The areas with the rich cultural history in Ķemeri NP are Lapmežciems municipality ( Kaņiera Castle mound and the Siliņupes stone age settlement) and Ķemeri that is a town of state importance due to its architectural monuments (Hotel “Ķemeri”, the water tower, the Lutheran church and Ķemeri Park with its architecture etc.) Many valuable cultural monuments were destroyed during two world wars. Some of them were destroyed during the Soviet times.

Ķemeri. The place name “Ķemeri” is mentioned for the first time in the historical documents of 1561 in relation to granting land ownership to a farmer called Kaspars Ķemers. Thus, the farmer's name gave name to a part of Jurmala town. Another version is that the name originated from the name of the house of the local forester “Ķemeres”. The forester was the first person who started using medical baths in his own house. Ķemeri is long famous for its curing springs. The first water analysis was done in 1801 by an academic from St. Petersburg , T. Lovics. In 1891, the first data was published about using mud for medical purposes.

The historical part of Ķemeri – Ķemeri spa – is an object of state importance. Seven architectural monuments of state importance from here are worth mentioning:

•  Hotel “Ķemeri” (architect E .Laube) – 28 E. Dārziņa Street.
Built in 1936. 5 storey building with roof terraces and the tower in the centre. Classicism architectural elements are widely used for building decoration – pillars, balustrades etc. The effective position in the landscaped park creates a castle impression (the building used to be called also ‘white ship').

•  Water tower (architect Fr. Skujiņš) – 28 E. Dārziņa Street.

•  Ķemeri Town Park with its architecture (K.M. Vāgners).
It was established as a landscaped park with a network of weaving paths and architectural elements such as pavilions, rotundas and artificial channels connected with the River Vēršupīte that crosses the park. The first stage of the park's development was in 1851-1861. It was possible to go by little boats on the River Vēršupīte and the channels.

•  Pavilion – rotunda “ Love Island ” (architect Fr. Skujiņš) – in Kemeri Park .

•  Monument to the founders and directors of Kemeri Spa – in the Kemeri park.

•  Restaurant “Jautrais ods” (‘Cheerful Mosquito'), now called “Meža māja” (‘Forest House') (architect Fr. Skujiņš) – the headquarters of the Kemeri National Park 's administration.
Built in 1933. A combination of stone and wood was used in the building's construction. The building has got stylised national details and a thatched roof. A typical example of the national romanticism style's architecture. In the Soviet times, there was a children's sanatorium in the building.

•  Ķemeri Lutheran church (architect H. Šēls) – 18 A. Upīša Street . Built in 1897, one of the few stone buildings in Kemeri from the 19 th century.

Lapmežciems. There are two archaeological monuments of state importance in the Lapmežciems municipality: Siliņupes stone age settlement (III – II BC ) and Kanieris castle mound.

Ķemeri national park includes also some old fishing villages along the coast - Bigauņciems, Lapmežciems and Ragaciems, and two smaller ones by Lake Kanieris – Antiņciems un Čaukciems.

Sulphur spring and pavillion "Ķirzaciņa" in year 1910.

Kemeri Orthodox church, beginning of XX century.

Tukuma street in Kemeri, year 1907.

Restaurant "Jautrais Ods" in Kemeri, year 1938.

Kemeri railway station, first half of XX century.

Kemeri park, first half of XX century.

Mud extraction, first half of XX century.

Mud baths, first half of XX century.

Tram from Kemeri to Jaunkemeri, beginning of XX century.

Pavillion in Jaunkemeri, beginning of XX century.

Last revision 01-05-2007
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