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Jurmala |
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Jurmala |
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Jurmala, literally "the seaside", is a cluster of former fishing villages along the southern shores of the Gulf of Riga some 15 kilometres from Riga. The seaside resort is the favourite summer outing place for Riga residents. Majori, Dubulti and Lielupe are the most favourite places.
Throughout this century, Jurmala has been Riga's playground, from the elegant days of the 1930's, to the years of occupation when the sands shifted under the feet of thousands of tourists from all over the USSR. Not unlike the U.S.'s Florida, Jurmala was also the ultimate destination for the Soviet Union's elite retirees. Countless military officers collected their pensions on this small peninsula from Lielupe to Vaivari.
It is tempting to claim that Jurmala is unique. It's 30 kilometres of the finest sandy beaches, with safe bathing, warm waters in summer, and elegant residences nestling among scented pine woods certainly make it the Riviera of the Baltic. Add to this numerous spa and curative facilities, a "micro-climate" of it's own, and easy access to Latvia's capital Riga, and you have a very special resort destination. Jurmala is only 25km from Riga, with excellent road and rail communications, and lies between the winding River Lielupe and the sea. In fact it is so convenient that many visitors prefer to base themselves in the town's pleasant hotels, rather than in the city.
A RESORT OF 15 DELIGHTFUL VILLAGES
You don't realise until you get there that Jurmala actually consists of 15 individual villages, on average two km apart, that were united administratively in 1959. Each has its own character and its own railway stop. There is no massive central downtown area, no high rise blocks, few cars. Instead you have attractive wooden houses of the Edwardian era, pedestrian walks and unrestricted activities, from watersports and fishing to picking mushrooms in the woods. There is a true sense of freedom and unspoilt nature in Jurmala.
LEISURE ATTRACTIONS
Of course the unending beaches are the great attraction in the high season of June to September, when daytime temperatures run between 20 and 30 C and even the shallow inshore waters are around 20 C. The micro climate created by the pine forests keeps the autumn warm for longer too. Only minutes walk from the beaches you'll enjoy chic restaurants, bars and shops, especially along Jomas iela, a pedestrian street between Dubulti and Dzintari. In summer Jurmala is artistically active too. As well as exhibitions and museums, there are concerts, song festivals, events of all sorts; and discos. Artists and musicians from many parts of the world have come here to relax and recover their energies. It's easy to see why. And, of course, the resort is famous for its spa treatments.
The water in the Bay of Riga becomes quite warm in summer, and if it got really clean, Jurmala has a future as a holiday destination for tourists from all over Europe. When the living conditions in Russia improve, perhaps the Russians also will come back. A prerequisite though, is that the environment is improved. Despite all efforts, it will take time for the sea to recover. Perhaps we will see Jurmala rise to an important holiday destination in 10 years time.
The long beaches of Jurmala
Jurmala has a fascinating history. Close to Riga, the beaches of Jurmala stretches for mile after mile. Early, the area became a excursion destination for the people living in the city. Many small villages arose close to the shore, and in time even a railway was built connecting the beach societies with Riga city.
During the period between the world wars, the "bathing culture" expanded. In those days Jurmala was also visited by tourists of the time. From this period you still find many wooden houses.
The small villages at the shore of Riga Bay grew together, and the common name for the area became Jurmala.