Daugavpils

Daugavpils is a city that makes you feel at home

“Ancient stones of the fortress and splendid art nouveau in the heart of the city, low-rise wooden houses with finely carved bluish-grey shutters and geraniums on the windowsills in the part of the city called Forstadt – create the peculiar feeling of being at home, being safe. It accompanies all those, who have been born here or have lived here for some period of time”, writes poetess Anna Rancāne.

Daugava means so much.

Daugavpils is rich in waters, rich in languages, culture, denominations, and fates, it is a city where multi-ethnical and multicultural environment has been developed since ancient times.

Daugavpils – multicultural, multi-ethnical and multifunctional city, cross-border centre of services and economic development.

The aims which Daugavpils strives to achieve in the future:

-high quality of life and environment, high level of tolerance;
-to become an accessible international centre of services and economic development;
– to become a cross-border centre of culture, science and education.

SIGHTSEEING

Daugavpils delights the inhabitants and visitors of the city with many cultural and historical objects, such as Daugavpils Fortress, the historical centre of the city, the old wooden buildings in Vecā Forštadte (Old Forstadt) and the Church Hill in Jaunbūve district.

Inseparable treasures of the city, which occupy a large part of the city’s territory, are available for sightseeing and relaxation: forests (1630.5 ha, 7 forest parks) and public waters – 12 lakes (Lielais Stropu; Mazais Stropu; Šūņu; Lielais Trijkārtu; Mazais Trijkārtu, Zirgezers, Plotičku, Stropaka; Gubiščes; Bezdonkas; Torfjankas; Porohovkas); two artificial reservoirs (Esplanādes; Ruģeļu);

three ponds (Ruģeļu, Vītolu street, Valkas street), 5 rivers (Daugava, Laucesa, Meļņička; Čornaja; Šūņupe), Stropu canal, Mežciems water spring.

There are many picturesque places in the territory of the city – riverbanks and lakeshores, forests, forming the background of buildings, as well as specially landscaped territories – parks and squares.

ST. PETER’S IN CHAINS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

DAUGAVPILS FORTRESS

LATGALE ZOO

St. Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Chapel — ST. ALEXANDER NEVSKY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHAPEL

LATVIAN HOUSE

You can explore the handicrafts, rustic tools, household items of Daugavpils district of 19 and early 20 centuries, look at weaving and spinning, as well as look at an apartment of Daugavpils resident of the prosperous middle class of the 20 century. Knowledgeable storytellers will meet you.

ANDREJS PUMPURS PUBLIC GARDEN

DAUGAVPILS REGIONAL STUDIES AND ART MUSEUM

DUBROVIN PARK

Located between Rigas and Parades Streets. The development of the park was actively supported by Pavel Dubrovin (1839–1890), who was the city mayor from 1876 to 1890. The park was named after its creator, and not far from the fountain there is a monument to P. Dubrovin – a bronze figure, about two metres tall (by A. Taratynov, 2007). In the sultry heat of summer nothing is more pleasant than to feel the refreshing coolness of the fountain, while in the evenings one can admire a fantastic play of water and light.

CHURCH HILL

SHMAKOVKA MUSEUM

The largest and most contemporary Shmakovka Museum in Latvia. The museum offers modern and attractive story about the oldest Latgalian alcoholic beverage refined in the course of many centuries – shmakovka, which is an integral part of the culinary heritage. It is possible to learnthe process of shmakovka production with the help of the latest technologies. Everyone can see genuine and impressive production equipment. Souvenirs and shmakovka tastings are available for visitors.