Good practice:

Mārtiņsala bathing area and health route

Mārtiņsala bathing area is located in one of the most picturesque places of Kuldiga – the Venta ancient valley, which overlooks the pride of the city – the ancient Venta bridge and the waterfall Ventas Rumba. Historically, there was a farmstead, which has survived to this day. This area – Venta valley – is also a part of the Nature conservation territory of European level (NATURA 2000). The waterfall Ventas Rumba is a geomorphological monument of national importance and is considered as the widest waterfall in Europe.
The development of the bathing area started already in 1980, through thoughtful and targeted work. Since 2008 within a set of complementary activities the bathing area was developed, new dressing rooms were constructed, the rescue station was renovated, a project for approbation of the innovative water habitat management techniques in the Venta River was implemented and a new health route and sports facilities were created.

A serpentine path leads to the bathing area; it provides easy access for cyclists, wheelchair users, or families with prams. There is a wooden footbridge over the historic Jacob’s Canal, but the path to the bathing area is illuminated by authentic lanterns made of round wooden supports that fit into the landscape.

The area also serves as a stage for artistic activities and practices for students of a technical college. The municipality regularly organizes educational and environmental protection and health promotion activities here.

Total investment costs: € 475007,93. The project includes a set of several related activities developed by Kuldiga District Municipality, some of them co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the State Nature Conservation Agency.

Visitor numbers increased to 157.734 in 2019. In 2010 Mārtiņsala bathing received the first Blue Flag in Latvia near a river.
The beach has a spacious recreation area that optimizes visitor flow and preserves biodiversity. Leisure facilities for children and adults, information boards and health route are actively used. A restored rescue station is used by rescuers.
The beach is located in a protected nature area, contributing to the development strategy of the Venta Valley Nature Reserve.

This project is a good example of the development of an urban green territory for public needs at the same time preserving the authenticity and character that the presence of the previous farmstead. Landscaping elements and any amenities were designed to preserve the typical rural landscape while making it safe and family friendly. It demonstrates a multiplicative and holistic approach for preserving natural values, an innovative water habitat management, a creation of new healthcare services and a maintenance of high environmental standards as well as safety and accessibility for the visitors. This is a way to create a popular urban resting area, preserving historical authenticity and natural values according to Blue Flag standards.