Liepāja Harbour Promenade
The Liepāja Harbour Promenade is a popular strolling spot – taking in views of bridges, wharves and marinas, restored warehouses and the Lielais dzintars (Great Amber) concert hall. The Promenade’s decorative feature is the Dzintaru pulkstenis (Amber Clock), whose hourglass form is filled with 50 litres of amber donated by city residents. The expressive architectural form of the concert hall was also inspired by the symbol of Liepāja – amber.
- The shipping channel connects Liepāja Lake and the Baltic Sea; it is crossed by two bridges – the Tramway Bridge is closer to the sea, the former railway bridge closer to the lake.
- In 1967 the port became a closed USSR military facility and until the 1990s was part of the Restricted Zone.
- The warehouses were built in the 18th century to store grain, salt and linen cloth. By the 20th century, they were no longer practical and were abandoned. Their restoration began in 2005, when they were integrated into the Promenāde hotel complex.
During the Soviet era, the Promenade was a closed military territory all the way from the Tram Bridge to the sea. It is currently a place for a peaceful stroll as well as a vibrant night life, an attractive place to relax with rock and roll and to have business meetings with an artistic touch.
You can get a great view of Liepāja’s concert hall, the yacht wharf of the Trade Canal, fishing vessels and busy port workers. The Promenade is beautifully adorned by an amber hourglass, made by using countless pieces of amber gathered by locals of Liepāja. A miniature map of the surrounding area is also there, allowing one to see the area from a birds-eye view as well as to feel the contours of the miniaturized buildings with your fingers.
The Promenade also has a popular music club with a casual atmosphere, several eateries serving delicious food, and even a gym that stays open 24/7. Also on the Promenade are two hotels praised by travellers that are worth seeing just for their interior design alone. The “Royal Hotel” was built in a Soviet era port workshop, where the brutality of the concrete contrasts with the Egyptian style luxury. The other hotel – “Promenade Hotel” – was created by reconstructing an old port warehouse and now features an art gallery in the lobby.
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Following ARHIS ARHITEKTI’s designed proposal, the first part of the reconstruction of the “Vecā ostmala” promenade in the Port of Liepaja has been finished. The ARHIS ARHITEKTI’s previously designed pedestrian bridge was renovated and completed with a new, impressive 12m long metal model on a concrete base that shows the commercial sector of the city along the canal.
In the last period of time great changes could be seen in this area: to the left of the bridge, an elegantly renovated design for the HOTEL PROMENADE, to the right, an eccentric FONTAIN ROYAL hotel while to the front, the building-site for a new concert hall that its under construction. But 12 years ago this small bridge was the first public element in the enclosed territory of the port.
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