Courland, Latvia: Towns to Explore on Foot

Courland, or Kurzeme in Latvian, is the historic region of western Latvia, shaped by the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Riga, forests, rivers and marshes. Its towns and landscapes preserve the story of the Curonians, a medieval Baltic people known for their maritime skill and resistance to foreign conquest. Neywo has free audio guides for 3 cities in Courland, with 27 narrated places across 2 walking tours.

What to see and do in Courland

A Courland travel guide begins with the region’s landscape and history. The coast, wooded dunes, waterways and quiet towns create a distinctive part of Latvia, while the region’s past reaches back to the Curonians, who lived along the Baltic shores from before the fifth century.

Explore the history of the Curonians

Courland takes its name from the Curonians, the medieval Baltic people who gave the region its Latvian name, Kurzeme. They lived along the Baltic coast and became known for their maritime ability and fierce resistance to foreign conquest.

Before the crusades, Courland was a meeting ground for different cultures. Merchants of the Hanseatic League encountered traders from Novgorod, and several cultures and religions mingled along the Baltic shores. The region’s history was therefore connected to both the sea and the trade routes that crossed northern Europe.

Learn about the Livonian Crusades

The Livonian Crusades brought a long period of conflict to Courland. German crusading orders sought to convert the pagan peoples of the eastern Baltic, and the Curonians fought to defend their independence.

After the Livonian Order suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Durbe, uprisings spread through Curonian and Prussian lands. The resistance was eventually crushed, and Curonian independence was lost. Courland later became part of the Livonian Confederation before developing into the semi-independent Duchy of Courland and Semigallia.

Follow the story of the Duchy of Courland

The duchy’s rulers operated with considerable autonomy, even though they were vassals of the Polish and Lithuanian Commonwealth. Courland was later annexed by the Russian Empire, but its historic name endured.

The region still means, quite literally, the Land of the Curonians. That continuity gives the modern landscape a historical depth: forests, rivers and coastal towns belong to a region whose identity survived major political changes.

Discover Courland’s coast and waterways

Courland opens out toward both the Gulf of Riga in the north and the Baltic Sea in the west. Lithuania lies to the south. Near the coast, the land is flat and marshy; inland, wooded dunes carry pine, spruce, birch and oak.

The landscape changes quickly. Open stretches give way to forests, while swamps, lakes and fertile patches appear between the wooded areas. Nearly a hundred rivers drain the region, although only three are navigable: the Daugava, Lielupe and Venta, which flow northwest toward the Baltic Sea.

Water also influences the region’s atmosphere. Lakes and marshes contribute to a damp, often foggy and changeable climate, with severe winters. Courland’s character comes from the combination of forest, water, mist and the continuing presence of the sea.

Best towns to visit in Courland

The best towns to visit in Courland include Kuldīga, Liepāja and Pāvilosta. Each offers a different way to experience the region, from historic and religious landmarks to maritime heritage and local institutions.

Kuldīga

Kuldīga is one of the Courland towns covered by Neywo. Its narrated places include Kuldīgas novada muzejs, Venta Rapid, the Church of Saint Anne in Kuldīga and the Church of Saint Catherine in Kuldīga.

Together, these sites bring several sides of the town into view: local history, the power of the Venta River and the religious architecture that forms part of Kuldīga’s historic character. Venta Rapid also connects the town directly to Courland’s wider relationship with water.

Liepāja

Liepāja has 18 narrated places, making it the largest Neywo audio-guided city in Courland. Among its key sites are Holy Trinity Cathedral, Karosta prison, Liepāja Museum and the Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas.

The city’s places reflect a broad range of stories. Religious landmarks sit alongside military and naval heritage, while Karosta prison adds a particularly distinctive historical site to a visit. Liepāja is a useful stop for travellers who want to explore the region through its urban history as well as its coastal setting.

Pāvilosta

Pāvilosta has 2 narrated places in Neywo: Pāvilostas Svētā Gara Romas katoļu baznīca and Pāvilosta Municipality.

Its smaller selection makes Pāvilosta a more focused stop, centred on the local municipality and the Church of the Holy Spirit. The town adds another perspective on the communities that developed along Courland’s western side.

Explore Courland with Neywo

Neywo offers free audio guides for 3 cities in Courland, with 27 narrated places in total and 2 walking tours. Narration is available in 11 languages.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace. There is no group and no schedule: simply walk through Courland’s towns and let each story play when you arrive at the next narrated stop.