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Photo: LZ6387, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The longest underground cave labyrinth in the Baltics (about 2 km – 460 m can be toured). In the beginning, the sand was sold as washing sand and for cemetery purposes. During Duke Jacob’s reign the white quartz sand from the caves was taken by ships to Riga and abroad for glass production. The quartz sand is very clean and pure. The caves are protected by a clay layer above from rain water and such. Also, the cave structure is stable due to the dolmen layers atop. The site is in good order, there is a parking and some attractions for kids. Tourists walk with guides (the older lady is spiritual and entertaining). A tour into the caves lying 16 m underground, takes 15-30 min, depending on the number of people, through the narrow cave passages, sometimes in cowering position.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
A magnificent view on the Venta river from high up, a quiet and contemplative place. There are also some horse stables with horses roaming further away if you follow the road away the town, part of what was once the medieval "Old Kuldīga", as well as a medieval settlement (a hillfort) which is of interest for archeologists ("Kuldīgas pilskalns").
Kuldīga observation tower
A 25 meter tall, slanted observation tower in the Pārventa park overlooking the river.
Alekšupītes ūdenskritums
Highest waterfall in Latvia, 4.5 m high, the first paper mill in Kurzeme, dam, view over the River Venta. A dam was built here in the 17th century to use the stream to operate the first paper mill in Kurzeme. The waterfall is artificial.
A Lutheran church that was built in 1252 and later rebuilt with baroque style wood carvings on the altar. The church was given the name of St Catherine, the patroness of the town. Duke Jacob's baptism and his wedding to Princess Louisa Charlotte of Brandenburg took place here. Church is open for visitors and it's possible to go up the tower.
Kuldīgas ķieģeļu tilts
At 164 m, it is the longest road bridge of this kind in Europe. It was built in 1874 according to 19th-century standards: 500 feet long and 26 feet wide (152 m by 8 m), allowing two carriages to pass each other. It consists of seven spans of brick vaults. Two of the spans were blown up during World War I, and rebuilt in concrete, rather than brick, in 1926.
Ventas rumba
This 240-m-wide waterfall is the widest in Europe. It is easily viewed from the brick bridge, 200 m downstream. Its 2-m height is not impressive when viewed from the bridge – you have to get down on the river bank to appreciate its height. The naturally formed waterfall is an obstacle for spawning fish in the spring and is associated with a number of legends and historic events. In medieval times, due to Duke Jacob’s invented devices for catching jumping fish in the air (on the waterfall) Kuldīga was considered the place "where salmon were caught in the air". Flying fish shows (salmon jumping up over the waterfall) attract visitors to the town in spring time. If you visit Kuldīga in summer, take a swim in waterfall and get a "free massage" under the waterfall as many locals do!