Piejūras Stirnu buks

The Magic of Mysterious Irbene
Irbene is a village in the Ance parish of Ventspils County Municipality. It is located on the banks of the Irbe River, near the Ventspils-Kolka highway.

Irbene developed around the Soviet military's secret site "Zvjozdočka" ("Little Star"), which was used for espionage and intercepting all kinds of communications from satellites. After the Soviet army left Latvia, the site's antennas were handed over to the Latvian Academy of Sciences. The Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center was established to observe natural and artificial cosmic radio sources. Today, Irbene is home to the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center's Irbene radio telescope, while the military base buildings remain mostly uninhabited.

We will explore Ventspils Municipality's coastal magic, capturing its essence through the radio telescope, the remnants of the former military town, and the dusty paths of abandoned tank roads. We will also navigate the winding Irbe River, popular among canoeists, and the adjacent area, which is unique for its pristine forest masses, dune formations, the system of old Irbe riverbeds, and the elongated Dižpurvs bog parallel to the coast.

Participants on longer trails will also enjoy part of the Coastal Trail (Jūrtaka) through the Oviši Nature Reserve, where the characteristic coastal landscape consists of wide, sandy beaches and dunes. Here, natural materials like pebbles and sand create large, natural mosaics. In Lūžņa, interest is drawn to objects of military heritage from different times.

The trails will lead you into the nature reserves "Ance Swamps and Forests" and "Oviši." Remember, being here is a privilege!

Stay on the marked paths, respect the environment, and adhere to the rules that help preserve the surrounding beauty.