Kuldīga Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Kuldīga

Town

Town hall of Kuldīga

Flag	Coat of arms

Country

Latvia

District

Kuldīga Municipality

Town rights

1378

Kuldīga is a town in western Latvia. It is the center of Kuldīga Municipality with a population of approximately 13,500.

Kuldīga was first mentioned in 1242. It joined the Hanseatic League in 1368. In the 17th century, Kuldīga was one of the capitals of the Duchy of Courland.

It is an ancient town with unique, distinctive architecture. Saint Catherine is believed to be the patron saint of Kuldīga, and thus the oldest church of the town has been named after St Catherine. The foundation of the building was laid as early as in 1252; later the church was remodelled a number of times.

The Old Town around the small river itself is unique: it is the only remaining 17th–18th-century ensemble of this kind in the Baltic states.

A 4.5 m high waterfall on the Alekšupīte is the highest in Latvia.

The pride of Kuldīga is the Venta Rapid, a 240-meter wide natural rapid which is the widest in Europe. Not far from the rapid there is the Kuldīga brick bridge built in 1874, one of the longest bridges of this type in Europe.

Kuldīga was recognized an EDEN destination (promoting sustainable tourism) in 2007.