The word Grobiņa derives from Couronian language with the meaning “hornbeam forest”, and the town is associated with the settlement of Seeburg (Jūrpils), as mentioned in a chronicle of 9th century. Between the 7th and 9th centuries, around 300–500 Norsemen shared the settlement together with local Couronians. The Grobiņa Archaeological Ensemble is inscribed on the Tentative List of Latvia of UNESCO World Heritage List, and it consists of several archaeological monuments: hillfort Skābarža kalns with its settlement, and flat burial sites (Smukumi, Priediens, Atkalni), burial mound sites (Porāni). Archaeological artifacts found there are exhibited in Liepāja, Rīga, and St. Petersburg. Live History Festival SEEBURG is an annual event taking place on the last Saturday in May with ancient battle re-enactments, crafts demonstrations and boat trip with a Couronian Viking barge.
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