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Lighthouses in Ventspils, LatviaSource: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ventspilis._Isplaukia_krovininis_laivas,_2006-09-22.jpg
Author: Algirdas
Ventspils is a coastal city in northwestern Latvia. Covering 55.4 sq km (21.4 sq mi), it has a population of 44,000 people, making it the sixth most populous city in the country. The city is located at the mouth of the Venta River as it empties into the Baltic Sea. Ventspils means "Castle on Venta River".
As with many cities in Latvia, Ventspils had its start around a medieval castle. Ventspils Castle, built next to the Venta River in the 13th century, is the oldest and best preserved of the Livonian Order castles.
In the 14th century Ventspils was a trading city and member of the Hanseatic League. The city was destroyed a number of times, during the Polish-Swedish War and the Great Northern War. Its population was shaved by a plague which swept through the region in 1711.
Ventspils CastleSource: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ventspils,_Latvia.jpg
Author: Toms Baugis
When the city came under the Russian Empire, its growth was stalled until the middle part of the 19th century, when it began to grow again through trade and shipbuilding. It also became one of the most important ports for Russia.
Today Ventspils has a highly developed economy compared to the rest of Latvia. Transport, storage and communication is the biggest contributor to its economy, followed by the construction sector.
Visiting Ventspils
You can reach Ventspils by bus from Riga and Liepāja.
Port in VentspilsSource: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ventspils_port.jpg
Author: liftarn
Places of Interest in Ventspils
- Aqua Park
This is a water theme park for children and families. - Seaside Open-Air Museum
Museum that preserves the history of Latvia's fishing villages, it displays buildings used by the fishing community, reassembled here. - St Nicholas Lutheran Church (Sv. Nikolaja Luterāļu baznīca)
A lovely church in yellow and white at the old market square. - St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church (Sv. Nikolaja pareizticīgo baznīca)
Church consecrated in the early 20th century. It has an excellent collection of icons. - Ventspils Beach
A 1.2-km (0.7-mi) stretch of beach facing the Baltic Sea that is now proudly meeting international standards, when it was once a contaminated coastline. - Ventspils Castle
One of the finest castles in Latvia. Originally built in the 13th century, it attained its present shape in the 14th century.
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