The founding date of Daugavpils, located in the Latgale region of Latvia, is 1275. It originates from the Dinaburg Fortress, erected by the Livonian Order. Subsequently, the city belonged to Poles, Russians, Lithuanians. Such interlacing of cultures has added a kind of charm to Daugavpils. He managed to preserve a number of cultural and historical monuments. The most significant are the Daugavpils Fortress and the only place in Europe - the Church Hill, where ancient temples of 4 confessions coexist.
The pride of Daugavpils is the shot-casting plant with the oldest shot-casting tower in Europe and still operating. Many historical buildings and monuments are located along the 200-year-old Rigas pedestrian street. Interesting archaeological sites have been preserved in the natural park on the banks of the Daugava River.
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What to see and where to go in Daugavpils?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Daugavpils fortress
The only defense complex in Northern Europe, erected at the beginning of the 19th century and has survived to this day practically unchanged. The construction began in 1810, the project was developed by the best architects of Russia. Occupies an area of 150 hectares, consists of 8 bastions, 6 counter-guards and ravelins, a moat, a rampart, residential buildings and a ceremonial square. The largest colony of bats in the country lives within the walls of the fortress; a specially created Center is dedicated to them.
Mark Rothko Art Center
Located on the territory of the Daugavpils Fortress, in the Arsenal building. Here are the originals of paintings by M. Rothko - the founder of the innovative movement of abstract expressionism. He is considered one of the most expensive and sought-after contemporary artists. A separate exposition tells about the life and creative path of the master. From time to time, the art center displays works by other artists made in different techniques, as well as exhibitions of cultural and historical content.
House of Unity
A grandiose multifunctional building on one of the central streets was erected in 1936-37. At that time it was the largest building in the Baltics. Its external appearance is distinguished by severity and simplicity, and its internal content is striking in its variety. It houses a number of city institutions - a theater, a library, a bank, a tourist information center, a bookstore, a restaurant, and the Latvian Culture Center. Previously, it housed a swimming pool, printing house, hotel and department store.
Borisoglebsky Cathedral
The main Orthodox church in the city is the largest and most beautiful in Latvia. It was erected at the beginning of the last century on the site of the old garrison church. Made in neo-Russian style. It can accommodate up to 5 thousand parishioners. Height - 56 meters. There is a bell tower with 4 bells. The temple is crowned with 10 tower gilded domes. The interior space is decorated with a three-tiered iconostasis made of polished oak. His icons are copies of V. Vasnetsov's works kept in the Kiev Vladimir Cathedral.
Martin Luther Church
Red brick building in the neo-gothic style. It has an asymmetrical layout, the height of the only side tower is 52 meters. A functioning Evangelical Lutheran church. It was built in 1893. Over its more than a century history, it has repeatedly been subjected to significant destruction, looting and fires. In Soviet times, it was used as a granary, warehouse, boxing school. Only in the 90s it was finally restored and transferred to the Lutheran community of Daugavpils.
Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
The snow-white temple was founded in 1902, and 3 years later it was consecrated. Made in the style of the Latgalian Baroque. The facade is decorated with two tall towers with crosses and a sculpture of the Mother of God. In the 80s, one of the towers suffered from strong winds and was subsequently restored. The church is famous for its ancient organ, which was created by the Polish master A. Homan and installed in 1908. In 1984, the instrument was restored. It is ranked among the monuments of national importance.
Church of St. Peter in Chains
The oldest Catholic church in the city, still functioning today. Located in the central part of the city. Built in 1845-48. It originally had a square tower. In the 20-30s of the last century, the building was rebuilt, the facade was equipped with a colonnade and a large dome was erected. The church began to resemble, in part, the cathedral of the same name in the Vatican. In the 70s, the building was under threat of demolition. The Pope himself helped to defend it, to whom the believers of Daugavpils sent a letter.
Temple-chapel of Alexander Nevsky
This is a small memorial building in A. Pumpur square. It was erected on the site of the main Orthodox Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky, founded in 1864. In the 60s of the last century, it was closed and subsequently blown up. The chapel has a symbolic purpose - to remind of the destroyed temple. It was consecrated in 2003. It has a belfry with a bell weighing 325 kg. There is a small altar with a throne inside the chapel. Divine services are often held here.
Museum of local lore and art
One of the largest and oldest institutions dedicated to the history of Latgale region. The museum was founded in 1938. Its funds number about 90 thousand exhibits dedicated to the nature of the region, ethnography, archeology, archival documents, bonistics, culture and art. There is an art hall of the famous local painter L. Baulin. The Art Nouveau museum building was erected in 1883 and declared an architectural monument.
Shmakovka museum
Shmakovka is called an ancient Latgalian strong drink or, simply, moonshine. The original modern museum opened in 2016 in one of the premises of the House of Unity. Its expositions, including virtual ones, introduce the rich history and traditions of home brewing in Latgale, the types of raw materials, the production process and the influence of the drink on health. The museum holds master classes on making shmakovka and tasting several of its varieties.
Museum of military equipment
This is the only large collection of armored vehicles in the Baltic countries. The museum is located in the village of Svente, in a hangar on the territory of the private estate Jaunsventes. There are self-propelled artillery installations, the famous T-34, IS-2 and IS-3 tanks, German armored personnel carriers and self-propelled guns, Gaz and Willis off-road vehicles, howitzers and cannons of Polish and Soviet production, modern armored personnel carriers. All equipment has been restored and is in excellent condition, most of the cars are on the move.
Shot Foundry
One of the oldest ammunition factories in Europe. It was founded in 1884 and continues to function today. It produces cartridges, shot, buckshot, various types of bullets, lead seals, fish hooks, etc. A museum has been set up at the plant. During the excursion, you can see the equipment of the 19th century and modern structures, a shot-casting shop, a unique tower for casting lead 37 m high. The products of the plant can be tested in a shooting range.
Latgale Zoo
He began with a small zoological circle, created in 1987 in the basement of the pedagogical institute. Today it is a small island of the real jungle near the city center, where exotic animals and fish live. Among them are crocodiles, snakes, turtles, piranhas, iguanas, surricats, possums, guinea pigs, monkeys.The plans for the zoo are to create a walking trail with observation towers around the nearby bog, where a colony of gulls nests.
Dubrovinsky park
It was founded at the end of the 19th century by the mayor Pavel Dubrovin. For his personal funds, he bought a wetland in the center of Daugavpils, drained it, planted it with trees and presented it to the townspeople. As a sign of respect, a monument to the great figure was erected in the park. Other notable objects of the green oasis include a color-lit fountain, a pond, and a war memorial. The park is quiet, well-groomed, there are many benches for rest, lanterns, flower arrangements.
Daugavas Loki Natural Park
It was organized in 1990 on both sides of the Daugava River. In connection with this event, the construction of the hydroelectric power station was stopped. Area - 120 km2... It is famous for the largest cliff in Latvia - Verversky, which is 42 meters high and 400 meters wide. There are many streams in the park. The local flora is represented by 700 species of vegetation. A third of the area is covered with forests. Among the valuable archaeological sites are the Rozaliski castle, Sikelskiy, Yusefovskiy parishes, Vecrachinskiy and Markovo settlements and others.
