A former Lutheran church with an exact consecration date, an open-air stage used in summer and a 15-kilometre hiking route give Kursīši a range of cultural and landscape features to explore. Forests and bogs are also part of the parish’s character. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between church history, events and hiking as different areas of focus.

The former church: a clear historical connection

The former Lutheran church in Kursīši was built between 1695 and 1698 and consecrated on 26 October 1698. Construction took several years, while the consecration date identifies a specific day. This makes the church a tangible point of reference if you would like to include the history of the area in your trip alongside its landscapes. It offers a different cultural focus from the open-air stage, which is used seasonally: here, a historic place takes centre stage; there, the focus is on hosting events.

Open-air stage and events

The open-air stage in Kursīši is situated on a hill near the Kursīši water reservoir and is used for events in summer. There are volleyball and streetball courts at the stage. This part of Kursīši therefore offers both a summer event venue and two specific sporting facilities.

A Līgo celebration and a ball are traditionally held in the parish of Kursīši. Summer and winter sports festivals are also among the traditional events. This seasonal range is useful when planning: while the open-air stage is explicitly used in summer, the sports festivals have both a summer and a winter version. If a festival is a deciding factor for your trip, check the exact date in advance.

Forests, bogs and a distinctive palm pine

Forests cover 49 percent of the parish of Kursīši—just under half of its area. There are also numerous bogs with their characteristic habitats. Forests and bogs represent different landscape features: the forest coverage describes a large-scale characteristic, while the bogs stand out as distinct habitats.

One striking detail completes this picture of the landscape: the only living palm pine in Latvia can be seen near the houses of Baloži. The natural features thus range from widespread landscape forms to a single, specifically named feature in the parish of Kursīši.

Hiking route with a reading room and information boards

A 15-kilometre hiking route leads to Kursīši. The route includes an outdoor reading room and information boards showing what is no longer visible. The distance provides a clear basis for planning your trip, while the reading room and boards add opportunities to read and view explanatory displays. If you are planning specifically for this hike, check the route details in advance.

Find a holiday apartment to suit your trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Kursīši, your reason for travelling is a useful starting point. If you are mainly interested in the history of the former church, your focus will differ from that of a trip centred on the open-air stage or hiking route. For a planned event, the specific dates matter; for a dedicated hike, the route details are important. This lets you balance culture and landscapes according to your interests.

Discover more destinations: Druva, Šarlote, Saldus, Jaunlutriņi.

See the regional travel overview: Saldus Novads.