Latvijas Lauksaimniecības muzejs

About the museum

The museum’s origins go back to 1973, when old tractors, agricultural machines and work tools began to be collected in Talsi. The first exhibition was set up in 1977; in 1982 an exhibition and information pavilion opened, and in 1989 the institution received the status of a state-recognised museum as the Latvijas lauksaimniecības tehnikas muzejs “Kalēji” (Latvian Agricultural Machinery Museum “Kalēji”). In 2003 the Latvijas meliorācijas un zemkopības muzejs (Latvian Land Reclamation and Agriculture Museum) was added to it, and the present-day Latvijas Lauksaimniecības muzejs took shape. Since 2013 the museum has been a structural unit of the Valsts tehniskās uzraudzības aģentūra (State Technical Supervision Agency).

The exhibitions show tools and machinery for soil cultivation, harvesting and processing, rural craftsmen’s tools, various means of transport, the instruments of land reclamation engineers and surveyors, as well as household objects. On the museum grounds stands the Talsu mazbānītis, whose carriages came from Stende railway station.

Highlights

• Traction engines, threshing machines and historic tractors
• Blacksmith’s forge and rural craftsmen’s tools
• Talsu mazbānītis on the museum grounds
• Exhibitions on ploughs, flax processing and beekeeping
• Private collection of car and tractor models

Permanent exhibitions

• Lauksaimniecības darba rīki un tehnika – Tools for soil cultivation, harvesting and processing, traction engines, threshing machines and tractors, showing the development of agricultural machinery.
• Kalēja smēde – Exhibition on the hard work of the blacksmith, with a view into the craftsman’s workshop.
• Arkls – Types of ploughs, their classification, historical spread and use in the territory of Latvia.
• Biškopība Latvijā cauri gadsimtiem – Old beekeeping tools and equipment, as well as information on the life of the bee colony.
• Kā izauga linu krekls – Tools for flax processing, including the large tilta mīstīkls.
• Cilvēks un ūdens – Exhibition on land reclamation in Latvia.
• Ciemos pie zemkopības ministra – Authentically furnished working office of the minister of agriculture.
• Talsu mazbānītis – On the museum grounds the narrow-gauge railway can be seen; its rolling stock comes from Stende railway station.

Operated by

Valsts tehniskās uzraudzības aģentūra

Admission & discounts

Free: pre-school children, teachers accompanying groups, museum staff, orphans and children without parental care, as well as clients of long-term social care and social rehabilitation institutions. Tickets are sold at the museum’s ticket office.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum’s infrastructure is accessible to people with disabilities and to parents with small children; the association “Apeirons” has included the museum in its app of accessible places.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

Thematic tours for pupils and families; families have a separate ticket.

Getting there & parking

Large car park. Talsi is 113 km from Rīga, 76 km from Ventspils and 145 km from Liepāja.

Amenities & dining

Shops and a canteen are located near the museum (about 50 m away).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The museum rents rooms for seminars and conferences, as well as the grounds for annual celebrations and other events; it also hosts newlyweds and wedding guests.

Plan your visit