Livonian coast
Encyclopedia
Livonian Coast is a territory of Latvia
inhabited by Livonian people
. It is located in Northern Courland
and encompasses twelve Livonian villages. The protected area is about 60 kilometers long.
On February 4, 1992, the Latvian government created a culturally protected territory called - the Livonian Coast - which included all twelve of the Livonian villages: Lūžņa
(Livonian: Lūž), Miķeļtornis
(Pizā), Lielirbe
(Īra), Jaunciems
(Ūžkilā), Sīkrags
(Sīkrõg), Mazirbe
(Irē), Košrags
(Kuoštrõg), Saunags
(Sǟnag), Vaide
(Vaid), Kolka (Kūolka) (see also Cape Kolka
), Pitrags
(Pitrõg), and Melnsils
(Mustānum). The Latvian government discourages settlement of ethnic Latvians and other non-Livonians in this area and prohibits alterations to historical village sites. Also, it is prohibited for anyone to start a hotel, restaurant, or other public establishment which might adversely influence the Livonian culture or draw outsiders into the area. However, there has been number old fishermen or farmer houses converted into modern summerhouses by Latvian higher class. The Livonian Coast is part of Slitere national park.
Until the World War I
these villages were connected only by small forest roads along the coast and were practically inaccessible from inland. Most deliveries were made by the sea and most villages had their own pier (remains of piers can still be seen in Saunags
, Pitrags
and Mazirbe
; only Kolka
pier is still in use). During WWI the German army built a narrow gauge railway behind the dunes to move ammunition and wood. The railway connected Pitrags
, Mazirbe
and Lielirbe
with Dundaga
, a small regional town. Earthworks were installed to extend railway from Pitrags
to Saunags
and Vaide
, but the work was interrupted by moving front lines. Between the two wars, the railway was the main method for passenger transportation along the Livonian coast. After World War II
, in 1950s, the Soviet army built a wide dirt road connecting all the villages and the railway become obsolete. The railway was closed completely in 1960s, but there are several straight sections of roads or passages which still can be seen behind the dunes in Saunags
and Pitrags
, and in forests in Mazirbe
and Lielirbe
. During 2009-2011 the dirt road was asphalted and modernised as part of EU funded Kolka
-Ventspils
road project. A replica Mazirbe
railway station (original station is still standing now as a private house in Mazirbe
) was re-created as part of narrow gauge railway line in Ventspils
, along with a restored engine and carriages, and is now used as a tourist attraction.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
inhabited by Livonian people
Livonian people
The Livonians or Livs are the indigenous inhabitants of Livonia, a large part of what is today northwestern Latvia and southwestern Estonia. They spoke the Uralic Livonian language, a language which is closely related to Estonian and Finnish...
. It is located in Northern Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
and encompasses twelve Livonian villages. The protected area is about 60 kilometers long.
On February 4, 1992, the Latvian government created a culturally protected territory called - the Livonian Coast - which included all twelve of the Livonian villages: Lūžņa
Lužná
Luzna may refer to the following places:*Lužná , a village in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic*Łużna, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland*Lūžņa, a village in Latvia...
(Livonian: Lūž), Miķeļtornis
Mikeltornis
Miķeļtornis is a populated place in Tārgale parish, Ventspils municipality, Latvia. One of the twelve Livonian villages on Līvõd Rānda - the Livonian Coast.Other names: Miķeļtornis, Miķeļbāka, Mikelbaka....
(Pizā), Lielirbe
Lielirbe
Lielirbe is a populated place in Tārgale parish, Ventspils municipality, Latvia. One of the twelve Livonian villages on Līvõd rānda - the Livonian Coast.Other names:Liyelirbe, Gross Irben, Lielirbes Ciems-See also:*Livonian people...
(Īra), Jaunciems
Jaunciems
Jaunciems is a populated place in Tārgale parish, Ventspils municipality, northwest Latvia. It is one of the twelve Livonian villages. Both Latvian and Livonian names mean "new village".Caution- there is a number of Latvian villages called Jaunciems....
(Ūžkilā), Sīkrags
Sikrags
Sīkrags is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia. It is one of the twelve Livonian villages on Līvõd rānda—the Livonian Coast....
(Sīkrõg), Mazirbe
Mazirbe
Mazirbe is a village place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia 18 km southwest of Kolka. It is one of twelve Livonian villages on - the Livonian Coast. Mazirbe is the cultural capital of the Livonians....
(Irē), Košrags
Košrags
Košrags is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia on the shore of the Irbe Strait of the Baltic Sea.One of twelve Livonian villages on the Līvõd rānda - the Livonian Coast in Courland ....
(Kuoštrõg), Saunags
Saunags
Saunags is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia, located 11 km from the Cape Kolka, within the borders of Slītere National Park. It is one of the oldest of the twelve Livonian villages on the Līvõd rānda - the Livonian Coast...
(Sǟnag), Vaide
Vaide
Vaide is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia. One of the twelve Livonian villages on Līvõd rānda - the Livonian Coast.Other names: Vayde,Vaides Ciems....
(Vaid), Kolka (Kūolka) (see also Cape Kolka
Cape Kolka
Cape Kolka - cape on the Baltic Sea, near the entry to Gulf of Riga, in Livonian coast, in the Courland historical region of Latvia. The cape is surrounded by the Irbe Strait which serves as the natural border with Estonia. Cape Kolka represents the southwestern limit of the Gulf of Riga.Cape...
), Pitrags
Pitrags
Pitrags is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia at the mouth of the river Pitraga. One of twelve Livonian villages....
(Pitrõg), and Melnsils
Melnsils
Melnsils is a populated place in Roja municipality, Latvia. One of the twelve Livonian villages on Līvõd Rānda - the Livonian Coast...
