City on the wave! - Latvian Tourism Development Agency

JŪRMALA
ResoRt histoRy
● During the 13th to 16th centuries most of the
current Jurmala city territory was included in
former Livonian order state. Small fishermen
villages started to emerge along seashore.
● The oldest part of Jurmala is Sloka. Sloka on
the bank of river Lielupe flourished in the 17th
century during governance of Duke Jacob. Kilns
of copper, glass and lime, also mills started to
operate here.
● Kauguri: it is the part of Jurmala where most
of Jurmala’s inhabitants live. The old name of
fishermen village, Kaugern, first appeared in
documents in the 16th century and suggests
an idea that the first inhabitants here were
Livs.
● In its turn first summer residents in the end of
the 18th century that lived in Kauguri village
houses, mostly were Courland’s landlords.
This fact allows coming to a conclusion that
Jurmala is one the oldest seaside resorts in
Europe.
● Up to 19th century fishery was the main
branch of occupation for the inhabitants of
Jurmala. Fresh smoked fish was delivered to
cottagers and was sent also to Riga.
● Bathing places of Jurmala gained popularity in
the 19th century.
www.tourism.jurmala.lv
● The beginning of the 19th century is the
dawn of Jurmala resort history. After the
war between Russia and France in 1812, the
wounded Russian army officers came to take
rest at local fishermen houses.
● The first bathes’ establishment “Marienbad”
in Dubulti was opened in 1870. Doctor Johan
Christian Nordstrom started to use climate
therapy as a course of treatment; he indicated
jogging along the beach, sea water treatments,
as well as physical activities in fresh air.
● The end of the19th century – beginning of
the 20th century was the time when resort
started flourishing; it was the time when most
of health establishments, wooden architecture
houses and resort infrastructure were built. In
those days bathing houses with bathtubs of
warmed sea water were built for the purpose
of healing treatments and relaxation.
● In the beginning of the 19th century when
no bathing suits were known, separate
swimming hours for men and women were
set. Since 1897 special hours for swimming
in bathing suits were introduced – bathing
suit consisted of trousers up to knee, and a
sleeveless shirt with a belt. In 1914 swimming
without bathing suits was banned.
The united Jurmala city was established on the November 11, 1959
merging 3 territories - Rigas Jurmala, Sloka and Ķemeri.
● In 1844 the first steamboat in Jurmala started
to operate and brought approximately 150
passengers at a time. Later five steamboats
were bringing people from Riga and Jelgava.
The biggest steamboat “Undīne” started to
run along the river in 1857, and was able to
pick up approximately 500 persons. A street in
Majori was named Undīnes in the honour of
the steamboat.
● The opening of the railway line “Riga - Tukums”
in 1877 was a notable event as it contributed
to the development and growth of Ķemeri
resort and Jurmala bathing places.
● The first iron bridge was built in 1876. During
the World War I the bridge was detonated
when Russian army draw back. In 1922 a new
railway bridge was opened, and again it was
detonated in the end of World War II, it was
rebuilt in 1949.
● “Jurmala’s gold” or famous strawberries
came from Jurmala – the part of the city
called Melluži. Fruitful strawberry gardens
with high quality berries were located
there. Seeds of strawberries were brought
from France, but ripe berries were
delivered not only to Riga, but also to St.
Petersburg.
● Ķemeri region with its curative qualities
of sulphur springs is well known since
18th century. The first bathing house was
built on state land in 1838. This land was
allocated to the needs of sulphur springs
vulnerary by the tsar Nikolay the 1st. This
was the year of resort’s foundation. Thus
Ķemeri originally developed as a balneological
resort, care of which was soon taken
by the state.
● Resort was wide known in the Russian
Empire; in 1912 a direct railroad line Ķemeri –
Moscow was opened. For a connection with
Jaunķemeri beach, an electric tram started to
operate.
● In 1920 city rights with the name of Rigas
Jurmala were granted to the current territory of
Jurmala from Priedaine to Kauguri.
● In summer of 1950 as much as 29 sanatoriums
and 36 rest houses were open in Jurmala.
In its turn, in 1980-ies Jurmala according to
the amount of organized guests, ranked 3rd
after famous resorts - Sochi and Yalta. It was
the time when in Jurmala 105 sanatoriums,
guest houses, recreation and creative activities’
houses were open, and they welcomed more
than 300 000 persons a year.