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Abava Valley

Property names are listed in the language in which they have been submitted by the State Party.

Latvia (Europe and North America)
Date of Submission: 03/01/2005
Criteria: (ii)(iv)(v)
Category: Cultural
Submitted by: The State Inspection for Heritage ProtectionM. Pils street 19, Riga LV 1050, Latvia
Dott. Manuel Roberto Guido
Coordinates: 57° N / 24°EThe Abava valley lies in Kurzeme (Courland), the western part of Latvia, in the Talsi, Tukums and Kuldiga Regions.
Ref.: 397

Description

The territory was developed along the historical road form Riga to Prussia and Northern Germany, traced through the Abava Valley.

Many cultural and historical monuments, located along the river and valleys of its tributaries the lmula and the Amula, are the evidence of history of the Latvia. Within this territory there are eight hillforts with settlements, nine ancient burial sites, five ancient pagan cult sites, two medieval castles, two historical town centres, several estate centres and monuments of architecture and art.

Concentration of cultural and historical monuments in the Abava Valley and its vicinity gives proof of the particular attractiveness of this and other surrounding objects of nature. Many of nature objects are under State protection. Along with the Abava Valley itself, which is a complex restricted area of nature, in the Abava Valley's vicinity there are 16 objects of nature under protection of State. Among them such favourite tourist sites as Devil's Stone, Devil's Cave and Chambers of Mara (Latvian pagan Goddess), at the same time historical monuments, should be mentioned, as well as five rocks, seven rapids and three historical estate parks. There are also more than 20 old tree under State protection there.

The Abava valley and tributary valleys and towns- Kandava and Sabile as well the village Renda constitute the landscape spatial structure of the territory. The most attractive part of the Abava Valley is the Kandava - Sabile section where open agricultural landscape prevails; yet the forests are covering the steep slopes of the valley.

The dimensional structure of the scenery has formed when the dwelling and agricultural areas gradually enlarged. As a result the functional types of scenery originate - urbanised (towns, suburbs, densely populated regions), rural sceneries and sceneries of woods and forests. When the significance of separate roads enlarged, specific linear sceneries appeared which are closely connected with the roads.

In 20 June 1996 the Republic of Latvia Cabinet of Ministers adopted Regulations "On the specially protected cultural territory "The Abava Valley".