Balgale Rural Territory
Density: 14 per 1 km²
Area: 74.8 km²
Administration of Balgale Rural Territory: “Gratiņi” Dursupe, Balgale Rural Territory, Talsi Municipality. LV – 3287 Phone/Fax: 63254790, Email: balgale.parvalde@talsi.lv
Balgale Rural Territory borders with Rural Territories of Strazde, Lauciene, Zantene and Kandava Municipality. Rural Territory is located at the side of Talsi Hillock’s highlands of Northern Courland. In the east lies Engure Plain with its marvellous terrain that consists of gently sloping valleys, hilly areas and streamlets.
1st category road Sloka-Talsi crosses Balgale Rural Territory, as well as, 2nd category roads Balgale-Zentene, Dižsēņi-Raudziņi etc., and other roads of local importance.
All territory’s institutions, family physicians Māra Pinkule practice just as many stores are located in the centre of Balgale Rural Territory - Dursupe, which is the most populous place in the rural territory.
Dursupe as well as Balgale and Galtene, which are the other most populous places in the rural territory, used to be manor centres.
Oldest historical source of information available on Dursupe is a feudal contract from 1390. While celebrating the 600th anniversary a monumental stone was erected in Dursupe (located on a hill when entering Dursupe). From Dursupe feudal lords von Oldenbockum’s family comes a former governor of Tobago - Dietrich von Oldenbockum. Dursupe Manor now is a private property and is under reconstruction.
Balgale Manor was bought by Karl Christophorus von Lieven in 1804. Today, buildings from former Balgale Manor are divided in number of private properties. Carl Christophorus von Lieven founded Terbatu (Tartu) Teachers Seminar and from 1828 till 1833 was Imperial Minister of Education of Russian Empire. At his command in 1809 Balgale Church was built with 300 seats. Next to the church lies Karl Christophorus von Lieven’s grave as well as his families vault. In 1995 an altarpiece made by local born textile artist Aija Baumane was ordained in Balgale Church.
Educational institutions in Balgale Rural Terittory are – Dursupe Elementary School with nine grades and 106 school-children, as well as kindergarten “Lācēns” with 34 children.
Also People’s House and a library can be found in Balgale. In 2001 People’s House was relocated from Dursupe Manor to parish’s administrative building in Grantiņi. In 2003 there were seven amateur performance groups with 115 participants. Beginning of the library dates back to Zentene and Dursupe educational society “Drosme” in 1932. Balgale Library celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2002. Also from 2002 Internet services are available for anyone.
At Old Valley of Oksle River’s slope you can find Sacred Spring, who swirls in a 2x2 meters large white sand pit and it runs out of an average 20 litres per minute. From ancient times healing properties have been attributed to the water and it is said that if children drink it on regular basis they will grow healthy and won’t get sick. If we would try to obtain the water according to ancient tales it would be much more difficult, because it is said that you must go to the spring alone at midnight and scoop only from places were water whiffles, because only then it will be proper and with its therapeutic properties.
There are about 20 farms who are engaged in agricultural production in Balgale Rural Territory. Largest one is “Amatas” Ltd who manages 1160 hectares of agricultural land, with 85 horses, 75 cows and 60 young stocks. They cultivate crops, rape, forage crops, manage sawmill and offer horse riding. There are several other sawmills that operate in Balgale Rural Territory. Individual enterprise “B plus B” is a successful joinery company who manufactures customised goods.
Sports Day of Balgale Rural Territory, which is on the first Saturday of July each year, brings together young, old, as well as many guests to enjoy many hours of interesting activities.
