Saulkrasti dougouts Fortification

Located in Saulkrasti, in the coastal dunes near the restaurant "Lagoon".

The Russian army fortifications were built during World War I to provide coastal defense against German army landing operations. They are part of a defensive district fortification system located near strategically important objects.

During World War I, the Russian army had created several lines of defense systems in the territory of Latvia. In cases where one of the lines was broken, the new positions and reinforcements there would prevent the German army from advancing further. One of the lines was located in a strip that began in Saulkrasti, continued in Līgatne, Nītaure and ended in Koknese, joining the first defense line that stretched along the banks of the Daugava. The goal was to fortify the area around Saulkrasti, as there were many important objects there. Several river crossings, a branched road network that led to the center of Vidzeme, as well as defense positions that adjoined the sea coast.

Today, the site is home to trenches in a beautiful seaside forest overlooking the sea. It is one of the attractions in the extensive Saulkrasti tourism offer.