Šlītere lighthouse
Opening hours:
Sa, Su 10.00 – 17.00
Admission fee:
3.00 € for adults,
1.50 € for school-children
Stories about the robber David who was making false fires in order to cheat ships provide a special secret to the location of the lighthouse.
On sea maps this place is referred to as Domkalns hill, i.e. Baznīckalns [Church Hill]. Prior to the construction of Slītere tower, there was a huge oak-tree on the slope of Šlītere Zilie kalni [Blue Hills], and it was marked on sea maps. Slītere church built by Danish Vikings has served as an orientation for several centuries.
Slītere tower constructed of boulders in 1849 which became a lighthouse only in 1961 today should be considered the second oldest preserved navigation structure in Latvia (Ovīši lighthouse being first).
This was among the highest lights at the Baltic coast line (more than 100 m above the sea level) because the 26 metres high tower was supplemented by the slope of Šlītere Zilie kalni [Blue Hills] which rise 76 m above the sea level at the foundation of the building. From the heights of the lighthouse the lighthouses of Miķeļtornis, Ovīši, Kolka and even Saaremaa could be seen. The slope of Šlītere Zilie kalni [Blue Hills] is the reason for another peculiarity: none of the lighthouse of Latvia is located as far from the sea as this one (5.3 km).
In 1999 the lights were turned off at Šlītere lighthouse and the lighting devices were dismantled. The elimination of the light at the lighthouse does not present any threat to the navigation safety at the coasts of the Northern Kurzeme because nowadays ships are equipped with modern navigation devices, thus the number of light orientations can be reduced. Earlier lighthouses remain as good daylight orientation for fishermen.
Since 2002 the lighthouse is a tourism attraction at Slītere National Park. There is also an exposition about sea lighthouses in Latvia, in the Baltics and the whole world there.
At Slītere National Park there are several routes for walking, cycling, boating and car tours.
