In Jēkabpils municipality, closed schools become libraries, guesthouses and even a hunters' lodge

In Jēkabpils municipality, buildings that once housed schools have not been left standing empty. Instead, they have taken on a wide range of new roles, from community gathering places and guesthouses to, in one case, a hunters' lodge.

Mežzemes school now serves hunters

One of the most striking examples is the former Mežzemes school, where classes have not been held for more than three decades. Today, the historic building is used by a group of hunting enthusiasts for their own activities. Despite the change of use, the new occupants have not forgotten the site's past — they are also working to preserve the history of the former school.

Various solutions for former schools

Other schools closed in Jēkabpils municipality have similarly found new purposes. Some buildings have become venues where local residents can gather for community events, others now offer overnight accommodation, and some have been turned into libraries. As a result, most former school buildings in the municipality have avoided falling into disrepair and instead gained new functions that benefit the local community.

The optimization of school networks and the closure of small rural schools is a process that has been unfolding across Latvia for several decades, leaving municipalities with the challenge of deciding what to do with former educational buildings. The example of Jēkabpils municipality shows that many such buildings can be successfully adapted to new uses, allowing them to remain part of the local environment and its history.