Dundaga Cycling Circle

::Ecotourism route visiting nature and historical objects: the centre of Dundaga - Liepniekvalks caves - biologic farm “Jumari” (rest, lunch, getting acquainted with the farm) – Valpene stone pyramid – Kubalu school-museum – “Būdeni”, the native home of the crocodile hunter Arvīds Blūmentāls – degustation of the Latvian national dishes: dižrauši pies and pūtelis in “Jaunsniķeri” farm – original trees, stones – returning back to Dundaga. The road covering: asphalt, gravel, different forest roads.

::The largest and oldest castle in North Kurzeme. Its building dares back to the 3rd quarter of the 13th century. It was built by Riga Dome chapter for the economic needs. The castle was being built gradually. During the long existence period it has experienced wars, numerous changes of owners, several rebuildings. The castle has twice been on fire – in 1872 and 1905, though renovated and even enlarged. The castle obtained its present look before WW I, the interior of this period has partly remained on the second floor. There are many stories and legends connected with Dundaga castle – about dwarfs’ wedding and Green maiden, about the small shepherd etc. Today the castle is the cultural, recreation and tourism centre of Dundaga community. It houses Dundaga art and music school where the young citizens of Dundaga learn to play the piano, the accordion, the guitar and percussion instruments; make jewellery, ceramics, draw and paint.

::Built in 1766 under the guidance of the owner of the castle Karl Osten-Sacken. Visiting the church you will notice the altarpiece by Janis Rozentāls “Easter morning” (1912), but during services and concerts listen to the sound of organ built in 1859 by Latvian peasant Ansis Dinsbergs. In 1935 the church was bestowed a status of an architectural monument. Today there are 160 members in the parish.

::Built in 1902 as a manor brewery, but the record in the dairy`s foundation-stone gives evidence about the year 1847. Today it is the workshop of the cooperative corporation of dairying services ‘Dundaga’, producing not only milk, cream, cottage cheese, but also several sorts of delicious soft cheeses.

::A memorial sign (erected in 1995) dedicated to the history of Kurzeme and the strong men of Dundaga, also a reminder of the former Dundaga citizen Arvīds Blūmentāls – a great adventurer and crocodile hunter – and his adventures in Australia. He has been the prototype for Paul Hogan’s film ‘Crocodile Dandy’. The sculpture of a crocodile is a present to Dundaga from Norberts Klaucēns, the Honour Consul of Latvia in Chicago, USA. The crocodile weighs 2 tons.

::A memorial stone designed in 1989 by Vilnis Titāns to the victims of Stalin’s deportation in 1949 – the inhabitants of Dundaga community. The inscription on the stone says, “A dream of my motherland shall I put on my pillow”. 357 people from Talsi district were deported to Siberia in 1949.

::A pharmacy has existed in Dakterleja since 1883. In the present building – since 1895 together with a garden for herbs, decorative shrubs and flowers. There also used to be Dundaga doctor’s office in Dakterleja (established in 1811, taken down in 1969). During 1844-1854 one of the first Latvian doctors, also a linguist, Juris Bārs (1808-1879) worked there. He was the first to introduce the marking of a long vowel in the Latvian language with a horizontal dash above the letter.

::Built in 1800, its height – 17.8 m, perimeter – 22.2 m. Its four storeys are made of stone, the fifth storey is wooden. The denseness of the wall – about 90 cm. The water used to be pumped from the spring. Not working at present.

::The foundation stone was laid on July 1st, 1993. The consecration service took place on December 10th, 1995.

::The wooden building of the station built in 1930’s used to work until 1968 when the railway service was stopped. At present the building houses Dundaga social care centre ‘Stacija’ (‘Station’). Narrow-gauge railway was established during WWI to export values of local woods, cattle and grain. The railway used to function until the 2nd part of 1960’s through times of different governments when it was conquered by motor transport. The train was able to cover a stage of 50 kilometres from Stende to Dundaga within 3 and a half hours. Building of a new line Ventspils-Virpe-Dundaga was started in 1932, the line was opened in 1934. Narrow-gauge railway used to be one of the main promoters of the economic life in the locality.

::A cobbled road span has well survived from the manor times. Cobblestone lies under the asphalt cover of the road leading through the centre of Dundaga. In several places of the centre of Dundaga (by the house ‘Ķīkarmājas’ in Dakterleja, part of lime-tree alley in Sabdagas direction) fragments of ancient cobble-road can still be found.

::One of the longest natural sand cave system in Latvia (about 70 metres long). Sandstone caves have been dug up by a group of natural scientists under the guidance of Guntis Eniņš in 1988.

::Healthy environment farm. Phone: +371 29469425, +371 63243735.

::A heap of stones – dedication to the father of Latvian folk songs Krišjānis Barons – has been piled at the beginning of 1990’s by a group of people under the guidance of Latvian poet Imants Ziedonis and sculptor Vilnis Titāns. Krišjānis Barons lived in Valpene half a manor and learned in Kubalu school. The names of the neighbouring houses have been carved on the stones.

::The house was built in a structure of horizontal wooden logs in 1842 and it was the first school in Dundaga area (closed in 1964). You can visit the museum and become acquainted with the living and working place of a teacher and writer Ernests Dinsbergs from May 1st to October 31st by reserving your visit. Phone: +371 63254335, +371 26514118, e-mail: kubalmuz@dundaga.lv

::The remains of the native home of Arvīds Blūmentāls, Crocodile hunter (Crocodile Harry) in Australia (1925 – 2006).

::Degustation of the Latvian national dishes dižrauši pies and pūtelis by reserving your visit. Phone: +371 26111364.

Returning in Dundaga

::The park with the territory of 21.7 hectares situated next to the castle calls for taking a walk. Trees of 48 different species, including 15 giant trees, grow in the place cultivated back in the 17th century. One of them, the so-called ‘Money Oak’ has decorated the 100-rouble banknote issued in Latvia in 1919 (author H.Grīnbergs). The park is separated from the castle by a pond floated from the Pāce river.