Kuldiga

Situated on the banks of the picturesque Venta River in Kurzeme, Kuldiga is considered to be one of the oldest and most well preserved cities in Latvia. Although it was first mentioned in historical documents in 1242, the quaint, cobble-stoned town is believed to be the site of an ancient Cour (Kursi) settlement described in a 9th century Viking saga. The original castle mound of the once fierce Latvian tribe lies roughly 3km to the northwest on the left bank of the river.
A waterfall, one of the widest in Europe, prevented ships from travelling any further than Kuldiga. This convenient circumstance allowed the city to flourish in the 13th century as a major port and trade centre. Two centuries later, the city was so prosperous that it joined the ranks of other great ports, such as Hamburg, Bremen and Riga by becoming a member of the prestigious Baltic trade organisation, the Hanseatic League.
In 1561, the Grand Duchy of Courland was founded and Kuldiga became one of its capital cities. In its golden age under Duke Jacob (1642 - 1682) the city was a centre for manufacturing and shipbuilding. The duke sold war ships to England and created his own personal fleet which gained colonies in Tobago in the Caribbean and at the mouth of the Gambia River in West Africa.
Tragically, this hub of trade and commerce was devastated in the wake of the Great Northern War (1700-1721) and the subsequent plague which decimated much of Eastern Europe's population. Kuldiga never regained its former grandeur, but its beautiful, historic streets and red-roofed buildings leave much for the eye, as well as the imagination.

Facilities
Company	Contact	Address	Information
Lodgings
Hotels
Jana Nams		Liepajas 36, tel. (+371-33) 23 456, tel./fax (+371-33) 23 785.	Spacious, recently renovated rooms with cable TV and large, modern bathrooms in a friendly, family atmosphere. Sauna and small pool available.
Kursa		Pilsetas laukums 6, tel. (+371-33) 22 430, fax (+371-33) 23 671.	Slightly Soviet in style, singles are small, but comfort-able and clean with private bathrooms and TV. Doubles are basically the same, but more spacious
Hostels
Bed & Breakfast
Eating
Jana Nams		Liepajas 36, tel. (+371-33) 23 456	An interesting combination of old style brick and wooden beams and modern decor in blues and oranges. Good Latvian fare. Get a seat by the fireplace.
Labirints		Jelgavas 2, tel. (+371-33) 23 645	Large, loud roadside tavern with an aquarium and lots of slot machines. Standard Latvian food and pop music.
Namins		Kalna 25a, tel. (+371-33) 22 697	Friendly bar/restaurant with a large fireplace and an even larger selection of great food. Try one of their seafood specialities. Foreign and domestic beer on tap.
Picerija Serrata		Liepajas 18	Small pizzeria serving pan pizzas and other fast food. Good for a quick bite to eat. Popular with young students.
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