Kemeri Resort Park

The park was projected in 1839 by K.H. Vagner, a gardener of Riga. A resort was established in Jurmala in the 18th century due to the healing properties of sulphur waters. Kemeri park is one of the oldest and major parks outside the capital Riga. It was designed as a landscape park with a network of paths, amenities and rich greenery, romantic bridges, pavilions and rotundas. With the opening of Kemeri Hotel in 1936, a symmetrical garden parterre with lawns, flower plantations and alleys was created.

In 2020 and 2021, the park underwent an extensive reconstruction, and everything is preserved and restored according to the historical photographic evidence. Being in the Ķemeri National Park was an additional challenge as the renovation had to comply with the conservation requirements. The network of walking paths was renewed, and new paths built. According to the style of the resort, more than 5,000 rose and hydrangea plantations and almost 20,000 ornamental plants were added as well as more than 500 trees, including a linden plantation alley. Romantic “Islet of Love” has been restored with a pavilion-rotunda – a monument of national significance. The sulphur spring pavilion is renovated, and two new pavilions were built. Architectural elements were restored, including the beloved stone sculpture “Lizard”, from which a spring of sulphur water flows.

In honour of the personalities who played a significant role for the Ķemeri resort, the memorial created in 1861 was restored. The renovated water tower now hosts an interactive exhibition about the resort and its history. Also, the surrounding streets, parking lots and bicycle parking lots were enhanced, six wireless internet access points and video cameras were installed. A new playground has also been built close to a new herb labyrinth.

The restoration won the Best Buildings of the Year in Latvia 2021 award in the “Landscape” category and received Latvian public media annual award in culture 2021 in the “Heritage” category.