Padure Loop

A scenic 18 km route takes you along the quiet forest roads of the Venta Valley to Padure, a well-kept village with several tourist attractions, offering a chance to explore both cultural-historical sites and local craftsmanship.

The route begins along the Venta River, passing the Veckuldīga Hillfort and small forest paths, where you can find various berries and mushrooms, as well as the forest-surrounded Tigava Pond.

Upon reaching Padure, we recommend visiting the ceramic workshop “Saules ceplis”, where ceramicist Madara Atiķe creates black pottery using ancestral techniques. In Padure, you can also see Padure Manor and the manor’s granary with an attic roof. The granary houses the exhibition “Aspects of Padure’s History”, featuring various traditional craft tools.

On the way back, the route passes through a small settlement called “Keramika”. The name remains in honor of the Latvijas Keramika production association, which operated a brick and ceramics factory here in 1958. The old brick kiln chimney (late 19th century) is a local cultural heritage monument, viewable from the outside.

Following a sandy road, the route returns to the city. The trail surface is mostly even and pleasant for cycling. The only obstacles are a few tree roots, and depending on the weather: in dry conditions, there is one sandy patch, and in wet conditions, there is a ~20 m muddy section where the bicycle will need to be pushed.