Ķemeri
Encyclopedia
Ķemeri resort is a part of Jūrmala
in Latvia
, 44 km from Riga
. From 1928 to 1959, Ķemeri was a separate town, famous for the healing mud baths and luxurious hotel. Now about 2 200 inhabitants live there, while the main hotel is under reconstruction.
in 1561. Documentary evidence indicates that the springs at Ķemeri first became known for their curative properties in 1796, the first chemical analysis of the spring water being performed in 1818. The residents of the near-by town of Sloka
began to build houses for the patients. In 1825, the first public building was built for spa guests. Bad Kemmern was founded as a resort in 1838, when the emperor Nicholas I of Russia
gave this land for building the first bath-house with mineral water, from that time people started to come here for treatment.
The Ķemeri resort became rather popular in the Russian Empire
. In 1912, a direct railway link was created between Ķemeri and Moscow
. The connection with the beach of Jaunķemeri was provided by electrical tram
. Nerve disease, as well as diseases of joints, bones and muscles were treated in resort. Treatment with sulfuring water and mud baths also functioned. The annual number of people visiting the resort reached 8,300. During World War I
, the battles between German and Russian forces lasted several years were only a few miles from Ķemeri. The resort was devastated and the train station was destroyed.
The newly created Republic of Latvia tried to restore the previous glory of Ķemeri. In 1924, a special bathing facility was built for mud baths equipped with mechanical hot mud feed and the pumping of used mud back to the bog. In 1929, a 42 m tall water tower with sightseeing platform at the top was built near the bathing facility. The most impressive building was Hotel Ķemeri called "White Ship" with more than 100 rooms designed by famous Latvian architect Eižens Laube
which was opened to guests in 1936.
Jurmala
Jūrmala is a city in Latvia, about 25 kilometers west of Riga. Jūrmala is a resort town stretching and sandwiched between the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe River...
in Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, 44 km from Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
. From 1928 to 1959, Ķemeri was a separate town, famous for the healing mud baths and luxurious hotel. Now about 2 200 inhabitants live there, while the main hotel is under reconstruction.
History
The name Ķemeri (Kemmern) first appears in written sources after founding of the Dukedom of CourlandCourland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
in 1561. Documentary evidence indicates that the springs at Ķemeri first became known for their curative properties in 1796, the first chemical analysis of the spring water being performed in 1818. The residents of the near-by town of Sloka
Sloka
Sloka may refer to:* Sloka, Latvia, a neighbourhood of Jūrmala, Latvia* Sloka meter, a Sanskrit meter* Śloka, a Hindu prayer* Sloka Gora, a small settlement in central Slovenia* Sloka...
began to build houses for the patients. In 1825, the first public building was built for spa guests. Bad Kemmern was founded as a resort in 1838, when the emperor Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
gave this land for building the first bath-house with mineral water, from that time people started to come here for treatment.
The Ķemeri resort became rather popular in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. In 1912, a direct railway link was created between Ķemeri and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. The connection with the beach of Jaunķemeri was provided by electrical tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
. Nerve disease, as well as diseases of joints, bones and muscles were treated in resort. Treatment with sulfuring water and mud baths also functioned. The annual number of people visiting the resort reached 8,300. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the battles between German and Russian forces lasted several years were only a few miles from Ķemeri. The resort was devastated and the train station was destroyed.
The newly created Republic of Latvia tried to restore the previous glory of Ķemeri. In 1924, a special bathing facility was built for mud baths equipped with mechanical hot mud feed and the pumping of used mud back to the bog. In 1929, a 42 m tall water tower with sightseeing platform at the top was built near the bathing facility. The most impressive building was Hotel Ķemeri called "White Ship" with more than 100 rooms designed by famous Latvian architect Eižens Laube
Eižens Laube
Eižens Laube was a Baltic German Latvian architect. He was responsible for some of the reconstruction work of Riga Castle in the 1930s and designed more than 200 houses in Riga.-Biography:...
which was opened to guests in 1936.