Dobele: History, the Bērze and Gardens

During a stay in Dobele, you can choose from a range of themes: the history of the castle, town centre and settlement; walks along the Bērze; and subjects such as crafts and horticulture. This range of options helps you plan your trip around your own interests.

City history at the castle and market square

The historic centre of Dobele is a state-protected urban heritage site. The historic market square provides a specific point of reference in time: it was established at the same time as the church was built in 1495. This places the urban space and the church building within a shared historical context. The stone castle of the Livonian Order offers another point of reference. It is the oldest building in Dobele and a nationally significant cultural monument. The historic centre and the castle illustrate different scales: one concerns the significance of an urban area, the other a single building and its status as the oldest in the town.

The exhibition “Once Upon a Time in Dobele” at the Dobele Local History Museum focuses on the history of the castle mound and the settlement that grew around it. The period covered stretches from the 13th century to the 1940s. In this way, it complements the focus on individual buildings with the development of the settlement over several centuries. Tours of the museum can be arranged at any time outside the exhibition room’s opening hours.

Walks along the Bērze

There are two distinct starting points for walks. The promenade by the ruins of Dobele Castle offers a scenic walk along the right bank of the Bērze. In Ķestermežs, the river winds through a scenic area for walking and recreation. Both places connect the Bērze with time spent outdoors, but each has a different focus: by the castle ruins, the promenade along the right bank takes centre stage; in Ķestermežs, it is the recreational area through which the river flows. You can choose according to the kind of landscape that appeals to you most.

Culture and traditional crafts

The converted chapel building at Dobele Castle opened in 2020 and was transformed into a multifunctional centre for culture, crafts and tourism development called Dobeles Pils. The Dobele Crafts House offers opportunities to demonstrate, learn and pass on traditional and modern craft skills. Alongside the history of the castle and settlement, cultural development and craftsmanship therefore offer further themes to consider when planning your trip.

Gardens and seasonal tastings

At the Pēteris Upītis Museum, the exhibition is dedicated to the horticulturalist’s contribution to agricultural science. During the season, visitors can taste fruit and berries grown in the museum garden. The exhibition and tasting have different focuses: one explores a contribution to agricultural science, while the tasting is a seasonal experience. If you would like to plan a tasting, check the timing before your trip.

The garden of Lilija and Alfrēds Štelmahers features a stone exhibition complemented by decorative planting. Here, the display of stones sits alongside the landscaped plants. This offers a different focus from the museum garden, where visitors can taste fruit and berries. Dobele therefore offers a range of garden experiences, from seasonal harvests to the combination of a stone exhibition and planting.

Discover more destinations: Auri, Aizstrautnieki, Biksti, Zebras Muiža, Prinči

Go to the wider travel overview: Dobeles Novads.