The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia
About This Museum
People come to this sprawling forested museum not just to see history, but to step directly into it. Wandering the wooded paths feels like traveling through time, connecting with the lives of Latvian farmers, fishermen, and craftsmen from centuries past. You can peek inside a smoke-filled 18th-century farmhouse, hear the rhythmic clang of a blacksmith's hammer, and smell the fresh-baked rye bread from a traditional wood-fired oven. It’s a peaceful, immersive escape that leaves you with a profound sense of the nation's rural soul.
Collection Highlights
Don't miss the towering Usma church with its hand-carved altar or the hauntingly beautiful Kuldīga fishing village on the lake's edge. The collection of colorful horse-drawn carriages and the fully-functioning windmill are also unforgettable sights.
Visitor Information
Wear comfortable shoes for exploring the vast grounds, and check their website for special craft workshops and seasonal festivals—they really bring the place to life.
Architecture & Building
The buildings are authentic wooden structures—farmsteads, churches, windmills—that were carefully dismantled from their original locations across Latvia's four regions and rebuilt here.
Contact & Location
Address: 21, Brīvdabas iela, Baloži, Berģi, Teikas apkaime, Rīga, LV-1024, Latvija
Phone: +371 67 994 106
Website: Visit Website
