The Kurzeme region is where the Baltic Sea meets the Gulf of Riga at the windswept **Cape Kolka**. This coastal stretch is a paradise for those seeking a rugged Baltic coast scenic drive far from the city crowds. The road follows the water through the **Slītere** National Park where pine trees lean toward white sand and hidden Liv fishing villages offer a glimpse into a dying seafaring culture. Further south the trail leads you to the town of **Kuldīga** where the **Venta Rapid** spans the river as the widest waterfall in Europe. You can walk across the historic red brick bridge and watch the water tumble over the limestone ledge in a gentle roar. The streets here feel like a time capsule with small wooden houses and the narrow **Alekšupīte** stream flowing directly between the buildings. Your trip ends along the steep bluffs of **Jūrkalne** where the land drops twenty meters straight into the crashing surf. This is a favorite spot for paragliders and sunset seekers who want to see the sky turn pink over the open sea. Whether you are exploring the giant radio telescope at Irbene or tasting smoked fish in a seaside yard the Kurzeme region delivers the raw power of the northern coast.

Kurzeme (region) highlights

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The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Kurzeme (region)

Kurzeme was the home of the **Kurši**, a wealthy tribe of Baltic Vikings who traded amber for silver and gold. These sailors were so strong that early kings from Sweden and Denmark wrote about their raids in famous old sagas. You can still drive to the hidden hills where they built their wooden forts to guard the sea path from rival ships. In the 1600s, the region became a world power under **Duke Jacob**, who built a massive navy from the tall pines of the local woods. He was so bold that he started colonies as far away as the island of Tobago in the Caribbean and the Gambia River in Africa. This era left the coast dotted with red brick palaces and ports that once held exotic spices and tropical wood. During the Cold War, the entire shoreline was a closed military zone to stop people from fleeing to the west in small boats. Soldiers kept the sand raked smooth to find footprints, and locals even wore tin cans on their shoes to hide their tracks. Today, you can drive past giant secret radio dishes and ghost towns that were hidden from the maps for over forty years.

Kurzeme (region)

Kurzeme (region) highlights

Part of these road trips

History of Kurzeme (region)

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