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Dzirnavkalns: Talsi's Mill Hill with a Storied Past

Explore Dzirnavkalns in Talsi: a historic hill offering panoramic views, a glimpse into ancient times, and a peaceful park experience.

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Dzirnavkalns, or Mill Hill, is one of the nine hills of Talsi, Latvia, offering scenic views and a glimpse into the town's history. Once a site of ancient Curonian worship and a Livonian Order castle, it later hosted a windmill and a grand villa. Today, it's a park providing panoramic vistas of Talsi.

A brief summary to Dzirnavkalns

Local tips

  • Wear comfortable shoes for the walk up the cobblestone Kalna Street.
  • Bring a camera to capture the scenic views of Lake Vilkmuiža and the surrounding area.
  • Visit Ezeru Square to see the memorial dedicated to the victims of the 1997 Talsi tragedy.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From the Talsi city center, head south towards Lake Vilkmuiža. Follow Kalna Street, a cobblestone road leading uphill towards Dzirnavkalns. The walk is moderately steep and takes about 10-15 minutes. There are no costs involved in walking to Dzirnavkalns.

  • Public Transport

    Local buses in Talsi may have routes that pass near the base of Dzirnavkalns. Check local bus schedules for the closest stop. From the bus stop, follow Kalna Street uphill to reach Dzirnavkalns. A single bus fare within Talsi typically costs around €0.50 - €1.

  • Taxi

    A taxi from the Talsi bus station or city center to Dzirnavkalns is a short ride. Ask the driver to take you to Ezera iela 5. The ride should cost approximately €3-€5. Parking near Dzirnavkalns is limited.

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Discover more about Dzirnavkalns

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.

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