Tukums: Old Town, Art and Rose Route

If you are looking for accommodation in Tukums, it is worth considering the town as a cultural and historical destination: old town streets, a historic castle tower, Latvian art, traditional workshops and the Rose Route give your stay several different focal points. Brīvības Square is considered the starting point for a tour; the surrounding area also complements the visit to the town.

Key facts on the subject

• Today, Brīvības Square is equipped with benches, flower beds and a fountain.
• The square can serve as a starting point for a tour of Tukums.
• The Old Town includes Harmonijas, Dārza, Zirgu, Jaunā, Talsu and Lielā Streets.
• These streets feature many old residential and ancillary buildings in timber construction that have undergone little alteration.
• The Tukums Castle Tower is a fragment of the castle of the Livonian Order, the oldest building in Tukums.
• The Tukums Art Museum presents Latvian art and is considered Latvia’s first provincial art museum (1935/1936).
• The weaving workshop of the Tukums Museum has been active since 1974; there you can learn about the region’s ethnic clothing and try your hand at weaving.
• The Rose Route makes it easier to find your way around Tukums as the city of roses; nearby, Slokenbeka Manor is located 5 km away.

Old Town and historical orientation

Brīvības Square provides a logical starting point for exploring the town. Its present-day features, with benches, flower beds and a fountain, create a clearly defined orientation point before you include the Old Town streets. For planning purposes, it is helpful to know the individual street names: Harmonijas, Dārza, Zirgu, Jaunā, Talsu and Lielā belong to the Old Town of Tukums.

Along these streets, many old residential and ancillary buildings in timber construction have been preserved and have undergone little alteration. Visitors interested in architectural history and organically developed townscapes can deliberately consider this area as a separate part of their stay. The castle tower adds a historical focus. It is a fragment of the oldest building in Tukums, the castle of the Livonian Order.

The town park is also part of the town’s history. It was laid out in 1869 near Lielā Street at the suggestion of the Governor of Courland. Together with Brīvības Square and the Old Town streets, this creates a selection of different urban spaces: a square for orientation, historic buildings for the tour and a park with a documented history of its creation.

Art, crafts and roses in Tukums

The Tukums Art Museum focuses on Latvian art. It displays works from its own holdings and from private collections. At the same time, the museum is classified as Latvia’s first provincial art museum, dating from 1935/1936. This makes it particularly suitable for travellers who want to experience their stay not only through buildings and streets, but also through regional art.

At the weaving workshop of the Tukums Museum, you can learn about the regional ethnic clothing of the Tukums area and try weaving yourself. The workshop has been active since 1974. The straw workshop offers a different practical experience: visitors can learn basic straw or hay processing skills, make their own figure and take the finished piece home with them. These two activities have different focuses—one on weaving traditions and clothing, the other on processing straw or hay.

The Rose Route was developed to make it easier to find your way around Tukums as the city of roses. The Rose Festival evolved from a small florists’ festival into a town festival held every two years in Tukums. At the Rose Festival, visitors brought their own rose to add it to the festival wreath. This festival history and the route give the focus on roses its own cultural dimension.

A destination in the surrounding area

For an addition outside the immediate town tour, Slokenbeka Manor is worth considering. It is located in Milzkalne on the banks of the Slocene River and is 5 km from Tukums. Its ensemble houses the Latvian Road Museum. The specific distance makes the manor a separate excursion destination in the surrounding area, not part of Tukums Old Town. If you would like to compare other places, you can also view Tume.

When looking for accommodation in Tukums, you can therefore first decide which focus you would like to choose: the Old Town and architectural history, art and crafts, rose culture or an additional visit to nearby Slokenbeka Manor. The topics mentioned can be weighted separately without combining them into a single tour or assigning them to a particular accommodation location.

FAQ

Which streets belong to the Old Town of Tukums?

The Old Town includes Harmonijas, Dārza, Zirgu, Jaunā, Talsu and Lielā Streets. They feature many old residential and ancillary buildings in timber construction that have undergone little alteration.

What is the Tukums Castle Tower?

The castle tower is a fragment of the castle of the Livonian Order. This castle is considered the oldest building in Tukums.

What does the Tukums Art Museum display?

The museum presents Latvian art with works from its own holdings and from private collections. It is classified as Latvia’s first provincial art museum, dating from 1935/1936.

What workshop activities are available in Tukums?

At the weaving workshop, you can learn about the regional ethnic clothing of the Tukums area and try weaving yourself. At the straw workshop, visitors learn basic straw or hay processing skills, make a figure and take their own piece home with them.

Which excursion destination is located 5 km from Tukums?

Slokenbeka Manor is located in Milzkalne on the banks of the Slocene River, 5 km from Tukums. Its ensemble houses the Latvian Road Museum.

To the overarching travel overview: Tukuma Novads.