Suggested type of transport: car

Suggested time for visit: Spring, Summer, Autumn

Length of the route- hours: ~8h

The trip around Kurzeme’s Treasures starts at the Dome Square at the Dome Cathedral’s wall where a sacred site is located that is nowadays visually marked only with an informative tablet. From the centre of Riga, the road leads to Ķemeri that can be reached by taking the Velntspils highway (A10) or going through Jūrmala City. In the centre of Ķemeri, there are three Holy Springs, but, unfortunately, there is no precise information which of those three is the Holy Spring, still the water tastes differently in each of them.

Continuing the way along the Ventspils highway, drive as far as Pūre, where you have to turn to Kaive. In Kaive, turn left in the direction of Lamiņi and, having left the inhabited place, on the right side of the road, there will be a parking lot and an information sign about the Kaive Oak (Kaives ozols).

Later on get back to the Ventspils highway, take it as far as the turning to Kandava (P130). Entering Kandava, on the right side of the street, there is a parking lot with an information sign. Having climbed up the Kandava Church Hill – Hill Fort (Kandavas Baznīckalns – pilskalns), you will enjoya broad view of the surroundings. The Old Town of Kandava is also worth visiting as well as the bridge across the Abava. Continuing along the Kuldiga highway, drive to Plosti, turn left at the crossing and after a few kilometres look for the brown indication sign to the Buses Hill Fort on the right side. Having driven through the inhabited place of Buses, at the hill fort, there is a parking lot with an information stand where all sightseeing places of the area are marked, including Buses Church Hill and Cup-Marked Stones.

Continuing the way, drive as far as the next inhabited place of Pūces, there you turn in the direction of Zemīte (P121). Having driven into Zemīte, turn in the direction of Tukums (the same P121) and at a hillock, on the left side of the road, there will be a rectory, in the yard of which both the Sacrificial Oak (Upurozols) andthe Idols’ Linden (Elku liepa) are situated. You can come up to the Linden, but the Sacrificial Oak can be watched only from a distance, because it is located within a fenced territory with a savage dog.

To the next object, continue your way in the direction of Tukums till Sāti, where you have to turn right to Irlava. Having crossed the Abava and almost gone through Irlava, on the right side of the road at the school and sports centre, there is a brown indication sign to the Peņķi Spring (Peņķu avots) that can be reached from the parking lot on the bank of the Abava following a path. If the water level is not too high, you can sightsee from the bridge also the stone Abava Buck Stone (Abavas buks).

You can come back to Riga by taking the Tukums – Jaunpils highway (P104) and choosing the way back through Tukums or Jaunpils.