Cat Contour Route on the Streets of Saldus

Saldus is a city right in the middle on the way from Riga to Liepāja. It is often referred to as “the Bowl of Courland”, because of the famous quote by the Latvian poet and writer Māris Čaklais: “A drop of honey in the bowl of Courland” – since the city looks like a crater, when looking at it from a high point. Its name is also often associated with “sweet”, as “salds” means “sweet” in English.

Inspired by the main character of the animated film the Flow, the sweet city Saldus invites you to take a walk along the Cat Contour Route, tracing a cat-shaped path through the city streets.

This route is 4 km long, making it perfect for a calm walk or stroll.

What to see in Saldus:

Janis Rozentāls Saldus History and Art Museum

Museum offers a rich exhibition of art and history, providing an inclusive environment to explore the cultural heritage of Saldus and artist’s works. The museum is partly accessible, having an adapted restroom, but only the 1st floor is accessible for people with mobility impairments. The tactile reproduction of the artist’s wife’s Elli Forsell portrait is located on the 2nd floor.

Tactiles on the Ciecere Nature path

There are 4 tactile reproductions of J. Rozentāls’ paintings – After the Service (leaving the church), In the Garden of Saldus, The Cabman, and The Faun Family that allow visitors to experience art through touch. These can be found in from of the St. John’s Lutheran Church and in three locations along the Ciecere Nature path: near the children’s playground, by the paved riverside section (near the bridge), and in Kalnsēta Park close to the accessible parking area. Tactile solutions make art more inclusive and enjoyable for everyone!

Māris Čaklais square and fountain “Honey drop”

Kalpaks square – the main square in the centre of the city.

Market square – make sure to visit the Saldus candy producer “Saldus Gotiņa” shop in the market pavilion and buy some traditional Saldus sweets.

On your way, you can also slightly prolong the route and visit Lake Ciecere and Saldus city letters (on the Biļļu hill – called also “the end of the world”).

Note that full cat contour line can be accomplished by walking, as it includes path stretches not accessible by car.

Download GPX file

To open the GPX file on your mobile phone or computer, you need an application that supports GPX files, such as Wikiloc, Outdooractive, ViewRanger, OS Maps, LVM GEO, or any other map or travel app.