Things to Do in Semigallia, Latvia: City Guides

Semigallia is a historical and cultural region shared by Latvia and Lithuania, known for its broad plains, river landscapes and the long resistance of the Semigallian people during the Northern Crusades. In Latvia, its major town is Jelgava, while Bauska and Jēkabpils offer further ways to explore the region’s castles, churches, museums and history. Neywo has free audio guides for 3 cities in Semigallia, with 38 narrated places in total and 4 walking tours.

What to see and do in Semigallia

Semigallia’s story reaches across modern borders. The region took its name from the Baltic people who lived around the lower valleys of the Mūša and Lielupe rivers. Its boundaries changed over time, and today its historic territory is divided between Latvia and Lithuania. In Latvia, Semigallia is one of the country’s five historical and cultural regions; in Lithuania, it is known as Žiemgala and is considered part of the historical and cultural area of Aukštaitija.

The region is mostly made up of plains, with some hills. The Lielupe is its most important river after the Daugava, and waterways played an important role in the history of Semigallia. Castles and fortifications followed the river lines, reflecting the strategic importance of the land.

Jelgava

Jelgava is the major town of Semigallia and was once the capital of the united Duchy of Courland and Semigallia. It is a natural starting point for discovering the region’s political and cultural history.

The city’s main sights include Jelgava Palace, one of the places that best represents its former importance. The Jelgavas vēstures un mākslas muzejs explores local history and art, while St Simeon and St Anne’s Cathedral and the Church of Saint Anne in Jelgava add important religious landmarks to the city centre.

Jelgava also reflects the historic connection between Semigallia and Courland. On Latvia’s coat of arms, Semigallia appears together with Courland, a reminder of the two regions’ shared past.

Bauska

Bauska is one of the best towns to visit in Semigallia for its combination of water, history and architecture. The town is associated with the Mūša and with Bauska Castle, whose position reflects the defensive role that castles played in the region.

Bauska Castle and Park are among the town’s key places to see. The setting connects the castle with the surrounding landscape, while the Mūša offers another way to understand the importance of rivers in Semigallia. Bauska Church of the Holy Spirit is another notable stop in the town.

The region’s castles are closely tied to the medieval struggle for control of Semigallia. From 1219 to 1290, the Semigallians fought German crusaders and the Teutonic Knights. Semigallia’s location was strategically important because it separated the Livonian and Prussian branches of the Teutonic Order and lay along routes used by Lithuanians raiding settlements in Livonia.

Jēkabpils

Jēkabpils offers a different view of Semigallia, with historic religious buildings, museums and places connected to local life. The Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Jēkabpils is one of the city’s leading sights, alongside the Jēkabpils Vēstures muzejs.

Other places to include are Mīlestības tiltiņš and Krustpils luterāņu baznīca. Together, these sights show the variety of the city’s heritage, from religious history and local collections to bridges and church architecture.

A region shaped by resistance

The history of Semigallia is inseparable from the persistence of its people. Their homeland was at the centre of conflicts during the Northern Crusades, and alliances could shift according to the threat. A Semigallian force led by Viestards once attacked a Lithuanian army in deep winter snow. Later, Semigallians fought alongside Lithuanians against the Livonian Order at the Battle of Saule.

The Livonian Order eventually conquered all of Semigallia, but the Semigallians rebelled and temporarily freed themselves. Their resistance from 1219 to 1290 remains one of the defining parts of the region’s story.

The ancient Semigallian language is believed to have disappeared by the 16th century. Some Semigallians assimilated into Latvian communities and others into Lithuanian ones, but the regional identity has endured on both sides of the border. In Žeimelis, the museum of Semigallia opened in 1958, preserving part of this shared heritage in Lithuania.

Explore Semigallia with Neywo

Download Neywo to explore Semigallia with a free audio guide covering 3 cities: Bauska, Jēkabpils and Jelgava. The app includes 4 walking tours and 38 narrated places in total, with narration available in 11 languages.

Each story plays as you reach the place, at your own pace. There is no group and no schedule: walk independently, arrive at the sights when you choose, and let Neywo tell you the story of each place as you explore.