Ragaciems: Beach, Coast and Fishing History

Ragaciems between Beach, Coast and Fishing History

Ragaciems showcases several sides of the coast of the Gulf of Riga: an official bathing area, maritime landmarks, a coastal hiking trail and traces of the local fishing craft. Those who want to choose between swimming, hiking and regional coastal culture will find different points of interest in Ragaciems. At the water, the bathing area and SUP-board rentals are the main attractions, while the routes connect either sections of the beach or neighbouring places.

Beach and Lighthouse on the Gulf of Riga

Cape Ragaciems is a promontory on the western shore of the Gulf of Riga and ends several hundred metres off the coast in a shallow, rocky underwater sandbank. A prominent landmark along this stretch of coast is the Ragaciema bāka. The lighthouse was built in 1960 as a red rectangle on a lattice tower.

The official bathing area “Ragaciema pludmale” is located in Lapmežciema pagasts in Ragaciems, at the end of Zvejnieku iela. The beach has a changing room, an information board and two toilets. One of the two toilets is accessible to people with reduced mobility; this feature does not apply generally to all beach facilities. Those who want to combine their time by the water with an active activity can also rent SUP boards at Ragaciems Beach. SUP stands for stand-up paddling, meaning standing on a board while paddling.

Hiking between Ragaciems and Dubulti

Stage 21 of the Jūrtaka coastal hiking route begins at the beach near the Ragaciema bāka and ends at Dubulti Beach. The first third of the stage from Ragaciems to Dubulti runs through Ķemeri National Park. The national park therefore characterises only the beginning of the route; the stage continues to Dubulti Beach. The protected landscape area is thus a section at the start of the connection, not its full extent.

Another historic route connection is the Gausā jūdze. It separates Ragaciems from Klapkalnciems and is approximately 7 km long. In the past, it was covered on foot or horseback. In this area, Jūrtaka connects beaches, while the Gausā jūdze connects the places of Ragaciems and Klapkalnciems. The two routes therefore differ in the type of destinations they connect.

Fishing Tradition and Regional Food

At Ragaciema Sedums, several traditional net huts were restored by descendants of local fishermen. The restoration serves to preserve the history of the fishing craft and commemorate their ancestors. Ragaciema Sedums received the “Latviskais mantojums” designation in 2015.

At the Zivju tirdziņš fish market in Ragaciems, fish caught in the Gulf of Riga and the Baltic Sea are usually sold. Bread, honey, fruit and vegetables from farms in the nearby and wider surrounding area are also available there. In addition to fish, the market therefore offers various agricultural products from the regional area.

If you would like to compare Ragaciems with the wider travel area, you can also find Plieņciems, Apšuciems, Engure, Milzkalne, Lapmežciems, Klapkalnciems, Smārde and Bigauņciems.

For the higher-level travel overview: Engures Novads.