Tukums is a town on the outskirts of Kurzeme enclosed by gardens. Expressive vertical lines in its beautiful and mountainous landscape are marked by the towers of churches and the chimneys of the old distillery.

Tukums was mentioned for the first time in 1253 in a contract between the Livonian Order and the bishop regarding the division of Kursa. At the beginning of the 14th century near the newly built stone walled castle of the Livonian Order, an active settlement of German merchants and craftsmen was developed. Its locality, near the Riga-Prussia road promoted its development, and in 1445 Tukums was mentioned as a small village.

The Schlokenbeka Estate

Tukums flourished in the 17th century during the reign of duke Jacob. The mill, the copper oven and armoury were built near the risen lake. Freight was forwarded in boats along the Slocene river. In 1795 the Russian tsar Katherine II awarded Tukums the rights of a town.

For tourists today, Tukums is the place where the trip around Kurzeme region, the west part of Latvia, begins.

Castle mound in Kandava

Not far from Tukums is a fortified Slokenbeka Estate built in the 15th century, and a Museum of Latvian Roads is being created in the castle. Now one can see the harness exhibition and Latvia road construction machines.

The Jaunmoku palace which was built in 1901 is enclosed by the picturesque hills of Kurzeme. There is an exhibition of forestry in the palace.

The second town in the Tukums region is Kandava, the historic provincial town of Kurzeme. The most beautiful part of the Abava river begins in Kandava, and was in the 19th century named "Switzerland of Kurzeme". In Kandava the shores of Abava are joined by a stone bridge, built in 1873 which is one of the oldest bridges in Latvia. The river is loved by tourists, who enjoy water activities.

The name of Pure is linked with one of the most famous places for strawberry seedlings.

Town festival in Tukums

The Pure village is also a place for the selection of new sorts of fruit-trees and the preparation of canned vegetables, fruit and berries.

The traditional scene of Kurzeme can be seen in the surroundings of Zentene and Dzirciems. In the museum "Bisnieki" one can see a model of an ancient country house of the Kurzeme region.

Jaunpils, one of the largest civil parishes of the Tukums region is situated in the area where the plain of Zemgale gradually turns into a hilly plateau. Here one can see the only remaining castle of the Livonian Order, the Jaunpils fortress, built in1301.

In the Tukums region the seashore of the gulf of Riga stretches for 50 km. There are large and small fishing villages all along the seashore, where the ancient fishermen's huts have been replaced by modern cottages or stand alongside modern cottages. People living in this area are mainly connected with the fishing industry. The sandy beach is loved by tourists in the summer.

The Jaunpils Castle

The Jaunmoku Palace

The Tukums region is rich in nature protection areas. In the ornithologically restricted areas of Kaniera and Engures lakes, more than 160 different bird species are nesting. In the marshy and sparsely inhabited, but rich in flora and fauna areas between Kemeri, Smarde, Slampe and Lapmezciems, is the National Park of Kemeri. The Nature Reserve of Abava river valley starts near Kandava and its territory is one of the richest territories for flora in Latvia, with 86 protected plant species.

41 % of the territory is covered by woods. Popular hunting areas are in the surroundings of Tukums, in Vane and Zante.

On a hunting trip

For further information, please contact:

Tukums Town Council
Pils str. 18
LV-3101 Tukums
Tel. 371 31 22707
Fax 371 31 22707

Tourist information centre
Pils str. 15 A,
LV-3101 Tukums
Tel. 371 31 24451
Fax 371 31 22237

Tukums Museum
Harmonijas str. 3
LV-3101 Tukums
Tel. 371 31 23652
Fax 371 31 22707
E-mail