Dzirnavkalns: Talsi's Mill Hill with a Storied Past

Dzirnavkalns, rising 87 meters above sea level, is one of Talsi's distinctive nine hills, located at the southern end of Lake Vilkmuiža. Historically known as Sudmalkalns, this site is believed to have been an ancient Curonian worship place. In the 13th century, the Livonian Order built a stone castle here, which was last mentioned in chronicles in 1636.In 1839, Johann Heinrich Voldemārs, the first Latvian historian, surveyed the castle foundations. Detailed records from the early 19th century reveal that in 1835, Baron Friedrich von Firks of Nurmuiža Manor and Fridrihs Vicinskis, a miller, signed an agreement to build a windmill on the hill. This Dutch-type windmill operated for many years, though the millers changed frequently.By 1875, the land was divided. The windmill and a small house remained with the miller, and in 1886, Ābrams Jeruhmanovs purchased them. On the hillside, Baroness Emīlija Katrīna fon Heikinga built Villa Heyking, offering scenic views of Jauntalsi. The windmill continued to operate until World War I but was burned down around 1921.Today, no traces of the windmill remain. Dzirnavkalns now serves as a park, offering views of Lake Vilkmuiža, the market square, the residential area built in the 1950s and 1960s, and the Talsi Ice Hall. Walking along Kalna Street's old cobblestones leads to Ezeru Square, the site of the famous Dižmāra market, which features a memorial to the victims of the 1997 Talsi tragedy.