Daugavpils

The unique Daugavpils fortress is the biggest in Europe. Built as a fortification for the Russian Empire's western border, and consecrated by the Russian tsar Nikolai I in 1833, it can be considered the symbol of Daugavpils. In later years the tsarist, Latvian and Soviet Armies were stationed there. The fortress is now under the supervision of the local municipality and Real Estates Agency as a cultural and historical monument. It has withstood many many wars and remains virtually unchanged since its construction.

The historical centre of the city consists of 80 cultural-historical objects presents itself a specific monument of urban construction. Its street network took shape in the early 19th century. The features of the styles peculiar to this historical period have been preserved in Riga street, the main street of the city center. A characteristic feature of buildings is Classicism-style red brick houses with ornamentation of various styles. The house at 8 Riga street, which now houses the Daugavpils Local Arts and History Museum, has preserved its original architecture almost unaltered. The house was built in the second half of the 19th century. Its decoration of colorful glazed files is completely original. All entrances to the house have small glass-covered open-work metal roofs. More than a hundred years ago a park was laid out in the center of the city. The park is now called Dubrovin’s Park as it was created with great assistance and support of Pavel Dubrovin, the first head of the city. It has been a rest place popular with the townspeople for years. Between Riga and Saules streets there is Vienības nams (Unity House), designed in plain architectonic forms: prisms and cubes. The many halls and rooms of this building house a theater, the city central library, several shops and cafes. All the principal cultural activities of the city take place here. In the early 1980s Riga street, in which several buildings of historical and architectural value are situated, was one of the first cities in Latvia which was made pedestrians-only. One may be amazed by variety of architecture styles of the buildings, the red clay bricked façades of peculiar form recognized as Latgale baroque.

The church ensemble Jaunbūve, the Church Hill included churches of four confessions, contributes a lot to very special panorama of the city of Daugavpils.

Daugavpils may also be proud of its sport complex. Ice Hall and the open-air swimming pool, one of the biggest open-air swimming pools in the Baltic countries, are the real pride of the city.

Small indoor aquarium.

The museum focuses on nature, history and ethnography of the Daugavpils district.