(Mustānum). The Latvian government discourages settlement of ethnic Latvians and other non-Livonians in this area and prohibits alterations to historical village sites. Also, it is prohibited for anyone to start a hotel, restaurant, or other public establishment which might adversely influence the Livonian culture or draw outsiders into the area. However, there has been number old fishermen or farmer houses converted into modern summerhouses by Latvian higher class. The Livonian Coast is part of Slitere national park.
Until the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
these villages were connected only by small forest roads along the coast and were practically inaccessible from inland. Most deliveries were made by the sea and most villages had their own pier (remains of piers can still be seen in Saunags
Saunags
Saunags is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia, located 11 km from the Cape Kolka, within the borders of Slītere National Park. It is one of the oldest of the twelve Livonian villages on the Līvõd rānda - the Livonian Coast...
, Pitrags
Pitrags
Pitrags is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia at the mouth of the river Pitraga. One of twelve Livonian villages....
and Mazirbe
Mazirbe
Mazirbe is a village place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia 18 km southwest of Kolka. It is one of twelve Livonian villages on - the Livonian Coast. Mazirbe is the cultural capital of the Livonians....
; only Kolka
Kolka
thumb|Former Orthodox seminary and church in the backgroundKolka is a village in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality on the tip of Cape Kolka in Courland in Latvia, on the coast of the Gulf of Riga in ancient Livonia. It is home to the last remnants of Latvia's Livonian ethnic group, whose Livonian...
pier is still in use). During WWI the German army built a narrow gauge railway behind the dunes to move ammunition and wood. The railway connected Pitrags
Pitrags
Pitrags is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia at the mouth of the river Pitraga. One of twelve Livonian villages....
, Mazirbe
Mazirbe
Mazirbe is a village place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia 18 km southwest of Kolka. It is one of twelve Livonian villages on - the Livonian Coast. Mazirbe is the cultural capital of the Livonians....
and Lielirbe
Lielirbe
Lielirbe is a populated place in Tārgale parish, Ventspils municipality, Latvia. One of the twelve Livonian villages on Līvõd rānda - the Livonian Coast.Other names:Liyelirbe, Gross Irben, Lielirbes Ciems-See also:*Livonian people...
with Dundaga
Dundaga
Dundaga is a village in Courland, Latvia. From 2009 its an administrative centre of Dundaga municipality.Dundaga is famous for its castle from late 13th century, constructed by Archbishopric of Riga. From the 16th until the 20th century, Dundaga Castle was the centre of the largest private estate...
, a small regional town. Earthworks were installed to extend railway from Pitrags
Pitrags
Pitrags is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia at the mouth of the river Pitraga. One of twelve Livonian villages....
to Saunags
Saunags
Saunags is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia, located 11 km from the Cape Kolka, within the borders of Slītere National Park. It is one of the oldest of the twelve Livonian villages on the Līvõd rānda - the Livonian Coast...
and Vaide
Vaide
Vaide is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia. One of the twelve Livonian villages on Līvõd rānda - the Livonian Coast.Other names: Vayde,Vaides Ciems....
, but the work was interrupted by moving front lines. Between the two wars, the railway was the main method for passenger transportation along the Livonian coast. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in 1950s, the Soviet army built a wide dirt road connecting all the villages and the railway become obsolete. The railway was closed completely in 1960s, but there are several straight sections of roads or passages which still can be seen behind the dunes in Saunags
Saunags
Saunags is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia, located 11 km from the Cape Kolka, within the borders of Slītere National Park. It is one of the oldest of the twelve Livonian villages on the Līvõd rānda - the Livonian Coast...
and Pitrags
Pitrags
Pitrags is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia at the mouth of the river Pitraga. One of twelve Livonian villages....
, and in forests in Mazirbe
Mazirbe
Mazirbe is a village place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia 18 km southwest of Kolka. It is one of twelve Livonian villages on - the Livonian Coast. Mazirbe is the cultural capital of the Livonians....
and Lielirbe
Lielirbe
Lielirbe is a populated place in Tārgale parish, Ventspils municipality, Latvia. One of the twelve Livonian villages on Līvõd rānda - the Livonian Coast.Other names:Liyelirbe, Gross Irben, Lielirbes Ciems-See also:*Livonian people...
. During 2009-2011 the dirt road was asphalted and modernised as part of EU funded Kolka
Kolka
thumb|Former Orthodox seminary and church in the backgroundKolka is a village in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality on the tip of Cape Kolka in Courland in Latvia, on the coast of the Gulf of Riga in ancient Livonia. It is home to the last remnants of Latvia's Livonian ethnic group, whose Livonian...
-Ventspils
Ventspils
Ventspils is a city in northwestern Latvia in the Courland historical region of Latvia, the sixth largest city in the country. As of 2006, Ventspils had a population of 43,806. Ventspils is situated on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea, and has an ice-free port...
road project. A replica Mazirbe
Mazirbe
Mazirbe is a village place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia 18 km southwest of Kolka. It is one of twelve Livonian villages on - the Livonian Coast. Mazirbe is the cultural capital of the Livonians....
railway station (original station is still standing now as a private house in Mazirbe
Mazirbe
Mazirbe is a village place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia 18 km southwest of Kolka. It is one of twelve Livonian villages on - the Livonian Coast. Mazirbe is the cultural capital of the Livonians....
) was re-created as part of narrow gauge railway line in Ventspils
Ventspils
Ventspils is a city in northwestern Latvia in the Courland historical region of Latvia, the sixth largest city in the country. As of 2006, Ventspils had a population of 43,806. Ventspils is situated on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea, and has an ice-free port...
, along with a restored engine and carriages, and is now used as a tourist attraction.