Couronians | Semigallians | Selonians
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BALTS’ ROAD, THE COURONIAN ROUTE SEGMENT Route: Rucava – Liepāja – Grobiņa – Jūrkalne – Alsunga – Kuldīga – Ventspils – Talsi – Valdemārpils – Sabile – Saldus – Embūte – Mosėdis – Plateliai – Kretinga – Klaipėda – Palanga – Rucava Duration: 3–4 days. Length about 790 km In ancient times, Couronians lived on the coast of the Baltic Sea. At that time, the sea and rivers were an important waterway that inuenced their way of life and interaction with neighbouring nations. You will nd out about this by taking the circular Couronian Route Segment. Peaceful deals were made during trading. Merchants from faraway lands Macaitis, Tērvete Tourism Information Centre, Zemgale Planning Region. Planning Zemgale Centre, Information Tourism Tērvete Macaitis, were tempted to visit the shores of the Baltic Sea looking for the northern gold – Photos: Līva Dāvidsone, Artis Gustovskis, Arvydas Gurkšnis, Denisas Nikitenka, Mindaugas Mindaugas Nikitenka, Denisas Gurkšnis, Arvydas Gustovskis, Artis Dāvidsone, Līva Photos: Publisher: Kurzeme Planning Region, Zemgale Planning Region 2019 Region Planning Zemgale Region, Planning Kurzeme Publisher: amber. To nd out more about amber, visit the Palanga Amber Museum (40) Centre, National Regional Development Agency in Lithuania. in Agency Development Regional National Centre, and the Liepāja Crafts House (6). Ancient Couronian boats, the barges, are Authors: Kurzeme Planning Region, Zemgale Planning Region, Šiauliai Tourism Information Information Tourism Šiauliai Region, Planning Zemgale Region, Planning Kurzeme Authors: exhibited in the exposition of the Lithuanian Sea Museum in Smiltynė (38), be regarded as reecting the position of the European Union. European the of position the reecting as regarded be while the Active Tourism Centre “Couronian Viking settlement” (8) invites contents of this map are the sole responsibility of its authors and can under no circumstances circumstances no under can and authors its of responsibility sole the are map this of contents 8 22 52 83 This map has been produced with the nancial assistance of the European Union. The The Union. European the of assistance nancial the with produced been has map This for a boat ride. There are various legends and tales around the Couronian hillforts of www.jelgava.lv. www.jelgava.lv. Jelgava City Council, Council, City Jelgava Veckuldīga (15), Talsi (20), Mežīte (24), Sabile (26), Embūte (29), Apuolė (32), ; ; www.talsumuzejs.lv Talsi Local Municipality, Municipality, Local Talsi Ekete (36) and others. Findings of archaeological excavations are displayed at ; ; www.kurzemesregions.lv Kurzeme Planning Region, Region, Planning Kurzeme A COURONIAN WARRIOR. FEEL THE POWER COURONIAN PLACES OF WORSHIP. MIGHTY AND RICH SEMIGALLIA. JOURNEY THROUGH THE LANDS OF ; ; www.nrda.lt National Regional Development Agency, Agency, Development Regional National the museums in Liepāja (5), Ventspils (17), Talsi (21) and Kretinga (35). A large OF COURONIANS! FEEL THE HOLINESS OF COURONIANS! EXPLORE SEMIGALLIANS! ANCIENT SELONIANS ; ; www.zemgale.lv Zemgale Planning Region, Region, Planning Zemgale number of Couronian burials and graves were discovered at the Aukštakiemiai ; ; www.visitsiauliai.lt Šiauliai Tourism Information Centre, Centre, Information Tourism Šiauliai Cemetery (37) and Lake Vilkmuiža (20). Project implementing parties: parties: implementing Project The food was simple at that time. You can enjoy ancient Couronian dishes Route: Embūte – Durbe – Grobiņa – Liepāja – Rucava – Dunika – Route: Mežīte – Vandzene – Valdemārpils – Talsi – Kuldīga – Turlava – Route: Vītiņi – Biksti – Zebrene – Dobele – Jelgava – Cena – Tērvete – Vilce – Route: Aizkraukle – Koknese – Vecbebri – Sēlpils – Jēkabpils – Viesīte – in the Ethnographic House “Zvanītāji” (2), the Bakery “Bērziņi” in Jūrkalne (13) Development Fund is 648,892.00 EUR. EUR. 648,892.00 is Fund Development Embūte Aizpute – Embūte Mežotne – Bauska – Bārbele Nereta – Rite – Aknīste – Zasa – Dunava Total project size is 763,402.38 EUR. Out of them co-funding of European Regional Regional European of co-funding them of Out EUR. 763,402.38 is size project Total and in the tavern “Spēlmaņu krogs” in Alsunga (14). Duration: 1–2 days. Length about 195 km Duration: 1–2 days. Length about 190 km Duration: 2 days. Length about 260 km Duration: 2 days. Length about 240 km the route can be found at www.balticroute.com, as well as in this map and route brochure. brochure. route and map this in as well as www.balticroute.com, at found be can route the The importance of Balts’ mythology and sacred places will be revealed by the increase the number of visitors in border regions of Latvia and Lithuania. Information about about Information Lithuania. and