Jūrmala (Latvian: [ˈjuːrmala] ⓘ; "seaside") is a state city in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, about 25 kilometres (16 miles) west of Riga. Jūrmala is a resort town stretching 32 km (20 miles) and is sandwiched between the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe River. It has a 33 km (21 miles) stretch of white-sand beach and is the fifth-largest city in Latvia.
While Latvia was under Soviet occupation, Jūrmala was a favorite holiday-resort and tourist destination for high-level Communist Party officials, particularly Leonid Brezhnev and Nikita 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.
Names and administrative history
The name Jūrmala stems from Latvian jūra ("sea") and mala ("edge", "side", "margin"), thus "seaside" in English.
In 1920, soon after Latvian independence, the town of Rīgas Jūrmala ("Seaside of Riga") was established. In German, it became known as Rigasche Strand and Riga-Strand (Beach of Riga), and advertised as part of Baltische Riviera (the Baltic Riviera)
During World War II, Jūrmala lost its autonomy, and by 1946, it was a district of Riga. In 1949, this district was enlarged to include Priedaine. Finally, in 1959, the district of Jūrmala was removed from the city of Riga and merged with the health resorts Sloka and Ķemeri to establish Jūrmalas pilsēta (City of Jūrmala). In publications dating from the Soviet period, the city name was occasionally spelled in English as "Yurmala", a back-transliteration from Russian Юрмала.
As a result of the administrative territorial reform of Latvia in 2009, Jūrmala became one of the republican cities of Latvia (republikas pilsētas), and is currently (2011) the fifth largest by population. The republican cities were replaced with state cities (valstspilsētas) after the 2021 administrative reform, with Jūrmala becoming the Jūrmala State City (Jūrmalas valstspilsēta).
History
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 and others.
Jūrmala's reputation as a spa destination began in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. 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 destinations 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.
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 buy houses near the beach, and a variety of festivals and other activities attract increasing crowds each summer. At the moment, Jūrmala has almost resumed the popularity that it had with the Soviet elite.
The main beach at Majori and another at Bulduri now bear blue eco-flags signalling the sea is clean and safe to swim in, and the Latvian Academy of Sciences 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.
The Jewish community in Jūrmala (primarily in the districts of Bulduri, Dubulti, and Majori) began forming in the late 19th century. Initially, Jews were only permitted to reside in the area if they held elevated social status — such as first-guild merchants, discharged "Nicholas soldiers" (Jewish conscripts in the Tsarist army), or officially recognized "honorary citizens". Due to these restrictions, Jewish presence was limited, and Shabbat and holiday prayers were often held in private homes, sometimes in secrecy.
In 1904, an organized Jewish community was formally established in Bulduri. In 1906, the first synagogue was built under the initiative of Mordechai Lezhik, a Jewish shoemaker and military veteran, with the support of Jewish merchants from Riga. Over time, especially following Latvia's independence and the lifting of legal limitations, the Jewish population in Jūrmala expanded considerably. During the summer season, over 13,000 vacationers arrived, many of them Jewish. At least five synagogues were active in Bulduri and the coastal area, including an eastern-style synagogue constructed in Majori just three weeks before the outbreak of World War II.
The main synagogue in Bulduri was renovated and expanded, and on 14 August 1938, a new and architecturally significant building was inaugurated. It was designed by architect Boris Klavins and bore resemblance to the Great Synagogue in Tel Aviv. The ceremony was attended by rabbis, government representatives, and public figures including Riga's Chief Rabbi Michael Zak and community leader Mordechai Dubin.
On 21 July 1941, shortly after Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, the Bulduri synagogue was set ablaze by Latvian nationalist collaborators while several people were inside — including caretaker Michelson, his wife, children, and another local resident. All were killed. The incident was witnessed and documented, notably by British citizen Lucy Addison who was present in Jūrmala at the time. This attack is considered one of the earliest cases in Latvia of a synagogue being burned with its occupants still inside — predating the mass atrocities in Riga.
In the 2000s, public initiatives were launched to create a memorial on the site of the destroyed synagogue. In 2012, the Jūrmala city council approved a plan to erect a monument designed by sculptor Māris Abilevs, and land was allocated for the project. However, the plan was never implemented due to financial constraints and disagreements over the location.
In August 2018, the synagogue Beit Israel was inaugurated in the Bulduri neighborhood by philanthropist Emmanuel Grinshpun. It is currently the only functioning synagogue in the city and the first to be established since World War II. The community's rabbi and chairman is Shimon Kutnovsky-Liak.
