The castle tower in Tukums is a fragment of the oldest building in Tukums: the castle of the Livonian Order. This remnant of the building provides a clear historical accent; at the same time, Tukums offers other ways to explore the town through its old-town architecture, Latvian art, crafts and rose culture. You can tailor your stay to different interests: historic streetscapes, art on display, or activities that focus on textiles and working with materials.
Old Town and City History
The old town of Tukums includes Harmonijas, Dārza, Zirgu, Jaunā, Talsu and Lielā streets. Many old residential and outbuildings constructed using block-building techniques can be seen there, with little alteration. The combination of residential and outbuildings lets you look beyond individual façades to the built structure of the streets. For architecture enthusiasts, the construction methods used for several buildings—not just one individual structure—make a worthwhile focus.
Brīvības Square is considered the starting point for a walking tour of Tukums. It is now furnished with benches, flower beds and a fountain. The square thus combines a practical role as a point of orientation with a place to take a break during a city walk.
Tukums City Park was established in 1869 near Lielā Street, at the suggestion of the Governor of Courland. Its history adds another dimension to the connection with the Order's castle: the creation of a city park in the 19th century.
Art and Crafts
Tukums Art Museum is considered Latvia's first provincial art museum; this historical designation is associated with the years 1935/1936. It presents Latvian art through works from its own collection and from private collections. Latvian art and the different contexts in which the works were collected are therefore both in focus.
The weaving workshop of the Tukums Museum, which has been active since 1974, offers a hands-on perspective. Visitors can learn about the region's traditional ethnic clothing and try their hand at weaving. Clothing and textile techniques come together here: the activity offers an introduction to regional dress as well as the chance to try weaving for yourself. At the straw workshop, visitors can learn basic straw- or hay-working skills, make their own figure and take the finished piece home. The activities also differ in their results: trying weaving is the focus at the weaving workshop, while the straw workshop produces a figure to take home.
Rose Route and Rose Festival
The Tukums Rose Route was created to make it easier to find your way around Tukums as a city of roses. The Rose Festival, by contrast, is a time-specific event: it grew from a small florists' festival into a city festival held every two years in Tukums. If you plan to visit specifically for the festival, check the dates for your chosen period, as the exact festival dates change. At previous editions, visitors brought their own rose to add to the festival wreath. The route and the festival therefore serve different purposes: the route helps you find your way around the rose theme, while the festival offers a specific event date.
A Cultural Destination Nearby
Slokenbeka Manor is in Milzkalne, on the banks of the Slocene River, five kilometres from Tukums. Its complex houses the Latvian Road Museum. This adds another subject to the range of options: alongside Tukums' old town, art and crafts, the focus here is a road museum in a manor complex. If you would like to include a nearby place in addition to the city's highlights, Slokenbeka is an option in its own right.
Discover more destinations: Tume, Lancenieki, Lamiņi, Slampe, Lapmežciems, Rideļi, Pētertāle, Zentene
Go to the main travel overview: Tukuma Novads.
