Ķegums can be explored through different themes: the history of the hydroelectric power station, insights into its technology, and activities at the beach or in the suburban forests. When planning your visit, it is worth considering these themes separately. A museum visit requires advance registration; seasonal opening may affect beach equipment rentals. This way, you can plan your stay around the interests that matter most to you.
Plan Your Museum Visit in Advance
To visit the Enerģētikas muzejs in Ķegums, at Ķeguma prospekts 7/9, you must register at least five working days in advance. Include this activity in your plans early and check the museum’s current booking information before your trip. The advance registration period is especially important if you want to plan your stay around a visit there.
The History of the Hydroelectric Power Station
The Ķegums hydroelectric power station, Ķeguma HES, was built between 1936 and 1940. In October 1944, German troops blew up the power station as they retreated. Reconstruction and expansion were completed by 1947. The construction history therefore comprises several clearly distinct stages: construction, wartime destruction, and the subsequent reconstruction and expansion.
The collection The Construction Process of the Ķegums Power Station (1936-1940) focuses on the period when it was built. The collection was added to Latvia’s national register of the UNESCO Memory of the World programme in 2009. It includes photographic negatives and glass plates by Latvian photographer and documentary filmmaker Eduards Kraucs (1898–1977). The collection’s name refers to the construction process from 1936 to 1940.
The outdoor exhibition at the Elektrum Energy Museum features a historic turbine from the Ķegums power station. An interactive model of Ķeguma HES lets visitors explore the power station and simulate its commissioning for electricity generation through play. Along the Ķeguma dabas taka nature trail, information boards explain the construction, expansion and modernisation of the power station. Beside the Ķeguma skatu terase observation terrace, a board describes and illustrates the historic design of the bridge arches. The models, technical objects and information boards thus offer different ways to explore the history of the power station.
An Event at Ķeguma Krusta kalns
Every year in June, a cross procession takes place at Ķeguma Krusta kalns on the Saturday before Jāņi. The event may interest travellers who are interested in religious traditions. As the date of the Saturday can vary from year to year, check the date for your travel year if you would like to plan your visit around it.
Beach Activities and Seasonal Rentals
Ķegums beach has a pavilion and a landing pier. Boats and other water equipment are also available for hire there. The WindBorn recreation facility at the beach offers SUP boards and catamarans for hire; its operation may vary by season. Check in advance whether the rental you want is available at the time of your visit.
Other beach facilities include public volleyball courts and outdoor fitness equipment. So, in addition to rentals, there are ways to stay active on land. If you are planning to spend time by the water, you can consider these different options, but bear in mind that seasonal rentals are not the same as the facilities described as permanent.
Trails in the Suburban Forests
The walking trails in the suburban forests of Ķegums can be used for walking, Nordic walking, running, orienteering and cycling. This offers everything from a leisurely walk to more athletic activities, without implying that every trail is intended for a particular use. Choose an activity that suits your interests, and consider the forest trails a different way to spend time outdoors than at the beach.
A simple comparison can help you choose between the different themes: the power station’s history takes you through construction phases, historic objects and explanatory displays; at the beach, rentals and other facilities take centre stage. The suburban forest trails, in turn, offer several possible ways to get around. If you include an event in your plans, check its specific date; museum visits require advance registration at least five working days beforehand.
Discover more destinations: Rembate, Birzgale.
For the broader travel overview: Ķeguma Novads.