Latvia of regions border in visitors of number the increase Great Stone and the sacricial site at Šilalė (30), the Giant Krauju Boulder (23), the project LLI-187 “International Cultural Route “Balts’ Road”” (Balts’Road), which aims to to aims which (Balts’Road), Road”” “Balts’ Route Cultural “International LLI-187 project the According to ancient chronicles and Scandinavian rune stones, Nature and believing in pagan deities played a major role in the Since ancient times, Semigallia has been associated with wealth, The Region of Selonia and the history of Selonians is a mystery not yet the Idol Linden of Valdemārpils (22) and the Ulmale-Piņņi Bullaun (12). Various Latvia–Lithuania cross-border cooperation programme 2014–2020 within the framework of of framework the within 2014–2020 programme cooperation cross-border Latvia–Lithuania Couronians have been great seafarers, raiders, soldiers, also traders, and Couronian lifestyle, and rituals were carried out at various cult places for their greatness, its kings and the tempered character of Semigallian people. Dobe fully understood. The ancient lands of Selonians are rich in beautiful natural The culture tourism route “Balts’ Road” is created with the support of Interreg V-A V-A Interreg of support the with created is Road” “Balts’ route tourism culture The stones and boulders can be viewed at the Vaclovas Intas Museum in Mosėdis (31). at times of peace – skilled crop-growers and livestock breeders. A legend favour: in sacred groves and forests, near cult stones and trees. Feel the (Incēni) Hillfort (43) was the centre of the Semigallian Land Dobene. To see an landscapes and their interesting history is witnessed by spectacular Legends tell that the ruler of Lake Plateliai (34), a queen riding on a white horse, tells that Danes used to pray to God: “God, protect us from the Couroni- magical power of ancient Couronians at their sacred sites and get the energy imaginary approaching enemy, climb on the hillfort’s rampart – it oers Selonian hillforts. Among the most visible ancient centres of Selonians are www.balticroute.com had an unusual power. Look for the world of myths and fairy tales also in ans!” To understand where Couronians got their skills and strength from, you need for the road! spectacular views of the surroundings! Sēlpils (83) and Dignāja hillforts (90), and Stupeļi Hillfort (87), which is region. The map also includes eight thematic routes. thematic eight includes also map The region. Lithuanian Fairytale Park (41) and Sausdravai Baltic Mythological Park (42). one shall travel to the hillforts of Kurzeme (Courland) and visit places of Mežīte Hillfort (24) is an extensive complex of Couronian sacred places Sacred places for religious purposes played an important role in the life of also considered as the most powerful centre of the Selonian land in Latvia. local craftsmen remind of remarkable people in the history of the the of history the in people remarkable of remind craftsmen local On the route, take a look at the Dunika Bog Trail (4), the horse and wild ox natural power. consisting of an outstanding scenic hillfort, Hill of Idols (Elku kalns), ancient ancient Semigallians. Nature and active recreation lovers should denitely visit The ancient Sēlpils Hillfort (83) was once a prominent political and pasture in Pape Nature Park (1), visit Māra’s Chambers (25), Birutė’s Hill in tions of museums and educational programs, craft centres and and centres craft programs, educational and museums of tions In ancient times, Embūte (29) was home to one of the greatest burial grounds and an ancient cult stone – the cup-marked stone. Zemgale’s largest Lake Zebrus and the nearby Ezerlūķi Hillfort (45). military centre of Selonia. Its destiny is revealed by archaeological Palanga (39) and other places. - and mythological objects. Besides these, archaeological exhibi archaeological these, Besides objects. mythological and Couronian castles, where the brave Indulis ruled and the Devil is said to The Idol Linden of Valdemārpils (22) is of particular value to health of Dobele Hillfort (47) keeps stories about the mightiness of ancient kings, excavations, which disclosed the oldest evidence of humans in Latvia. th the local tribes – hillforts, signicant battleelds, sacred places places sacred battleelds, signicant hillforts, – tribes local the have assisted him. women; one should just think of its meaning in context of Latvian mythology, since at the end of the 13 century it was one of the hillforts to resist invaders Today, the hillfort is almost invisible, because most of it is hidden under the BALTS’ ROAD, THE SEMIGALLIAN ROUTE SEGMENT The power of Couronians becomes evident in one of the most which compares a beautiful maiden to a gorgeous and leafy linden-tree, while the longest. A Livonian Order Castle was built