ABOUT THE CASTLE TOWER

The castle tower has been preserved as a fragment of a medieval castle built around 1300 by the Livonian Order. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the castle was the residence of the Tukums Chief Marshal, but it was destroyed during the Great Northern War (1709) and has never been rebuilt. Its stones were used for the construction of buildings in the Old Town. The surviving parts of the castle were rebuilt around 1767. For two and a half centuries, the Castle Tower served as both a prison and a grain storehouse.

On 15 July 1995, during the first Tukums Town Festival, the Tukums Town History Museum “Castle Tower” was opened.

EXHIBITIONS

Exhibition “Tukumnieki un draugi”

From 14 July until 30 June 2019, the exhibition “Tukumnieki un draugi” (Tukum residents

and friends

) will be on display at the Tukums Town History Museum “Castle Tower”. The exhibition is about Tukums and Tukumans – who we are and what we can be proud of, about great local people, about twin towns in other countries.

Exhibition “Stories of our own, not of others”

The exhibition “Stories of our own, not of others” has six thematic sections. Each period is highlighted by an object with its own special story.

The title “Stories of Ourselves, Not of Strangers” reflects the desire to view the events of 20th century history in Tukums in a broader context, comparing them with developments in Latvian, Baltic and European history, while at the same time emphasising the stories of specific people.

Environmental object “From the past to the future”

The environmental object “Gate from the past to the future” designed by Tukums resident, architect Līga Saulespurena and artist Anda Niedre, marks the way to the city’s history museum, where the events of our past are reflected.

The environmental object also serves as an information stand, as two LED screens reflect current events.

Interactive exhibition “Letters on birch bark”

The interactive exhibition “Letters to the Future” includes birch bark letters from Siberia. It provides information about the authors and recipients of the letters who, because of their public activity, civic position or resistance, were made undesirable to the Soviet authorities, arrested and punished after the Second World War or deported to Siberia on 14 June 1941 or 25 March 1949.

The exhibition reflects the life story of the authors and recipients of the letters and demonstrates their ability to survive, resist, maintain their pride and belong to their nation.

Virtual exhibition here: http://tukumamuzejs.lv/components/com_php/files/expo.php

PRICES

Entrance fee

• Students – free
• Adults – EUR 1.50
• Preschool children and accompanying persons (up to two) – free

Guidedtours

In the museum (up to 10 persons/hour):
In Latvian: EUR 8.00
In a foreign language: EUR 15.00

In the museum (up to 30 persons/hour):
In Latvian: EUR 12.00
In a foreign language: EUR 21.00

Photos from the Tukums Museum archives.