Unique elements of the World War I field fortifications related to the legendary Christmas battles have been preserved in the territory of the museum. The open-air exhibition of the Christmas Battles Museum reconstructs a section of the fortification system in an authentic location – the armour and a part of the first line of German defence – the “German rampart”, which is the only object of its kind in the Baltics.
OFFERS
Inside the museum you can see the exhibition “Christmas Battles of Latvian Riflemen”. More than 200 photographs, battle diagrams and objects found in the vicinity of Tīreļpurva provide interesting historical evidence of the events of that time. The indoor exhibition also includes the largest model of a battle site in Latvia, showing several square kilometres of the Christmas Battle area with World War I fortifications.
Visiting the indoor exhibition outside opening hours on Mondays and Sundays is possible by prior arrangement.
Search game – “Scout Trail at the Christmas Battles Museum”
Educational, inventive and physical tasks to be completed in the museum’s indoor and outdoor exhibitions, training ground and woods. The challenges are mainly designed for families with children, but could be interesting for everyone. Anyone wishing to take part in this history-learning game can pick up a map at the Christmas Battles Museum (during museum opening hours) with descriptions of the tasks to be completed and allow at least 30-40 minutes to complete them.
Christmas Battles Museum Educational Trail
- The 7.2 km-long educational trail has been created at the sites of the Christmas Battles in cooperation with the Latvian State Forests.
- The beginning and end of the trail will be located in the Christmas Battles Museum in the “Mangali” parish of Valgunde municipality, Jelgava region, and its route is planned along the route of the 1st Latvian Rifle Brigade’s attack on 5 January 1917.
- The route of the trail is linked to more interesting objects that have survived to the present day and will allow visitors to better understand the uniqueness of the preservation of the sites of the Christmas Battles.
- Information boards have been installed at 13 locations to provide information on the sites, which will allow the general public to get to know the historical evidence (remains of fortification structures, historical engineering structures and precisely identifiable sites of historical events), which until now often remained inaccessible in informative and practical terms.
PRICES
- Indoor and outdoor exposition of the museum – free of charge
- Guided tour: in Latvian – 10,00 EUR, in English, Russian – 15,00 EUR per group;
- Educational lesson “Latvian Rifleman in Christmas Battles” – 30,00 EUR per group.
Photo from the archive of Jelgava Regional Tourism Centre.