Dundaga region is the meeting point for two cultures: the Latvian and the Livonian, which is a branch of the Finno - Ugric nationality. The influence of these cultures can be seen in the way of life, craft and language. A specific dialect has developed here.

Seaside villages is the historic dwelling place of the Livonians. They used to inhabit a vast territory of Latvia, but the Livonian language was used the longest in the Livonian villages of North Kurzeme seaside. An active business and cultural life used to go in these villages until the 1940’s.

On our way to seaside villages we can make a stop at Šlītere Blue hill slope, which once used to be the sea coast. This is also a conditioned border between the Latvian villages on the hill - top and the Livonian ones downhill, where some buildings from the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century have still remained. After the World War II the seacoast became the Western border strictly guarded and controlled by the Soviet Union. One could get in there only having got a special pass. The half - century long regime promoted indirectly the preservation of the buildings and the fences, still the Livonian household methods were interrupted. People were forced to move to other places in search of wage labour.

Sīkrags
One of the oldest Livonian settlements mentioned as a village in 1387. A state - scale town - building monument.  "Vīnamegi" - blacksmith’s and fisherman’s farm belonging to several generations of blacksmiths. "Ķeļķi" - a house where Livonian teacher, culture executive and national poet Pēteris Dambergs was born.

Mazirbe
Mazirbe has been the largest Livonian settlement on Kurzeme seashore until the middle of the 20th century. In 1939 the Livonians built their meeting house with the help of kindred nations - Finns, Estonians and Hungarians.Mazirbe Lutheran church. State scale architecture monument. An ethnographic collection "Rāndali" has been arranged in the transformed stable building next to Mazirbe school. "Andrejsāti" - a complex of a new farm of fisherman and farmer, a cultural monument. "Brauskas" - the only well - retained farmer’s and brick - maker’s farm complex in the Livonian coastal territory.

Košrags
One of the newest Livonian villages formed in the 17th century. The first Livonian school was opened there in the 19th century. Košrags is a state - scale town - building monument standing for the list of World culture heritage. Buildings, plan of the construction, spatial layout and landscape are the subjects of protection.

Pitrags
A fishing village, an ancient boat and ship building centre. First mentioned in historical documents in the 16th century. Pitrags Baptist church - a cultural monument.

Saunags
First mentioned in history sources in 1387.

Vaide
This is the best place for setting off to Sāmsala island. "Purvziedi" - the farm of the Livonian Edgars Hausmanis. One can view the antler collection, found in the forest, there. "Lāži" - an old Livonian farm. Livonian culture executive Niks Polmanis was born there. In 1920’s there used to be a basic school, where Mārtiņš Lepste was the teacher of the Livonian language. Alfons Bertholds, a tale p teller and poet, lived there. On the seashore next to "Lāži" there used to be a ship - building site. "Ozolnieki" - remains of the new farm of fisherman and farmer. A dwelling house built in 1930; smoke houses raised from parts of boats sawed in two; Culture executive and the language expert Paulīne Kļaviņa lived there.

Kolka
The far northern settlement of Kurzeme. In Kolka Livonian information centre one can have a look at the exhibition of household items of the former seashore inhabitants. In nowadays Kolka inhabitants are still keeping up the ancient craft traditions. One can make for Kolka cape where underwater shelf stretches for 6 kilometres far in the sea. It used to be a dangerous place for the ships, until a lighthouse was built at the end of the shelf in 1884. The villages became more and more deserted. In the middle of the19th century there were counted 2324 Livonians speaking in their own language. A hundred years later, after World War II, there were 185 Livonians, but only 87 knew their native language. In the course of time the coastal inhabitants have moved to Dundaga, Ventspils, Rīga, taking along the memories, traditions and songs.

Melnsils
In ancient times on a steep bank of the river Baķupīte there stood a castle belonging to the famous pirate Trommel. The first storey of the castle was laid in red bricks, but the second was a wooden one. The plank-way led to the sea straight from the castle. In 1930’s it could still be seen under water. A tale about pirate Trommel’s daughter.