Tukums, Latvia

This year Tukums celebrates the 561st anniversary since it has been recorded in writings and the 211th anniversary since the rights of a town were granted.

Tukums is a town redolent of age and a loud rhythm of life so characteristic for nowadays.

The most important place of the town is its centre: Brīvības Square, a favourite place to have a rest and listen to the whispers of waterworks. 1 May is the time when the inhabitants of the town awaken the waterworks each year. Everyone can look at the town from 20 meters high belfry of the St. Trinity Lutheran Church. Every quarter of an hour the church bells toll. The clock was mounted in 31 December 2000. It was manufactured according to one in the previous centuries.

In 2001 Tukums won the title of the most orderly town in Latvia in 2001, which proves the continuation of the towns development. Project implementation helps creating a friendly environment for inhabitants and visitors. The newly built constructions include effluent water treatment facilities, two local and the central iron removal station for drinking water, woodchip-heated boiler house. There are other important projects as well, for example, inception of the municipal waste sorting and the reconstruction of streets lighting system in the town. Several public buildings have been constructed: the building of Parex Bank, Sports Centre and institutional premises at the Brīvības Square, Ice and Recreation Centre Tuko, bowling hall at the cafe Arka, buildings of Rimi and Saulīte supermarkets. More and more squares with small architectural forms are created in the town every year.

The Tukums town festival traditionally is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday of July.

Active and eager persons are living in the town. Honorary title of the Freemen of Tukums for their contribution to the towns development has been presented to Else-Marie Bertilsson from the fellowship town of Tidaholm, the conductor Rasma Valdmane, foot-racers Anita and Modris Liepiņi and the composer Pēteris Butāns.

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