Jelgava Municipality between the Lielupe, Manor Houses and Nature

The Lielupe, Latvia’s second-largest river, flows through Jelgava Municipality. Jelgava Municipality features the characteristic landscape of the Zemgale plain. Ozolpils Park, a garden, is located in the vicinity of Jelgava Municipality. The hills of Pūču Kalns, Ģībotu Kalns, Cūkauškalns and Kažmēru Kalns are also located nearby. In the wider regional surroundings of Jelgava Municipality are Ķīšu Klosteris, a monastery, and Lustes Pilsdrupas, a ruin site.

Culture and History

The Christmas Battles Museum features a reconstructed section of the German first line of defence, which is unique in the Baltics. A 7.2 km exploration trail through the sites of the Christmas Battles begins and ends there. Various events and historical reconstructions of bygone eras are organised every year at Lielvircava Manor. Nākotnes Park displays vintage objects, old aircraft and a collection of retro motorcycles.

At Vilce Manor, an exhibition on the history of the school is open to visitors. It covers the era of the barons, hunting stories and legends, as well as the revolutionary movement of 1905. The various themes thus range from military-historical sites and former ways of life to technological and everyday objects from past decades.

Manor Houses and Exhibitions

Historic paths have been restored in Eleja Manor Park, a bridge has been built to a peninsula in the pond, and interactive environmental objects have been installed. The Eleja Exhibition Hall presents a historical exhibition about the Eleja manor complex and the people who were important to its development. Tea tastings are offered at the Eleja Tea House for an additional fee. The Eleja Exhibition Hall was open to visitors from 1 August 2023 by prior appointment.

Nature and Activities

Vilce Nature Park offers guided tours with playful educational elements focusing on rare and specially protected plant and animal species. Twelve disc golf baskets are installed throughout Vilce Manor Park; discs can be rented by telephone in advance from the Vilce Tourism Information Point. Alongside nature education and protected species, there is therefore also a specific sporting activity and landscaped park areas.

You can incorporate the places mentioned into your own daily itinerary according to the themes of history, nature, exercise, exhibitions and park landscapes. Routes, guided tours, events and exhibitions represent different ways of exploring Jelgava Municipality.

Accommodation and Trip Planning

When choosing a hotel in Jelgava Municipality, you can compare your travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions with your own preferences. The focus on manor houses can stand alongside your personal ideas about the rhythm of each day and the length of your stay. This keeps different types of travel open, while the accommodation details and the places in Jelgava Municipality each retain their own place in your personal travel plans with different priorities.

Sub-areas of the Municipality

Jelgava Municipality includes the sub-areas of Blankenfelde, Platone, Valgunde, Vilce, Vidusmuiža, Zaļenieki, Jelgava and Mežciems.

Public Transport

Public transport timetables and routes in Jelgava Municipality are available via 1188.lv and JAP.