Vērgale parish

Vērgale is located 30km to the north from Liepāja. It spreads mainly in the plain coastal lowland, its eastern part juts into the heights of western Kurzeme. About a half of the territory is covered by woods rich in plants and wild animals. On the coast of the sea there is Ziemupe Botanical Nature Reserve with a lot of protected plant species. There are a lot of great trees and Ziemupe juniper forest in the parish. Vērgale parish borders with the Baltic Sea, as well as Medze, Dunalka and Saka parishes. Vērgale with the name “Virgenare” has been mentioned for the first time in 1253 in Kurzeme partition agreement between Kurzeme bishop and the German Order. The information exists that the territory of Vērgale has been let out to Villekin and it has later been owned by Bertold Stein according to Kuldīga comturia and then by Gothard Ketler , Gerhard von Nolde who was a son of G. fon. Nolde, in 1612 Vērgale was sold to Heinrich von Sacken who sold the estate to Georg von Behr after the death of Landrate Friedrich von Sacken in 1722. In 1920 he lost the estate and it was taken in possession by the state. Vērgale parish was established in 1877. Just before the First World War it was joined to Medze parish and became independent during existence of the first Republic of Latvia. During Soviet times Ziemupe parish was joined to Vērgale parish, as well as a part of Tāši and Medze. In 1947, the first collective farm “Zelta Druva” was established in Vērgale, Liepāja district. In the same way, collective farms “Uzvara” and “Jaunais ceļš” were founded in 1948. In the 50-ties they were united and the collective farm “Ļeņina ceļš” was established which became a strong farm. In the same year the collective farm “Kaija” was founded in Ziemupe, as well as the collective farm “Kopdarbs” in Saraiķi. Later both of them joined together in the collective farm “Kopdarbs”.

There are 4 libraries, Vērgale Recreation Centre, Ziemupe Village Hall in the parish. The dance group “Vērgalīte” is the most active because it has participated in all Latvian General Song and Dance Festivals, the senior group “Vakarvējš” is also well-known, as well as sportsmen of Vērgale parish.

In 1995, Vērgale obtained the name of the tidiest parish in Kurzeme. Famous archaeological sites - Elka Hill – Castle Mound, Ošenieki ancient burial site at the former Ošenieki half of manor dates back to the 5th century B.C., BruņeniekI ancient burial site (Zviedru Cemetery), Mazkalni medieval cemetery at the house Mazkalni. Architectural monuments of local importance – Ziemupe church, Saraiķi church, Vērgale church, Mazkaži living house, servant house Dangaskalni, Vērgale estate complex. The school in Vērgale was founded around 1780-1790, when the innkeeper Raudīte who was also a church organist taught the young people to be confirmed. The first school building was built in 1828. The school existed in the building until October 26, 1922, afterwards it moved to Vērgale Manor House.

Tourism is considerably developed in Vērgale. There is a Santa Claus office in Ziemupe. The museum founder Alfrēds Šnipke (1932 – 2005) has made a great contribution to the history of Vērgale, as well as written the books “Vērgale Through Times” and “ Vērgale Through Times 2”.
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