On the bank of the biggest river in Latvia, the Daugava River, tourists will find the second-largest city in the country – Daugavpils. Upon arrival in this settlement, many travelers notice that it still has architectural landmarks and buildings that unleash the heroic military past of the region. On top of that, Daugavpils is a large city with well-developed infrastructure and a large number of cultural and educational centers. Culture and history intricately intertwine in this city, making modern Daugavpils even more charming. Every traveler can find something suitable and exciting in this city, even if they come for a mere purpose of entertainment.
In 1577, the Russian tsar Ivan the Terrible captured the Livonian Dünaburg castle and ordered to build a new settlement on its site. This new town, Dvinsk, was continuously attracting Sweden and Poland, causing frequent armed conflicts. In the 50s of the 17th century, the Russians captured the town and renamed it as Borisoglebsk. This was not the end of fights for this region. In 1667, Poland captured the town, and Russia established its authority over the region again in 1772. For several centuries, Borisoglebsk was a fortress.
Daugavpils Fortress (also known as Dinaburg Fortress) is one of the most famous landmarks in Daugavpils. The building of this fortification started in 1810 but was fully completed only in 1878. This is a well-protected fort on the bank of the Daugava River. Nowadays, this is an important architectural landmark on the country level. Daugavpils Fortress is the only 19th-century military fortification of this type in Northern Europe that has survived in its original form without any major alterations.
The construction of the fortress features eight bastions, six ravelins and counterguards. Besides that, there are other elements of protective facilities such as redoubts, fleches, and moats. There is a strengthened bridge on the left bank of the Daugava River. Inside, the fortress looks like a typical military camp with a central square for parades and other processions. Residential and administrative buildings surround the square.
Do you enjoy looking at sculptures? In this case, don’t forget to take a look at the gorgeous monuments and statues of various animals that decorate the streets of the city. For example, there is a statue of a cat. In modern days, this statue has become very popular with both residents and guests of Daugavpils. This is a typical meeting place that is usually quite crowded. Small children are particularly in love with the statue – they enjoy petting the cat and climbing on its back. Why is there a statue of a cat in the city? There are several theories about this. Perhaps, the history of the city had many sad moments over the centuries, and the cute cat looks friendly as if it is telling that the city wants to remain friendly and peaceful.
Daugavpils is home to the oldest and biggest museum in the Latvian Republic. The Daugavpils Museum of Regional History and Arts was established in 1938. A visit to this museum is an excellent opportunity to see may different exhibitions dedicated to such sciences as archaeology, ethnography, numismatics, and bonistics. Besides that, there are several interesting exhibitions of historic photographs and documents, many of which are very old. Visitors can see what carts and arts were the most popular in Latvia in the past.
The most popular exhibitions are dedicated to the history and cultural life of the Daugavpils region. The halls dedicated to the marvelous nature of the region and its unusual flora also have many visitors. Art connoisseurs will find it interesting to visit the halls with works of Rothko and Baulin. The museum is a popular tourist destination – more than fifteen thousand people visit the venue every year in order to find out more about the rich history and culture of Daugavpils.
There are four trains that connect Riga and Daugavpils. The journey time is roughly four hours. There are also buses that depart from Riga’s bus station every two hours. The bus ride to Daugavpils will be a bit shorter – three and a half hours. Buses departing from Rēzekne and Aglona reach Daugavpils faster – in three and one and a half hours respectively. Tourists can also reach Daugavpils by train as there are trains that connect this city to Gomel, Vilnius, and Saint-Petersburg.
Sightseeing in Latvia: things to see
The majority of tourist routes in Latvia start with a visit to Riga. There’s nothing strange in that as in the capital it’s possible to see main symbols of the country and most interesting sights. The Riga Castle is one of the oldest buildings in the city. The castle was built in the 14th century and during its long history the purpose of the castle was changed several times. Today the castle is the president’s residence and location of several important museums – the Museum of Latvian History, the Museum of Foreign Art, museums of literature and music. The architectural complex named “The Three Brothers” is also a prominent landmark of Riga. These are the three buildings located on Maza Pils Street. The first building was constructed in the 15th century, and the remaining two were added a bit later. The buildings are made in same style and look quite fascinating together.
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