“Many people like our villages for walks by the sea and in nature. We wanted to create an additional activity that would be entertaining, educational at the same time and would help you get to know our seaside villages better,” says the head of the Jūrciemi Residents’ Association “Labklļįbīb” Dace Treimane-Freimane. “The audio guide is definitely an asset to our villages. It offers a new activity for both local residents and tourists, and in addition, an activity that is available at any time of the year, completely free of charge for everyone on their smartphone, both in Latvian and in English.”
To access the audio guide, download the free “izi.travel” application on your smartphone and find Lapmežciema parish in the search engine or scan the QR codes of the routes. They are available on the territory of the parish at the information stands and on Jūrciemi’s social network accounts. Also, the audio guide can be found on the izi.travel website
Jūrciemi audio guide currently offers 3 routes or listening trails: “Bigauņciems – Lapmežciems”, “Lapmežciems-Ragaciems” and “Cinema stops”. They can be walked either separately or combined in one 12 km hike. Dace Treimane-Freimane points out that the routes are designed to include both a walk along the sea and a visit to the villages, as well as the audio guide is supplemented with visual materials and a map where places of interest are marked.
During the exploratory walks, it is possible to learn more regarding such objects as the Lapmežciem school, which is located on the site of an old inn, regarding the sedums and the two lighthouses, as well as regarding historical places and events that can no longer be observed in nature today – for example, regarding the Lapmežciem manor, the school in Bigauņciem and film locations.
The project “Klausāmtakas – creation of an audio guide in Lapmežciem parish” was implemented thanks to a project competition for the diversification of public activities organized by the local action group “Partnerība laukiem und jūrai”. The project was financed by the Rural Support Service, co-payment was provided by the Tukuma County Council. In the creation of the audio guide, the association “Lablħħībīb” has also collaborated with the Lapmežciems museum and local residents, collecting materials regarding the area.
This kind of audio guide, which is freely available to every smartphone owner and completely free of charge, is the first not only in Lapmežciem parish, but also in Tukuma county. The Association of Jurciemi residents plans that in time it will be possible to offer an audio guide on other routes as well.
