Duke Jacob and the portal

Kuldiga

In the centre of Kuldiga town in Latvia, there is a portal with Duke Jacob Kettler stuck inside. On my stay in Latvia in 2013, we went to Kuldiga to attend an annual festival, and it is where I first met the Duke and learned his fascinating story.

Born in 1610 in Kuldiga ( then Goldingen), Jacob was the godson of King James I of England. He studied in Rostock and Leipzig University, traveled Europe and learned many useful skills. In 1642 he became Duke of Courland, and his knowledge and willpower helped him build ‘Curonian Empire’. Manufacturing and international trade bloomed under his rule, and he also started shipbuilding. In 1651 he sent a fleet to build Fort Jacob on the Gambia river in West Africa. In 1654 he conquered Tobago. The colony on Tobago was named Neu Kurland (New Courland) and consisted of 80 families and soldiers.

In the beginning of the 17th century, Australia was discovered and claimed by the Dutch. Duke Jacob decided to colonize Australia, and got a blessing from the Pope Innocent X. Unfortunately the Pope soon died and the new Pope didn’t support that plan.

During the Northern Wars, Duke and his family were taken prisoners by Swedes in 1658. In the next two years his colonies were attacked and taken away, and his fleet destroyed, but after the War ended, Duke Jacob rebuilt the fleet and retook Tobago from the Dutch. He died in 1682, and was remembered as a just ruler who knew Latvian language.

This is the castle guard’s house that was built in 1735 using the rocks from the Duke’s castle that was destroyed by Swedes in 1702.

 

Kuldiga

Beautiful brick bridge across the river Venta was designed by an engineer Friedrich Stapprany and built in 1874.  It is one of the longest and widest brick bridges in Europe, enough for two carriages going in opposite directions to pass each other. A beautiful piece of architecture surrounded by gorgeous scenery.

Kuldiga

View from the bridge.

Kuldiga

Ventas Rumba, a 2m high and 240-270m long rapid is on the other side of the bridge. I am standing in the place where the Duke’s castle used to be. In his reign, local fishermen placed baskets over the waterfall to catch the migrating vimba fish.  Annual Flying Fish festival takes place in April to celebrate the ancient fishing practice.

PS I didn’t cross the river.

Kuldiga

River Aleksupite runs through the old town winding between the walls of the old buildings. There was a special lottery going on at the festival. You could buy a plastic ball with a number, and together with the other participants, toss it in the river. There is a very slim chance that your number wins – only five balls reached the finish line.

Kuldiga

After the lottery is over, the famous Aleksupite race starts…

Kuldiga

… followed by the carnival. This Bacchus caught my eye 🙂

Kuldiga

I was also amused by the Duke and his escort.

Kuldiga

Piratenkoor De Stormvogels from The Netherlands gave a fantastic performance.

Kuldiga

Some viking stuff for sale.

Kuldiga

Visitors and locals enjoying the day.

Kuldiga

Viking food cooked in the open air.

Kuldiga

I guess you have noticed how tidy is the town during the festival that attracted thousands of visitors. This reflects the local mentality – there are special programs that teach people not to litter, and no one in their right mind would do that. Only a drunk person might drop a cigarette butt, occasionally, because I did see a few cigarette butts on the pavement during my stay. A few. But I have seen many people of all ages and genders who put their tiny ticket in the bin after leaving public transport. I don’t want to tell that all the people of  Latvia are perfect, though 🙂 There are many very aggressive and quite impolite drivers there, but if you decide to visit, you will be very impressed as to the tidiness of this quite poor country, and the resourcefulness and optimism of the people.

Two more blog posts about Latvia to follow.

inesemjphotography Have a wonderful weekend!

112 comments

  1. OOOH…you are back with a bang. Wonderful title and photograph leads into this brilliant post. the festival looks amazing. What great pictures of it…they just make me want to go. Oh and then we had Vikings. What more can I say/ Apart from the fact I’m gobsmacked?

    1. Shehanne, you would love to be there. Vikings and pirates from many countries came to visit, and they looked very authentic. And there was a market too. I think they are having these festivals every summer, in July. I couldn’t find any website. They might have one in Latvian though. That summer I did a lot of traveling around Latvia, but never shared my pictures in this blog. Well, now I do 🙂

      1. OOH pirates too? I would adore that. Amazing. I do loved festivals. If we are somewhere and there is one on you can bet your bottom dollar I will be there. I love markets too. I am glad you share your pictures. They are amazing and cover all the bits of this xxx

  2. What a wonderful post, Inese! I love your pictures (as always;), and the festival sounds like so much fun!! What a great country Latvia seems to be! My wish to go there one day is doubled after your post (and very possibly trippled after the next 😉 ) Have a wonderful weekend and a great and Happy Mother´s Day!!! Sarah xoxo

    1. Thank you so much Sarah, you are so sweet! If you go to Latvia, do it in the end of June or July. The beaches there are fabulous! xxxx

  3. That sculpture is amazing, thanks for share such photographs from Lativa, Inese. It’s a place we don’t know much about in the far Peru but happy to see this is a nice place, and very tidy. : )

    1. I shared my travel photographs before, but they were all from the well-known places. Now I have put up a series of three blogs about a little-known places 🙂 Glad you like them 🙂

  4. That’s why I need to come to your neck of the woods and play
    I am trying for Christmas to cross the great pond
    It looks like so much fun
    Stay healthy
    See you soon
    Sheldon

    1. Thank you for stopping by, Lynne! This monument has two distinctive sides: this one, silvery, represents the 21st century. The other one is coppery, and represents the 17th century.

    1. Thank you! 🙂 Yes, the crossing didn’t look easy – it is about 2m high and 240m long. Every year it is different. The pictures were taken in 2013.

      1. There are one or two language problems yet thus far I haven’t sunk to the old English speaking very loud, almost shouting at those from foreign lands. Bit of sign language helps I find. Jolly good bunch of people I find…save for when a small mob of 5 year old children entered our garden and stole all of the ripe apricots last year. The respective mother’s were almost wild with anger at the kids until my dear wife explained that when she was small a policeman dragged her home by the earlobe after she had been caught scrumping apples.

    1. Thank you so much! I am still away on my holidays, and these posts about Latvia will fill up my blog until I am back 🙂

  19. Welcome back Inese! I so enjoyed this post. A bit of history with which I was unfamiliar, gorgeous photos, and your delightful commentary. Looking forward to more. Mega hugs!

    1. Morning, Teagan! No, I am not back, my holidays have just started 🙂 I will be away for another two weeks, and meanwhile I will post about Latvia.
      I so love your new story! You have invented a special kind of villain 🙂 Thank you again for the mention!
      Many hugs!

        1. Yes, a lot of fun with my grand kids:) These trips are complicated with jet lag – it is why I decided to share three posts about Latvia that are already written ages ago. Just to make my life easier. Many hugs! xxxxxx

  20. Walk across the river must be fun but seems like slippery too. The festival looks really. Oh yes the Bacchus and the Duke’s escorts are funny.

    1. Thank you for your comment! Yes, it looked too slippery, and also it would take a lot of time we didn’t have. I have read some feedback – not everyone advice to cross the river 🙂

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