Piejūras brīvdabas muzejs
Open-air museum in Ventspils showing the life of the fishermen and farmers of the Kurzeme coast, with windmills, fishing boats, an anchor collection and the Mazbānītis (miniature railway).
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum was founded in 1954 in Ventspils as the Jūras zvejniecības brīvdabas muzejs (Maritime Fisheries Open-Air Museum). It is now a branch of the Ventspils muzejs (Ventspils Museum), and its collection holds more than 24,000 items.
The exhibition introduces the everyday life of the inhabitants of the Kurzeme coast and shows the life of Latvian and Livonian farmers and fishermen. On the site there are buildings typical of rural farmsteads – windmills from Užava parish, smoke houses, smokehouses and net huts – as well as the Smiltnieku māja (Smiltnieki House), a late 19th-century suburban residential house, and the Lielirbes baptistu lūgšanu nams (Lielirbe Baptist prayer house). The museum has an extensive collection of fishing boats and the largest anchor collection in the Baltic states, with more than 140 exhibits from the 17th century to the present day.
Highlights
- Windmills from Užava parish
- Collection of fishing boats
- Largest anchor collection in the Baltic states (more than 140 exhibits)
- Mazbānītis (miniature railway) with a 1.4 km Circle Line and a 3 km Hill Line
- Smiltnieku māja and the Lielirbes baptistu lūgšanu nams
Permanent exhibition
- Piejūras brīvdabas muzeja ekspozīcija – Buildings of the Kurzeme coast's farmsteads, windmills, fishing boats, the anchor collection and the Mazbānītis.
- Founded
- 1954
- Operated by
- Ventspils pašvaldība
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €1.40 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €0.60pupils, students, seniors |
| Children & teens | €0.60free up to age 7 · For pupils. |
| Seniors | €0.60 |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for people with disabilities. |
| Students & apprentices | €0.60 |
Children up to 7 years enter free. Tickets can also be bought with the Mobilly app.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 7 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Offer for families with children; the Mazbānītis is a favourite attraction. Outdoor activities are available on the grounds.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A guide or app is available; the museum offers lessons for pupils. Restoration of historic fishing boats takes place on the site. |