You can read hundreds of historical documents, visit dozens of museums and see thousands of ancient artifacts, but still do not understand the history and culture, do not feel the nation's spirit, do not immerse yourself in its atmosphere. Or you can spend just one day in a unique thematic museum and learn all the secrets of an unfamiliar country. One of these colorful places with a stunning atmosphere of the past is the Jurmala Open-Air Museum, located in a picturesque part of Latvia, the resort town of Jurmala.

Not far from the mouth of the Lielupe River and the Ragakapa Nature Park, there is a real fishing farmstead of the 19th-20th centuries. Dwellings, barns, smokehouses, baths, and other buildings were brought to the museum from all over the country. They tell visitors the history of the town and the oldest occupation of the indigenous population, fishing, better than any museum exhibit. There are dozens of old boats and anchors that are ready to reveal secrets of their owners, difficult fishing days, and cheerful traditional holidays. By the way, holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and Ligo are celebrated here just like many centuries ago, in keeping with the finest traditions. Better yet, come to the museum for the ancient wine festival. By the way, this is the only place where you can taste the best fish dishes in Latvia, which are cooked according to the old custom on Thursdays in summer.

While enjoying the hospitality of the fishermen, be sure to seize the opportunity and master one of the skills of a real angler. For example, come to a local workshop and learn how to make strong ropes and tie sea knots. The museum workshop houses the largest collection of materials and tools of this craft: ropes, reels, knots, hooks, and winches. These treasures of the fishing workshop amaze even experienced fishing enthusiasts. In total, the museum displays more than 2000 valuable exhibits, including 45 types of rare sea knots.