Kuldiga District Museum

Kuldīga District Museum is housed in the graceful 19th‑century Bangert’s Villa, overlooking the Venta River and the famous Kuldīga brick bridge. Founded in 1940, the museum preserves the cultural memory of one of Latvia’s most picturesque historic towns. Its setting is part of the charm: the villa once belonged to a wealthy local family, and its interiors still reflect the elegance of Kuldīga’s bourgeois life. One of the museum’s most interesting features is its focus on the town’s unique traditions, including the ancient practice of ķoņi fishing, where locals catch salmon as they leap over the Venta Rapids. Exhibits also explore Kuldīga’s role as a ducal residence during the time of the Duchy of Courland, a period that shaped the town’s architectural and cultural identity. The museum’s collections range from archaeological finds and ethnographic objects to photographs documenting everyday life across the 20th century. Seasonal exhibitions and educational programmes bring these stories to life, connecting past and present.