Ventspils muzejs
The Ventspils muzejs (Ventspils Museum) is housed in the Livonian Order castle – the oldest almost unchanged medieval fortress in Latvia – and tells of the history of the town, the port and the district.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Livonian Order castle was built in the second half of the 13th century and is first mentioned in written sources in 1290. The castle chapel is the oldest surviving church room in Kurzeme. The Order's brothers used the castle in the 13th–16th centuries; later it housed an Evangelical Lutheran church (1706–1835), an Orthodox church (1845–1901) and a prison (1832–1959). Units of the Soviet army left the castle in 1983, and in 1997 the façades were restored and the grounds tidied.
During the restoration, fragments of 15th–17th-century wall paintings were uncovered beneath layers of plaster, and archaeological excavations provided evidence about the castle and its inhabitants. The permanent exhibition of the Ventspils muzejs in the castle opened in September 2001. It is spread over the castle tower and the ground floor, and in the restored rooms on the first floor – the chapel, the Order brothers' bedroom and dining room, the chapter hall and the upper gate room – an exhibition on the town of Ventspils and its district under different rulers can be seen.
Highlights
- The oldest surviving medieval fortress in Latvia
- Castle chapel – the oldest church room in Kurzeme
- Fragments of 15th–17th-century wall paintings
- Digital exhibition “Dzīvā vēsture” (Living History)
- Education centre with interactive lessons
Permanent exhibitions
- Ventspils pilsēta un novads vēstures ritumā zem dažādām varām – Exhibition on the first floor – in the chapel, the Order brothers' bedroom and dining room, the chapter hall and the upper gate room.
- Dzīvā vēsture – Digital exhibition on the history of the castle, the town, the port and the district.
- Operated by
- Ventspils pašvaldība
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €1.50pupils, students, seniors |
| Children & teens | €1.50free up to age 7 · For pupils. |
| Seniors | €1.50 |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for people with disabilities. |
| Students & apprentices | €1.50 |
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
- Hands-on stations
- Baby changing facilities
Interactive lessons for children and young people are available in the education centre; there is a room for changing and feeding babies.
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
- Spaces for rent
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A guide or app is available; the museum offers lessons for pupils and newlyweds. |