🏰 About the Turaida Museum Reserve
The only museum reserve in Latvia established to preserve, maintain and showcase the Turaida historic centre across a thousand years of history. The Turaida Museum Reserve is home to some of Latvia’s best-known attractions – the medieval stone castle of Turaida, Dainu Hill, and a memorial to Turaida’s Rose, a young woman whose life story is woven into a romantic legend.
The Turaida Museum Reserve also tells the story of the legacy left by the Livonians of the Gauja region, whilst preserving, maintaining and exhibiting the buildings of the Turaida Manor’s economic centre.
The exhibition ‘On the Road to the Latvian State. Serf. Landowner. Citizen’ is dedicated to the history of the formation of the Latvian state – the hundred years leading up to the founding of the Latvian state. This was a significant period during which the Latvian nation took shape and grew stronger, nurturing and realising the dream of establishing an independent state.
📚 Educational programmes
The Turaida Museum Reserve offers a wide range of educational programmes for pupils of various ages – from pre-school and primary school right through to secondary school. The programmes combine the study of history, language and culture with practical tasks, role-play, orienteering and creative activities.
This educational programme is designed for Years 4–9 and is tailored specifically for Years 4–6 and Years 7–9.
It is designed to foster pupils’ interest in the Latvian language and to encourage an understanding of the importance of the Latvian language in the existence of the state and culture, in the processes of nation-building, and in the formation and existence of the nation, using the exhibition “On the Road to the Latvian State. The Labourer. The Landowner. The Citizen.”
During the programme, young people explore the Indo-European language tree on display, read a poem that was written in old print at the Swiss House in Turaida in 1828, learn how significant one person’s contribution can be to an entire nation by discovering the story of Ati Kronvalds, find out whether they can recognise well-known objects by their older names, and will exercise their mental agility by creating charades based on the images featured in the exhibition.
- Prices per group: 35.00 EUR + museum admission tickets
- Duration of the programme: 1.5 hours
- Number of participants: up to 30 people
- Dates: 1 May–15 November
- Language: Latvian
The programme has been developed with financial support from the State Culture Capital Foundation as part of the ‘Latvian School Bags’ project to create educational content in museums.
This educational programme is designed for pupils in Years 1–4, as well as for children in preparatory groups at pre-school institutions.
It is designed in line with the pupils’ age-appropriate ability to absorb and learn information, and includes creative tasks, storytelling and individual activities, so that pupils can gain as much varied knowledge as possible during a single lesson.
To promote pupils’ understanding of peasant life during the serfdom era in the first half of the 19th century, a variety of methods are used, including puppet theatre, hands-on activities – such as making a rake and other tools – counting rhymes and other activities that engage the various senses.
- Prices per group: 35.00 EUR + museum admission tickets
- Duration of the programme: 1.5 hours
- Group size: up to 30 people
- Dates: 1 May–15 November
- Language: Latvian
The programme has been developed with financial support from the State Culture Capital Foundation as part of the ‘Latvian School Bags’ project to create educational content in museums.
The programme is suitable for both pupils in Years 4–12 and groups of friends of various ages.
During the programme, pupils have the opportunity to learn about Latvian history from the 14th to the 16th centuries in a relaxed and engaging way, by taking part in a role-play at Turaida Castle and experiencing the atmosphere of history through the scent of wax and the allure of ancient artefacts.
Dressed in medieval costume, participants will take on the roles of knights or peasants, learn about the social hierarchy of the time and the duties of the bailiff. During the visit, under the guidance of the Turaida bailiff and scribe, participants will learn medieval manners and writing skills.
- Group prices: EUR 35.00 + admission tickets
- Duration of the programme: 1.5–2 hours
- Number of participants: up to 30 people
- Available all year round
- Languages: Latvian, Russian, English
The programme is suitable for pupils in Years 4–12.
The orienteering game is designed as an active and exciting visit to the museum reserve. The aim of the game is to find the attractions and specific objects within the Turaida Museum Reserve marked on the map.
There are several levels of difficulty to ensure that exploring the museum reserve is an exciting experience for pupils of all ages. Taking part in the programme helps to develop teamwork skills, the ability to manage and organise one’s own work, spatial awareness and map-reading skills.
- Prices per group: 35.00 EUR + admission tickets
- Duration of the programme: 1.5 hours
- Group size: up to 35 people
- Dates: May–October
- Languages: Latvian, Russian and English
The programme is suitable for pupils in Years 1–7.
Turaida has long been Livonian territory. The educational programme “What will the Livonian Horse of Destiny decide?” encourages participants to discover the ancient history, culture and language of Latvia’s indigenous people – the Livonians.
By taking part in a game, participants will be transported into the world of the ancient Livonians and relive a historical situation in Turaida from 820 years ago. Participants will explore the exhibition “The Gauja Livs in Latvian Cultural History”, focusing on Finno-Ugric mythology and life in the Turaida region in the 12th century.
Taking on the roles of the Livonians of Turaida, participants will take part in an improvised folk assembly. The historical role-play is based on the events described in Indriķis’ Chronicle, which took place in Turaida in 1191.
- Prices per group: €35.00 + museum admission tickets
- Duration of the programme: 1.5 hours
- Number of participants: up to 30 people
- Time: all year round
- Language: Latvian
The programme is suitable for pupils in Years 4–12.
During the programme, participants learn about the tradition of giving surnames in Latvia and discover the origins of Latvian first names and surnames, particularly in Vidzeme in the early 19th century.
Pupils discover why surnames sometimes reflect a person’s character or physical characteristics, and create a group surname tree. The programme also includes a role-play about how a farmer came to have his surname.
