On the road from Riga, 25 km before Liepāja, is the smallest town in Latvia , Durbe, a place with a remarkable history. On the hillfort, where the ruins of the walls of the German castle of the Teutonic Knights are situated, there is a memorial sign to the Battle of Durbe in 1260.

Next to the castle mound, the museum is housed in the restored Doctor’s Office, where Latvia’s first Foreign Minister, Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics, was born in 1887. Its exhibits reflect the history of Durbe, each with a story about events and personalities. Atis Kronvalds, the New Latvian, Simon Klēvers, the father of Latvian gardens, Jēkabs Alksnis, a doctor of medicine, Ģirts Vilks, an artist, and other important people in Latvian history are connected with Durbe.

In the museum you will see the Namejs ring, a Kurš women’s hand buckle, Durbe folk costume, an almost 200-year-old wedding dress of a Līgutu noblewoman, books written in Durbe and other interesting things.

Together with the museum you can see the Durbe church built in 1651 with well-preserved old incrustation. There are several stories connected with the church: the 1905 revolt and others. Next to the church is the former Kronvalds School. There you can visit the Durbe Lake Room. In the centre square you can see the coat of arms of the town carved in stone: an apple tree with 7 apples.

You can plan 1-2 hours for a visit to Durbe.

Photos from the Durbe Museum archives.