Kuldīga Historic Centre

The historic centre of Kuldīga is exceptionally well-preserved and serves as a remarkable reminder of the flourishing period of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia and the town’s trade from the late 16th century through the 17th and 18th centuries, when the town was known as Goldingen.

Kuldīga was the main residence and administrative centre of Duke Gotthard Kettler, the first ruler of Courland, from the establishment of the duchy in 1561. The town maintained an important role in the governance of the duchy, which ruled this significant part of the Baltic region from 1561 until 1795.

In modern-day Kuldīga, the streetscape clearly reflects the urban and architectural development from the 16th to 18th centuries. The combination of well-preserved town planning, authentic building structures and façades, original materials, and landscape elements illustrates the historical urban landscape of Kuldīga and provides tangible evidence of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia.

Kuldīga also offers insight into the duchy’s trade and craft connections, intercultural contacts, and both tangible and intangible cultural heritage traditions. The craftsmanship skills developed during the ducal period are visible in functional and decorative architectural details throughout the town, and local residents continue to value, use, and preserve these skills today.

Flowing through the historic centre is the small Alekšupīte River, which runs directly along the walls of historic buildings and is crossed by many bridges. For this reason, Kuldīga is affectionately called the “Venice of Latvia” by its residents.