Egļuciems brings together landscape and local history with distinctive cultural connections. The settlement developed on the edge of the Lielupe’s former riverbed, or the Lieknas marsh, and grew around the Lieknas inn. Other notable features include Baznīckalns, a sacred site and archaeological monument of regional significance, and the art of peace practised at Samuraju parks. The local history thus spans everything from historic transport routes to diverse cultural points of connection.

Landscape and origins

The former river course, or the Lieknas marsh, offers a landscape perspective on Egļuciems. The settlement developed along its edge, so its history is connected to an earlier landscape. Another way to explore the area is through the history of the Lieknas inn, around which Egļuciems grew. The landscape and the history of the settlement are thus two interconnected perspectives on the place.

Lieknas and the road to Courland

The Lieknas inn, also known as Liekņa, belonged to Salas Manor and stood on the road from Riga to Courland. It existed for at least 200 years. The artist Jūliuss Dērings mentioned it in his diaries in 1877. Its minimum period of existence and this specific mention offer different perspectives on its timeline: a long local history and a dated reference from the 19th century. Its location on the road also makes the inn part of the historic connection between Riga and Courland. It therefore links settlement and transport history.

The historic ferry across the Lielupe

Historically, a ferry provided a way to cross the Lielupe. The Buļļi raft ferry was the only service permitted to carry people and freight across the river, and it was strictly supervised. The road and the river crossing represent different transport connections: Lieknas stood on the road from Riga to Courland, while crossing the Lielupe was restricted to a single supervised ferry. The ferry’s history thus adds another clearly defined historical connection to the development of the settlement.

Cultural heritage and Samuraju parks

Baznīckalns is a sacred site and an archaeological monument of regional significance. Samuraju parks offers a different cultural connection: it is a volunteer movement in Egļuciems, active with the support of Bulduru dārzkopības vidusskola in the former Babīte municipality. Samuraju parks focuses on sword-fighting arts and the use of traditional Japanese wooden weapons, including the bokken, bo and a wooden naginata. The tea ceremony is an essential part of the art of peace practised there. The archaeological heritage of Baznīckalns and the cultural practice at Samuraju parks thus stand side by side as distinct points of focus.

If you are choosing a travel theme while looking for a holiday rental in Egļuciems, the local history and cultural heritage offer concrete points of interest. Please enquire in advance if you would like to take part in a particular practice session or tea ceremony.

Discover more destinations: Spuņciems, Babīte, Brīvkalni, Gātciems, Mežāres, Pērnciems

For the broader travel overview: Babītes Novads.