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View Full Version : Kuldīga - city that can join UNESCO World Heritage list soon



Satem
03-04-2021, 01:50 PM
Kuldīga is city settled in Medieval times. Kuldīga was first mentioned in 1242. It joined the Hanseatic League in 1368. In the 17th century, Kuldīga (along with Jelgava (Mitau)) was one of the capitals of the Duchy of Courland.
Kuldīga is an ancient town in Latvia's western region of Kurzeme with distinctive architecture and beautiful nature.
Here are some examples:

- Venta Rapid over Venta River - the widest waterfall in Europe

https://media-cdn.sygictraveldata.com/media/612664395a40232133447d33247d383336353933313639

- Alekšupīte waterfall - mill waterfall, highest in Latvia

https://previews.123rf.com/images/ilgonis/ilgonis1705/ilgonis170500503/78766672-aleksupite-waterfall-in-kuldiga.jpg

- Kuldīga brick bridge over Venta River which is the 3rd longest brick bridge in Europe.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Kuldiga_bridge.jpg

- Old houses on the tributary of the Venta River. I heard this part of Kuldīga looks very nice

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/26/9b/5b/269b5bac7aca5a73df6c8c25c3139357.jpg

- Interesting pedestrian street, like in Jūrmala but with older architecture.

https://live.staticflickr.com/1600/25336897255_bab9a06c27_b.jpg

- High shores and many untouched islands of Venta River

- Park on the site of Medieval Castle and a mound of former Wooden Curonian Castle.

https://www.redzet.eu/images/large/7/44/V-1060-15.jpg


Still, many people speak Livonian dialect like in the other towns of Northern Courland which is also worth mentioning.


Regarding application to UNESCO World Heritage list, the idea about nominating Kuldīga for the UNESCO World Heritage List has been long-cherished, since 1997 when Latvia ratified the UNESCO Convention. Work on the nomination was started in 2001. The Kuldiga local council underscored that Kuldīga has been on the UNESCO Latvia's National Register since 2004.
On January 20, Latvian town Kuldīga has applied for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

According to UNESCO site the city meets criterium 3 about bearing a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared.

More specifically


Kuldīga bears a unique testimony to the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia and its era of growth, international trade relations and cultural exchange, as both its first ducal residence and administrative centre. Kuldīga has maintained not only the urban layout, but also the city scape and significant architectural fabric dating back predominantly to the 17th and 18th century. With up to three quarters of its pre-19th century masonry architecture preserved, either partially or wholly, Kuldiga is the best and last remaining urban testimony of the Courland era.

Peterski
07-09-2021, 07:17 PM
So the Duchy had two capital cities ???

Sandis
07-09-2021, 08:40 PM
So the Duchy had two capital cities ???

Some time Kuldiga was capital along with Jelgava.
In earliest times of Duchy there were no official capitals.

Geba
09-21-2024, 08:38 PM
On 17 September 2023, at the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, a decision was taken on the inscription of the old town of Kuldīga (“Kuldīga / Goldingen in Courland”) on the UNESCO the World Heritage List.

https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/article/old-town-kuldiga-inscribed-unesco-world-heritage-list?utm_source=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2F


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0ORH2zY0gM