Mazirbe brings together Livonian cultural heritage and coastal history. From the Lībiešu tautas nams and historic memorial sites to trails along the coast, you’ll find different ways to explore the area on your trip. You can choose what to focus on according to your interests: architecture and language are just as central as past living conditions and the landscape.
Livonian Culture and Architectural History
The Lībiešu tautas nams was built in 1938–1939 with support from Estonia, Finland, and Hungary. It was designed by Finnish architect Erki Hutunen, and is considered his only project built abroad. The building houses a collection of Livonian household items and recordings of the Livonian language. Check the current opening arrangements before your visit.
Līvu svētki also keep Livonian culture rooted in Mazirbe: this cultural festival takes place in the village every year. The 2025 and 2026 programs included a hands-on workshop on making symbolic torches. If you’re planning your trip around the festival, check the dates for your travel year.
Mazirbe’s Evangelical Lutheran Church was built in 1868. Its history connects architectural and linguistic culture: services were once held there in the Livonian language. The 36-meter-high church tower served as a landmark for sailors in the Irbe Strait to determine their ships’ positions. The church thus offers insight both into past religious practices and the landmark building’s importance to seafaring.
Memorial Sites and Historical Traces
The Mazirbe boat cemetery is the only site of its kind on the Latvian coast. It features old fishing boats that were hauled into the dunes in the 1950s and 1960s, after individual fishing was banned in the border zone. The site’s origins make a specific historical change visible, rather than presenting the boats simply as individual objects.
Another cultural attraction is the Stūrīši Museum. The restored museum of ethnographic objects opened in Mazirbe in June 2026, and its collection was granted official museum status. Stūrīši is housed in one of the village’s oldest buildings, built in 1888. If you plan to visit, check the visiting arrangements in advance.
The former maritime school building also served as a primary school. A Soviet army post was located in the building. A border checkpoint on the Ventspils–Kolka road was located separately. A memorial plaque in Mazirbe commemorates Kārli Stalte, a Livonian poet and cultural figure. The Mazbānīša Trail also passes a former railway station site in the village, marked by a memorial stone.
Coastal Trails and Excursions
The 16-kilometer Jūrtaka stage from Sīkrags to Saunags passes through Mazirbe. Check current trail conditions before setting out. A sandy stretch of coast runs between Sīkrags and Mazirbe beach, crossed by the Mazirbes upīte. Crossing conditions may vary seasonally; take this into account when planning your trip.
For a shorter cultural experience, take the guided walk “Pa līvu takām”: the 3.5-kilometer tour introduced visitors to Livonian cultural heritage and led to significant historic sites in Mazirbe. It took place on September 6, 2025. For a cycling trip, you can ride the Jūrtaka route from Mazirbe to Saunags along the historic coastal trail. The signs on the Jūrtaka section through Mazirbe are in Latvian and Livonian.
At Sudrabkalni in Mazirbe, you can buy smoked fish. Check with the provider to see if it’s available on the day of your trip. This lets you combine cultural sightseeing, time on the coastal trails, and a possible stop for local food according to your interests.
Discover more destinations: Saunags, Kolka, Pitrags, Košrags, Dundaga, Dūmele.
Return to the regional travel overview: Dundagas Novads.
