Contents

• Science and active leisure
• Exploring space and Ventspils
• History and the Seashore
• Nature trail around Ventspils
• A low-budget excursion
• Ideas for a trip in the cooler months
• What to bear in mind when planning a trip
• Places of interest on the map

Science and active leisure

This route will be particularly suitable for school classes wishing to combine learning, technology and physical activity in a single day.

The excursion can begin at the VIZIUM Science Centre in Ventspils. In the interactive exhibition, pupils can learn about physics, maths, geography, the human body, the environment and modern technologies.

In addition to viewing the exhibition, you can choose a science show, a STEM lesson or one of the technical, creative and audiovisual workshops. It is advisable to agree on the most suitable programme for your class before the ride.

After the educational session, the day can continue at the Ventspils Adventure Park. Depending on the season and the pupils’ age, you can choose from tree-top obstacle courses, laser tag, paintball, disc golf and other activities.

The park is also home to the Ventspils toboggan run, which can form the entertaining part of an excursion following the VIZIUM educational programme.

Suggested itinerary: VIZIUM → lunch break → Ventspils Adventure Park and toboggan run.

Exploring Space and Ventspils

For pupils interested in astronomy, the Ventspils Creative Centre’s planetarium and observatory is an ideal destination. The sessions offer an opportunity to learn about the Solar System, the planets, the Moon, the stars and other space-related topics.

A visit to the planetarium can be complemented by a stroll along the Ostas Street promenade. From there, you can enjoy views of the Venta River and the harbour area, as well as see a collection of buoys, environmental art attractions and the city’s historic buildings.

If you’re looking for a more relaxed spot to unwind after the session, you can also include the Children’s Town in your itinerary.

Itinerary suggestion: planetarium and observatory → Ostas Street promenade → Children’s Town.

History and the Seashore

In Ventspils, you can explore both medieval and modern history by combining a museum, a site of military heritage and the Baltic Sea coast in a single itinerary.

You can start your tour at the Castle of the Livonian Order – the oldest surviving building in Ventspils and one of the oldest medieval fortresses in Latvia.

The castle’s exhibitions provide an insight into the history of the town of Ventspils, its port, the castle and the region. Educational programmes for school groups are also available, covering medieval life, the workings of the museum, and the history of photography, clothing and musical instruments. Several of these programmes are included in the cultural education programme “Latvian School Bag”.

You can continue your exploration of the town’s history at the Crafts House. There, pupils can learn how schooling took place in the 19th century, try their hand at calligraphy, counting with abacuses and reading old-style print. An admission ticket to the Crafts House costs 0.50 EUR for pupils.

You can learn about recent history at the fire-control tower of Ventspils’ 46th Coastal Battery. A visit here provides an opportunity to discuss issues relating to military heritage, coastal defence and Latvia’s 20th-century history.

After learning about the history, you can head to the Southern Pier promenade to see the harbour gates and the Baltic Sea coastline.

Suggested itinerary: Castle of the Livonian Order → Crafts Centre or Tower of Coastal Battery No. 46 → Southern Pier.

Nature trail around Ventspils

If the main aim of your school trip is walking and exploring nature, several free attractions can be combined into a single-day itinerary.

The area around Lake Būšnieki is ideal for walks, active recreation and birdwatching. Along the nature trail, pupils can admire the lake’s scenery and discover the diversity of the lakeside environment.

The excursion can continue at the Staldzene cliffs. Here, it is possible to discuss the formation of the Baltic Sea coast, erosion and the impact of natural processes on the shoreline.

When visiting the cliff, safety must be observed and weather conditions taken into account. Pupils should not climb right up to the edge of the cliff or damage the cliff face.

To round off the day, you can head to Ventspils Jūrmala Park. The park is home to the largest collection of anchors in the Baltics, whilst the more active pupils can enjoy the Jungle Trail and other leisure activities.

Suggested itinerary: Lake Būšnieki Nature Trail → Staldzene Cliffs → Jūrmala Park.

A low-budget excursion

It is also possible to organise an interesting excursion in Ventspils where there is no admission charge for the attractions, or the charge is nominal.

A visit to the Herbert Dorbe Memorial Museum is free of charge, but must be booked in advance. At the museum, you can learn about the writer’s life, his works and the cultural and historical context. This offer is particularly well-suited to complementing lessons on the Latvian language and literature.

A visit to the Craft House costs 0.50 EUR per pupil. Here, learning about history can be combined with hands-on activities and stories about traditional crafts. The museum’s educational programme is charged separately.

“Fantāzija” Children’s Park

“Fantāzija” Children’s Park is a free public recreational area in Pārventa. It is suitable for younger schoolchildren as a place to stretch their legs and relax between educational activities.

Other free stops

The itinerary can also include the Ostas Street promenade, the South Pier, Jūrmala Park, the Children’s Town, the Būšnieki Lake nature trail and the Staldzene cliffs, all without any additional admission fees.

Idea for a budget itinerary: Herbert Dorbe Museum → Craft House → Ostas Street promenade → Children’s Town.

Ideas for excursions during the cooler months

Ventspils’ offer doesn’t limit itself to the summer season. In autumn and winter, you can plan an excursion centred around indoor activities.

For a sporty class, the Ventspils Water Adventure Park or the Ventspils Ice Rink are ideal. Meanwhile, the educational aspect can be provided by VIZIUM, the planetarium, the Livonian Order Castle, the Crafts House or the Herbert Dorbe Museum, details of which can be found in the previous sections.

Idea for a cold-weather itinerary: VIZIUM or the Planetarium → lunch break → the Ice Rink or the Water Adventure Park.

What to bear in mind when planning an excursion

• book your class visit to the selected attractions in good time;
• check which programmes are suitable for the pupils’ age group and the duration of the sessions;
• check current prices, group size limits and conditions for accompanying teachers;
• allow sufficient time for travelling between attractions;
• when visiting natural attractions, choose clothing and footwear suitable for the weather conditions;
• check the seasonal opening hours of the attractions before your ride.