Jūrmala ( "seaside") is a
city in
Latvia, about 25 kilometers west of
Riga. Jūrmala is a
resort town stretching and sandwiched between the Gulf of Riga and the
Lielupe River. It has a 33 km stretch of white-sand beach, and a population of 55,580, making it the 5th largest city in Latvia.
While Latvia was a part of the
Soviet Union, Jūrmala was a favorite holiday-resort and tourist destination for high-level Communist Party officials, particularly
Brezhnev and
Khrushchev. Although many amenities such as beach-houses and concrete hotels remain, some have fallen into disrepair. Jūrmala remains a tourist attraction with long beaches facing the
Gulf of Riga and romantic wooden houses in the
Art Nouveau style.
Imants Ziedonis, one of Latvia's most important poets and folklorists of the Soviet and post-Soviet eras, was born in the Jūrmala district.
Visitors can access Jūrmala from
Riga in around 20 to 40 minutes either by
train or by
bus, or along the highway by car. Since 2008 Jūrmala and Riga airport are connected with a bus service.
In publications dating from the Soviet period, the city was occasionally spelled in English as
Yurmala, an incorrect back-transliteration from Russian.
History
Soviet era concrete resort hotel in Jurmala.
The city of Jūrmala actually consists of a string of small resorts. From west to east, these include
Ķemeri,
Jaunķemeri,
Sloka,
Kauguri,
Vaivari,
Asari,
Melluži,
Pumpuri,
Jaundubulti,
Dubulti,
Majori,
Dzintari,
Bulduri and
Lielupe.
The area now comprising the city of Jūrmala was formerly part of Riga, known as
Rīgas Jūrmala. Some parts of the area, like Sloka and Ķemeri, have been known as
health resorts for centuries. Jūrmala was once known in
German as
Riga-Strand, or "Beach of Riga".
Jūrmala's reputation as a spa destination began in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Wealthy landowners began the tradition of relaxing at the seaside, and Russian army officers came here to rest after the
Napoleonic Wars, returning later with their families. The peak of the Jūrmala area's development was the opening of the Riga - Tukums railway in 1877 (which still passes through Jūrmala) that gave a great boost to the numbers of visitors, and thus a boost to the development of the town as a resort. Jūrmala also gained a reputation as a health spa. The sea breeze, pine aroma, mineral springs, and sandy beach encouraged many sanatoriums to develop within the city.
In Soviet times Jūrmala was popular with the Communist officials because of its beach and sanatoriums - holidays were also given as rewards for top union members. It became one of the most popular holiday directions in the whole Union. The spas offered facilities from mud baths to riding therapy and hiking in the woods. In summer there are many concerts.
Jūrmala gained official status as a city in 1959. The railway line became electrified and today it features the most regular train service in Latvia.
Whereas
Riga has advanced rapidly to embrace and cater for growing numbers of Western tourists, Jūrmala has lagged behind. Russians are now subject to strict visa requirements and its beaches have yet to attract significant numbers of Europeans leaving the tourist industry with a hard task on its hands. However, during the past few years, Jūrmala has started to recover. Many Russian celebrities, successful businessmen and others have been buying houses near the beach, and lots of different festivals and other activities have brought more and more people to the town each summer. At the moment, Jūrmala has almost achieved the popularity that it experienced by the Soviet elite.
House in Jurmala
The main beach at Majori and another at Bulduri now bear blue eco-flags signaling their safety to swim in, and the
Latvian Academy of Science boasts a hotel for its members in the town. There is also the Midsummer Festival in June, celebrating the longest day of the year. The 'Jaunais Vilnis'
New Wave (competition) music festival showcases the latest music from all over Europe. The
Lonely Planet guide to the region states that it is one of the highlights of Latvia.
Architecture
House of Benjamins in Jurmala
The most distinguishing architectural feature in Jurmala is the prevalence of wooden houses dating from the 19th and first half of the 20th century. Most of the buildings were built by
Baltic German and Latvian architects, but there also are works of Russian, Finnish and other architects. Jurmala's architecture typically falls into classicism, national romanticism, and modern styles. The town has an official list of 414 historical buildings under protection, as well as over 4,000 wooden structures.
Beach
The beach at Jurmala
Jurmala's beach is 33 km long, covered with white quartz sand. The shallow coastal waters are suitable and safe for children. The beach is equipped with playgrounds, small benches, football fields and volleyball courts, as well as descents for prams and wheelchairs. In Spring and Autumn amber pieces can be found on the beach.
Each region's beach has its own character. In
Majori and
Bulduri, where the
Blue Flag flies, it is possible to rent water bicycles or relax in the beach cafe. In Dubulti and Dzintari competitions in beach football and volleyball take place, but on Pumpuri beach there is kite surfing and windsurfing.
International water sports contests, including
rowing,
sailing, and
waterskiing that take place on the river Lielupe.
Festivals
During the
Soviet era, Jūrmala was a venue for various festivals, the most notable of which were the annual Jurmala Chess Festival and the pop music festival "Jūrmala" (1986-1993).
Since 2001 Jūrmala has hosted a competition for young pop singers "
New Wave" from all over Europe. Jurmala also hosts the "Singing KiViN"
KVN each July
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
