Send Gift Baskets to Tukums, Latvia

The historical center of Tukums developed near important trade routes between the mouth of the Daugava River and Prussia. It is said that the earliest part of this city is Talsi street located on a former castle mound. The original wooden castle was erected in 1253 which makes it one of Latvia’s oldest towns.

A castle was built on the banks of the Slopine River at the end of the 13th century to protect tradesmen and craftsmen near this area. When the marketplace was first set up, some more new streets were built later to run in different directions from the marketplace.

The development of trade in the 16th century led to a new, straight trading route that passed through modern-day Liela Street, which played an important role in the economic life of the settlement. As a result, large public buildings, businesses, and workshops were built around the street. This made it the unofficial high street of the area.

After the Livonian Order was dismantled, Tukums found itself in a new province. Unfortunately, this was not without turmoil. After Duke Jacob (1642–1682) ruled, Tukums suffered many hardships from wars and invasions that devastated it.

Back then, a new trade route was built from Tukums to Jelgava, the capital of Courland and Semigallia. It is now comprised of today’s Jelgavas Street as well as Rauda’s Street.

In the beginning, only 800 people were living in this region. The first dam was built and a lake was created near the road to Jelgava. This was followed by a flour mill and eventually a copper mine which was exported to foreign countries.

The newest addition to Tukums’ skyline is the lake, which was built in the 1670s, and the church spire, which was added in 1687.

After 1795, Courland was incorporated into the Russian Empire and in November of the same year, Tsaritsa Katherine signed a document that divided Courland into regions, granting municipal status to several urban settlements. The town borders were first marked in 1800 and the first urban map was made two years later.

This town has had a lot of growth and has 6 pubs and 131 private houses, making it home to around 690 males and 832 females.

In 1806 the first school was opened while the street pavement was introduced in 1860. The first street lamps were installed in 1875 and rapid development was observed after the opening of the Riga-Tukums railway line.