Every place has its own special colors and fragrances, even winds. Roja is characterized by navy blue, sand white, and pine dark green tones. Th ere is always something felt from the primordial freedom, freshness of water, and smell of dried fish in the air of the town, but the wind, making its way by the stony pier into the narrow little streets, is joyful and ready to greet every newcomer.

Th is is Roja an ancient town, since it was mentioned for the first time in 1387, but at the same time very modern and always ready for new challenges. Responding to the call of Krijānis Valdemārs, the founder of the first Latvian naval school Latvians, go sail and save the gold, from 1862 to 1913, 115 sailing ships were built on the seacoast of Roja, creating Roja as a real haven the center of coastal sailing and trading. Today the sailing traditions are still alive here, however Roja has many things to offer travellers and holidaymakers as well.

The haven, stony piers, quiet sandy beaches and seashores, rare species of birds, unique nature in Kaltene and cultural and historical heritage of the area, as well as the special aura of shipbuilding and fi shing, which is felt almost everywhere these are the values that help to istinguish Roja on the shore of the Baltic Sea.

The 2-3 day long routes in Roja and its surroundings are easy to combine with each other, or with tourist routes of Kurzeme Region that include Talsi, the town of nine hills, ancient Kuldīa, and modern Ventspils, as well as a visit to the unique Cape of Kolka.

By the way, the name Roja comes from the river which flows through the parish, because in the language of the Livs the word roja means grass, but in Finnish and Estonian languages it means sediments brought up from the bottom of river by fl ood.

As the locals say, the river water becomes coffeecolored after the rain. Is it really so? You can figure it out only by seeing it for yourself...