Līgatne Paper Mill Village Audioguide
The historical centre of Līgatne Paper Mill Village is a national cultural heritage monument of Latvia and a unique urban complex of European significance. It reflects the timber architecture and industrial construction style typical of the late 19th century.
In Līgatne, 21 historical sites are marked with stands providing insights into the town’s rich history. By scanning the QR codes on these stands, visitors can listen to extended audio guide stories about each location.
A walk through the Līgatne Paper Mill Village offers a chance to travel back in time to the early 19th century, when the first 1,050 poods (17 tonnes) of Līgatne paper were produced at the Paltmale manor’s watermill, using old rags. This walking route allows you to follow the full life cycle of the paper mill workers—from the maternity ward and the old Līgatne school, to working at the mill, and raising families in the unique wooden row houses built by the factory.
You’ll also be invited to imagine how, after a 10-hour workday, the workers spent their free time—bowling in the society house’s “bumbotava”, enjoying concerts and theatre performances in the main hall, or playing music as part of the Līgatne orchestra under the pavilion once perched on the scenic sandstone cliff known as Lustūzis.
Special thanks to Rasma Vanaga, a long-time guide and passionate historian of the Līgatne Paper Mill, for her invaluable support and contribution to the development of this content.
Project No. 23-09-AL18-A019.2201-000011 has been implemented with the support of the “Cēsis District Rural Partnership” and funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) under the Latvian Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 “LEADER” initiative. The project is co-financed by Cēsis Municipality.
