Laidze Rural Territory

Population: 1801                        

Area: 74.1 km²

Density: 24.3 per 1km²

Administration of Laidze Rural Territory: „Pagastmājā”, Laidze, Laidze Rural Territory, Talsi Municipality, LV-3280 Phone: 632 21978, Fax: 632 21976 Email: laidze.parvalde@talsi.lv

Laidze Rural Territory borders with Town of Talsi and Town of Valdemārpils. The centre of the rural territory is located next to fisherman and tourist favourite lake - Laidze Lake (170.7 ha), which is the largest lake in the parish.

In historical records Laidze is first mentioned in 1428.

Laidze is a former manor centre. Laidze Manor house was built in 19th century. In 20’s and 30’s of 20th century a lot of Polish and Latgalian farm workers arrived in Laidze Parish.

In 1920 Laidze Parish was added to Valdgale Parish, which in 1925 was renamed to Laidze Parish. In 1945 instead of Laidze Parish Laidze and Valdgale Villages were formed, but parish itself was disbanded in 1949. But still Laidze Village increased its sizes when in 1954 parts of Vandzene Village and parts of Valdgale Village, in 1961, were added to it. Parish remained so until 1974, when part of the parish’s territory was given to Village of Vandzene. Its name and territory, as we know it today, Laidze received in 1990.

In Laidze Rural Territory there is a school, kindergarten, library, a social care centre „Zvirgzdi” which is located on the outskirts of Talsi, as well as, leisure centre. Each year in June an amateur festival is organized in Laidze were all amateur groups, both youth and adult, take part. Also rural territory’s senior club „Brūklenājs” has been very active for all these years.

One of the oldest educational institutions in Latvia is located here in Laidze Rural Territory - it’s the Laidze Vocational School. Approximately 300 children from Talsi and surrounding regions here are studying business, decorative crafts and cooking. It was founded in 1921 as Laidze School of Agriculture, but for many years to come it was known as Laidze Agricultural Technical School. In addition to already existing educational programmes Latvia University of Agriculture opened its branch here in Laidze, now students here in three year time can get a degree in economics.

1200 ha from total area of the rural territory takes up Talsi Hillock Nature Park, which gives a great opportunity for tourism. Travellers can get well acquainted with riches of the nature in park’s forests, swamps and meadows or by walking along the Botany path near home of Krovalki, as well as, visiting final resting place of violinist and the pastor of local Lutheran church Karl Friedrich Amenda, who was a friend of the famous compositor Ludwig van Beethoven, while enjoying Trail of Sounds in Talsi Rectory.

Until recently the only leprosarium, which was established in 1896 and expanded in 1938, in the Baltic States was located here in Laidze Rural Territory, but today it has closed its doors. In the surroundings of Laidze Rural Territory deposits of peat, sand, gravel and freshwater limestone deposits can be found.

Within the Laidze Rural Territory operates large and prospective businesses – CVS and Ingrid D, as well as, regions solid waste landfill “Janvāri”.
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