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Where it's at
Couched in a natural bay on the Baltic coastline, Jurmala
is close to Latvia's capital city, Riga. A relaxing
resort with a glamorous past, it's been a favourite with Latvians
since the 1800's, when the town was first discovered as a
bathing haven. The long, sloping beaches, with shallow waters
and picturesque dunes and forest behind, provide the ideal
location for visitors to unwind and enjoy the beauty of the
Baltic at first hand. The best months to visit are July and
August, when the water's at its warmest and you can enjoy
the soft, golden beaches to the full.
History of the spa town
Jurmala first became known as a health resort in the early
1800's, when seawater and fresh coastal air began to be recommended
by doctors as a cure for all sorts of illnesses. At first,
the seawater used for treatments was cold, then experiments
with heated water in bath-houses took place, and in 1858 the
first steam-heated bathing establishment was opened in the
dunes. It was built by a man named Miller, and contained
ten hot-seawater bathrooms. Another well-known proprietor
of the resorts was doctor Nordstroem, who founded the
medical centre "Marienbad" in Dubulti, This was
officially the first sanatorium in Jurmala. Other medical
and massage establishments were soon opened by competing doctors,
and many of their grand, imposing buildings can still be seen
in Jurmala today.
During Latvia's years as a part of the Soviet Union, Jurmala
thrived as a health centre, but also as an industrial city
with an advantageous position on the coast. Hundreds of new
buildings were erected, including modern hospitals and schools,
and the town's reach was dramatically expanded. As a tourist
resort, Jurmala's popularity also grew, with visitors from
the entire Soviet Union journeying to spend their holidays
on the edge of the Baltic over a period of 50 years. By the
1970's, Jurmala had also developed its own unique industry,
the building of boats. The "Dzintars" plant was
famous for producing up to 6,000 rowing and sailing boats
a year for supply to Soviet buyers as well as abroad.
Things to see and do
For the modern-day visitor, Jurmala has many attractions.
Some of these, such as the mud-baths, water cures and saunas,
clearly echo the town's 150-year tradition of health therapy,
rest and relaxation. Or you might prefer to walk on the golden
beaches, enjoying the freshness of pine-scented air, the sloping
sand dunes and the warm Baltic waters lapping the shore.
Although large parts of Jurmala's oldest architecture were
lost during the Soviet era, you will still find the old town
area an attractive place to stroll and enjoy the atmosphere
as you imagine the bustle of visitors from years gone by.
Just like the visitors of 150 years ago, you'll find Jurmala's
peaceful beauty the ideal antidote to city life, a seaside
haven where the stressed-out can catch their breath.
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