- Prices per group: 35.00 EUR + admission tickets
- Duration of the programme: 1.5 hours
- Number of participants: up to 30 people
- Available all year round
- Language: Latvian
The programme is suitable for pupils in Years 1–6.
Dainu Hill was created to honour Latvian folk songs, to convey the folk values embedded in them, and to strengthen national identity.
During the programme, pupils explore the Folk Song Park and Dainu Hill, with its 26 sculptures created by the sculptor Indulis Ranka. Whilst listening to a talk on folk wisdom and values, pupils sing and chant folk songs, solve riddles, play games and carry out various unusual tasks.
The programme takes place outdoors on Dainu Hill.
- Prices per group: 35.00 EUR + admission tickets
- Duration of the programme: up to 1.5 hours
- Number of participants: up to 30 people
- Dates: May–October
- Language: Latvian
The programme is suitable for pupils in Years 1–6.
During the session, pupils learn about the production of clay building materials in the Middle Ages, explore Turaida’s stone castle and examine the bricks used in its construction, visit the site of Turaida’s brick kiln, and make their own brick.
The programme involves hands-on activities – measuring and comparing the dimensions of ancient bricks, as well as mixing clay, placing it in wooden moulds and shaping bricks.
- Prices per group: 35.00 EUR + admission tickets
- Duration of the programme: 1.5 hours
- Number of participants: up to 30 people
- Dates: May–September
- Language: Latvian, Russian
The programme is suitable for pupils in Years 1–6.
The programme is designed as a creative workshop during which participants learn about traditional Christmas customs – preparing for the festivities, decorating the rooms, buying presents, playing games, riddles and fortune-telling.
Each participant makes a heartfelt gift with their own hands, tells riddles, plays games and predicts the coming year’s fortunes and events. The festive atmosphere is enhanced by the scent of the Christmas tree, the glow of candles, gingerbread and tea.
- Prices per group: 35.00 EUR + admission tickets
- Duration of the programme: 1.5 hours
- Number of people: up to 30
- Dates: 1 December–10 January
- Language: Latvian
➕ Additional offer
- Fortune-telling at the blacksmith’s – for a separate fee, by prior arrangement with Turaida blacksmith Andris Ščeglovs, tel. 29490869.
- Arrangements can be made for the presentation of school certificates and the handing out of Christmas sweet bags during the programme.
🎒 Latvian School Bag
The Turaida Museum Reserve also has an offer for cultural education programmes linked to the “Latvian School Bag” programme .
You can find out more about the current programmes, target groups and detailed descriptions in the ‘Latvian School Bag’ programme section below.
🎒 View “Latvian School Bag” programmes ↓
🔬 STEM and civic engagement activities
The Turaida Museum Reserve also offers activities funded by the STEM and civic engagement project for pupils in Years 7–12.
During the sessions, pupils conduct hands-on exploration of the Turaida Museum Reserve’s forest park and the Livonian Trail, compare the diversity of deciduous trees and timber stocks, study the invertebrates in water bodies and water quality, and learn about civic engagement topics on Dainu Hill.
Details of the specific activities, their target groups and full descriptions can be found in the STEM activities catalogue provided below.
🔗 View the STEM activities catalogue ↓
🏰 Guided tours at the Turaida Museum Reserve
You can discover the story of the historic centre of Turaida, whose heritage is preserved by the Turaida Museum Reserve, with a museum guide. The exhibitions at the Turaida Museum Reserve, both indoors and outdoors, cover a period spanning a thousand years, reflecting key events in Latvian history.
A general overview of the museum reserve’s exhibitions, including a guided visit to Dainu Hill and Turaida Castle, listening to the legend of the Rose of Turaida, exploring one of the oldest wooden churches in Latvia, and discovering the Livonian heritage of the Gauja River in Turaida.
- Group prices: 20.00 EUR + admission tickets
- Duration of the tour: 1.5 hours
- Group size: up to 30 people
- Available all year round
- Language: Latvian, Russian
You can choose one of the following themes:
- Turaida Stone Castle;
- Dainu Hill and the Folk Song Park;
- The Gauja Livonians in Latvian cultural history;
- Turaida Church Hill;
- Turaida Manor.
- Group prices: €10.00 + admission tickets
- Duration of the tour: 45 mins
- Group size: up to 30 people
- Available all year round
- Language: Latvian, Russian
A story set a hundred years before the founding of the Latvian state – about the development of the Latvian peasant and the Latvian people from serfs to farm owners and, finally, to free citizens of their own independent state.
- Group prices: 10.00 EUR + admission tickets to the exhibition
- Duration of the tour: 45 mins–1 hr
- Group size: up to 30 people
- Dates: 1 May–18 November
- Language: Latvian
➕ Additional offer
🎲 Board game ‘Become the Bailiff of Turaida!’
The Turaida Museum Reserve offers the board game ‘Become the Bailiff of Turaida!’, which, when played in a classroom or with a group of friends, can spark a discussion about history, power and responsibility, choice, luck and courage. The game is suitable for various age groups.
The game can be purchased at the museum reserve’s Visitor Centre. Prices: €9.50.
📖 Books on history and literature
- “The Manor Through the Eyes of a Parish Clerk” – a selection of works by the writer and Turaida parish clerk Pērsiešs. Prices: €5.00.
- “Turaida in 13th–16th-Century Documents” – a compilation of documents issued at Turaida Castle. Prices: €30.00.
- “David’s Book of Stories and Games at Turaida Castle” – an introduction to the history of Turaida Castle, suitable for primary school pupils, featuring activities and games.
ℹ️ Important
Please make programme bookings and tour reservations at least 3 days before your visit:
info@tmr.gov.en
+371 67971402
+371 29384512
Photo from the Turaida Museum Reserve archive.