500 Venti 2011, Latvia
| no number in katalog | - |
| Years of issue: | 10.2011 |
| Edition: | 1 000 000 |
| Signatures: | no signature |
| Serie: | Ventspils. Venty |
| Specimen of: | 2011 |
| Material: | Paper |
| Size (mm): | 150 x 76 |
| Printer: | Unknown printer |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Avers:
Storm cow and Ventspils Castle (Ventspils viduslaiku pils).
Storm cow: Over the waters of the Baltic Sea towards the Ventspils coast, standing in the way of strong winds, gulls bear a cow-storm ... Author Anna Heinrihsone.
Ventspils Castle (German: Windau) is located in Ventspils, Latvia. It is one of the oldest and most well-preserved Livonian Order castles remaining, in that it has retained its original layout since the XIII century. Through its 700-year history, it has been used as a fortress, residence, garrison, school, military base, and prison. In 1995, the castle was restored to its XIX-century appearance, and was converted into a museum.
Ventspils castle was built in the second half of the 13th century, and controlled by the Livonian Order until the mid-XVI century. As a part of the Duchy of Courland, the castle was the residence of the city master, but during the Polish-Swedish War it was destroyed.
After reconstruction in 1650, the chapel became a Lutheran church (1706–1835) and later a Russian Orthodox church (1845-1901), but the rest of the castle remained largely unused. In 1832 the 3rd floor was converted into a prison, which closed in 1959. After World War II, the castle was used for various administrative purposes, and occupied by the Soviet Army border patrol until the 1980s.
In 1997, the castle was restored, and in 2001 the permanent exhibition of the Ventspils museum opened in the tower. Today the castle hosts concerts and art exhibitions as well.
The original Order castle was built as a fortress, with a tower, defensive walls, and a large interior courtyard with garrisons and storehouses. At first, the tower had two stories with a weapons storeroom in the attic, but the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors were added over time. The castle was destroyed in the Polish-Swedish War, and only the freestanding tower survived.
The castle was rebuilt in the 1650s as it appears today, a Convent-type building, with four adjoining apartments surrounding a rectangular interior courtyard. In 1798 the tower roof was given a baroque-style spire, and later a lookout post was added. The interior changed somewhat in the 19th century, when many larger interior spaces were walled off into smaller chambers for the prison, and the exterior was painted. In 1997 restoration began. Today, the 1st floor and Tower remain much as they were, while the 3rd has been altered the most. Visitors can climb the tower to the 5th floor for a panoramic view of the city. 
In the summer of 2002 in the city of Ventspils the project "Cow Parade: Ventspils-2002" was implemented. On the streets, squares, parks and squares of the city of Ventspils, 26 full-size cattle sculptures made of fiberglass were on display for everyone. These sculptures were originally white in beautiful works of art were turned by famous artists and musicians from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Denmark. After the parade, a part of the cows were sold at a charity auction, and eight decorated burries remained in the city. Later, cows-giants were added to them on the embankment and on the promenade of the Southern Piers.
In 2012, noting the decade of the project "Cow Parade: Ventspils-2002", in Ventspils streets, parks and squares, there were again various participants of the "Cow Parade: Ventspils 2012" artwork - a total of 24 sculptures, which were again decorated by artists from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Azerbaijan, as well as Ventspils children, students of Ventspils University College, sportsmen and other famous residents of the city.
Ventspils Free Port is a deep-sea port on the east coast of the Baltic Sea in the city of Ventspils (Latvia). In terms of volume of cargo handled, it is the largest port in Latvia and one of the leading ports in the Baltic Sea. It does not freeze all year round.
Since 1997, there is a special economic zone, which gives enterprises the opportunity to obtain substantial tax benefits and creates favorable conditions for investment.
Revers:
Ventspils Castle.
Comments:
Over the past years, Ventspils has been and was rated as one of the most beautiful and friendly cities in Europe. In Ventspils it is easy to forget that you are actually in Latvia - the city has its own banner, the inhabitants speak their own language, have their own time period - Ventspils time.
To date, the city of Ventspils has issued its currency - venti, which has made the city more friendly, comfortable and accessible to its regular guests and other visitors.
In October 2011, for the first time, officially, one million Vents was issued in circulation. At the moment, the ventes are issued in the following six denominations: 5 vents, 10 vents, 20 vents, 50 vents, 100 vents and 500 vents. (www.ventspils.lv)
If you are interested in the question - why I decided to place Venti on my site, I will answer - I have a lot of links with Ventspils.. In one word - I'm not indifferent to it :)
I grew up in Ventspils from 1973 to 1984. In the city I visited the kindergarten "Teremok" on Vasarnichu Street, the 3rd eight-year school (up to the 5th grade). For those who know Ventspils I will say - I lived on Silu Street, which is next to Metru Street, opposite the city cemetery.
Some photos from Ventspils:
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