Ventspils

About

One of the oldest ports in Latvia, Ventspils’ ice-free harbour made it a major military and trade port. In the 20th century, the Soviets built an oil pipeline to the city, making it into the USSR’s lead crude oil exporter. This boon from oil and shipping has allowed the city to focus on urban beautification projects. The riverfront promenade provides a well-groomed space to watch the constant flow of traffic on the river, and hunt down the city’s whimsical cow statues. Near the waterfront, the medieval Ventspils castle has been transformed into a museum that preserves 10,000 years of history though its collection of tools, jewellery, documents and costumes. At the Open-Air Maritime Museum, visitors can see the city’s sea-faring history, both in the exhibition hall, and the historic fishing boats and fishermen’s cabins around it. Visitors can also hop on a the 1916 train that connected the coastal villages here until the 1950s.