Vandzene Rural Territory
Population: 1945
Area: 145.9 km²
Density: 13.9 per 1km²
Administration of Vandzene Rural Territory:
„Pagastmāja”, Vandzene, Vandzene Rural Territory, Talsi Municipality, LV-3281
Phone: 632 25473; Fax: 632 25467, Email: vandzene.parvalde@talsi.lv
Chairperson of Administration of Vandzene Rural Territory: Iveta Jansone
Vandzene is bordering the seaside lowland and highlands of Northern Courland. The centre of Vandzene used to be called Krepliņi. The research of linguistics professor Jānis Endzelīns shows that place-name Vandzene comes from Old Prussian name Wangus which means thinned oak trees and Old Lithuanian word vanga with meaning field.
You can find a lot of oaks in Vandzene in nature as well as in former emblem of Vandzene collective farm. There were much more oaks until 17th century.
Vandzene Rural Territory was created in 1893, when Okte, Garlene, Iģene and Sārcene Parishes were united. In 1945 Vandzene, Dārte and Okete Villages were created. In 1951 Dārte Village was added to Vandzene Village, in 1954 Nogale Village was added, in 1961 territory of Mērsrags Village Lenin’s collective farm became part of the village and in 1974 part of Laidze Village also was added to Vandzene Village. In 1975 part of Lauciene Village was added to the rural territory. As a result of all administrative changes parts of Laidze and Upesgrīva Rural Territories were incorporated in Vandzene Rural Territory, but small parts of Vandzene Parish Parish (Garlene and Okete Villages) were added to Lauciene Rural Territory. In 1990 Vandzene Rural Territory was renewed. In 1947 Vandzene Rural Territory became the first rural territory were process of collectivization was completed. Vandzene Manor, an architectural monument of national importance, in historical records is mentioned for the first time in border treaty between Duchy of Courland and Semigalia and Bishopric of Piltene in year 1666.
In the manor today you can find Vandzene Elementary School. In the territory of Vandzene Rural Territory you also can find kindergarten “Zīlīte” and three libraries. An active cultural life takes place in People’s House of Vandzene Rural Territory. Inhabitants of the rural territory have the opportunity to take part in various hobby groups.
In the rural territory lies one of the oldest wooden buildings in Latvia – Iģene Church built in 1757. Tourists are very interested in the original log building with wooden plank sheathing. Worship services are still held in this church.
Churches of Dārte and Uguņciems are also open in Vandzene Rural Territory. Tourists can find interesting exhibitions in hotel “Rezidence” and in museum of writer Vilis Veldre. Vandzene stone is the third largest stone in Latvia. In the rural territory deposits of peat, boulders, sand and gravel can be found. Farmsteads of Vandzene Rural Territory have always had strong traditions of field husbandry. 40.5% of Vandzene Rural Territory can be used as agricultural land from which 79.3% is drained land. Main agricultural sectors of Vandzene Rural Territory are crop farming, dairy farming and non-traditional agriculture. There are 5 farms who manage 250-300 hectares large land plots and 25 farms who manage up to 100 hectares large land plots. Largest farmsteads are “Purgaiļi”, “Četri”, “Jaunziliņi”, “Jaunkrātiņi”, “Līvas”, “Oši” and “Laņģi”. Main sectors of non-traditional agriculture are fruit growing, beekeeping, goat farming, field vegetable and berry farming. Farmers of Vandzene Rural Territory have joined largest agricultural non-governmental organizations in Latvia – Farmers Parliament, Latvian Farmers Federation, and Latvian Farmers Union. The main exports of Vandzene Rural Territory are canned fish, timber and furniture.