Architecture
The most distinguishing architectural feature in Jūrmala 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 are also works of Russian, Finnish and other architects. Jūrmala'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.. Dubulti Station is an example of sculptural concrete shell Modernist architecture.
Geography
Beach
Jūrmala's beach is 33 km (21 mi) 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.
Climate
Jūrmala has an oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) closely bordering on a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), because it is on the coast of the Baltic Sea.
Tourist attractions
Līvu Akvaparks
Līvu Akvaparks in Jūrmala is one of the largest water amusement parks in Northern Europe. The 3 floors of Līvu Akvaparks include more than 20 slides, more than 10 pools of various depths and sizes, attractions for children, a SPA complex with 4 saunas, cold pool, salt chamber, bubble baths and air and underwater massage facilities. The park's area is 11,000m2, but in summers an additional 7 000m2 becomes available to visitors, bringing the total area to 18 000m2 making this the largest closed-type water park in Northern Europe that operates throughout the year. It opened for visitors on 30 December 2003, after almost 2 years of construction and at a cost of more than 16 million euros. Each year it receives 300,000 visitors, of which roughly 45% are Latvians.
Ķemeri National Park
Ķemeri National Park (Latvian: Ķemeru nacionālais parks) is a national park west of the city of Jūrmala, Latvia. Established in 1997, Ķemeri is the third largest national park in the country by area, covering an area of 381.65 km2. The territory of the park is mostly occupied by forests and mires, the most significant of them being The Great Ķemeri Bog (Latvian: Lielais Ķemeru tīrelis). The Great Kemeri Bog Boardwalk is a popular tourist destination in Ķemeri National Park, Latvia, offering visitors a chance to explore the bog and its inhabitants. A small boardwalk arc (1.4 km) and a great boardwalk arc (3.4 km) is present, with an observation platform that is a popular place with photographers for sunrise and sunset scenes in Latvia, regardless of the season or weather.
Jomas Street
Jomas street (Latvian: Jomas iela) is one of the central and oldest streets of Jūrmala, which during its existence has undergone various changes and transformations. Most of the street is a walking boulevard closed to vehicle traffic, and is populated with restaurants, bars, souvenir booths, fruit stalls and a small shopping complex containing a cinema.
Dzintari Forest Park
The Dzintari Forest Park (Latvian: Dzintaru Mežaparks) is located near the centre of Jūrmala, with 200 year old pine groves surrounding the park. For leisure there are walkways that weave within the park connecting a skate park, 3 children playgrounds, a cafe, a roller-skate path (with skiing available in winter), basketball courts and a free-to-enter watchtower.
The Dzintari watchtower at 33.5 meters high, soars past the pine trees with a large viewing platform at the top allowing tall distant objects to be seen such as the Riga Radio and TV Tower. Throughout the entire height of the watchtower a total of 12 platforms are formed, overlooking all directions.
It also includes a paid obstacle course in the trees with 5 routes and a 250m zip line.
Jūrmala Open Air Museum and Ragakapa Nature Park
Jūrmala Open Air Museum (Latvian: Jūrmalas brīvdabas muzejs) located east of Bulduri celebrates the cities fishing heritage. A fisherman's court has been set up, and its nearly 2,000 exhibits portray the fishermen's work and life in Jūrmala in the 19th and 20th centuries. Nearby Ragakāpa Nature Park (Latvian: Ragakāpas dabas parks), this is a natural 800 m long and 100 m wide dune formed out of wind-activity, with viewing platforms and an eco-trail present.
Lielupe
The 116 km long river Lielupe flows within Jūrmala. It is popular amongst canoeists and kayakers as Lielupe flows through and connects populated municipalities including Bauska, Mežotne, Jelgava, Kalnciems and Riga. In addition waterskiing, fishing, boat cruising and taking summer ferry trips are popular.
Ķemeri Sanatorium
Ķemeri hotel (sanatorium) building (Latvian: Ķemeru viesnīca (sanatorija)) is one of the most prominent neo-attraction examples in Latvian architecture. In 1936, President Kārlis Ulmanis officially opened one of the most prestigious buildings in Latvia at the time, Hotel "Ķemeri" with 100 comfortable rooms and a luxurious hall. The building was designed by Latvian architect Eižens Laube and was built by public funds.