Information
City: DaugavpilsCountry: Latvia
Continent: Europe
Daugavpils, Latvia, Europe
Overview
Daugavpils, Latvia’s second-largest city, sits in the far southeast, just a short drive from the borders of Lithuania and Belarus where quiet pine forests line the roads.Daugavpils, with its mix of Latvian, Russian, Polish, and Jewish traditions, pulls you into Latvia’s past-where ornate churches stand beside quiet courtyards and every street corner hints at a different story.It sits on the banks of the Daugava River, where the water winds through the city and catches the light, offering quiet spots to walk and plenty of space for boating.Daugavpils sits in Latvia’s Latgale region, a place long shaped by many cultures-you might hear Latvian, Russian, and Polish spoken on the same street.Daugavpils lies about 230 kilometers (143 miles) southeast of Riga, Latvia’s capital, and just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Belarusian border.Winters bite with deep snow, while summers bring steady, mellow warmth.In winter, temperatures often sink below 0°C (32°F), snow piling thick along rooftops, while summers stay between 15°C and 25°C (59°F to 77°F), perfect for enjoying the outdoors.The land around Daugavpils has held life since prehistoric times, with traces of ancient settlements still found in the soil.In the 13th century, the Livonian Order-a powerful military and religious group-established the city, first calling it Dinaburg.In the Middle Ages, it stood as a vital fortress and bustling trade hub, its stone walls echoing with merchants’ voices.By the 17th century, under Polish and Russian sway, Daugavpils had grown into a key town of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.After Poland was partitioned in the late 18th century, the territory fell under the Russian Empire, where its influence swelled and its borders stretched far beyond the old city walls.During this period, the city bustled with trade, workshops rang with the sound of hammers, and soldiers moved through its streets.For centuries, Daugavpils was also home to a vibrant Jewish community.Before World War II, Jews formed a vibrant part of the city’s population, filling its markets with lively chatter and shaping both its culture and economy.Many buildings from that time still rise above the streets, their brickwork worn smooth by decades of wind and rain, but the Jewish community was devastated in the Holocaust.After the war, Daugavpils fell under Soviet rule.During this time, it was both a bustling industrial hub and a key military base, with factory whistles echoing through the air.Soviet influence still lingers in the city’s streets, visible in the stark apartment blocks and broad, orderly boulevards.Among its standout sights is the Daugavpils Fortress, a sprawling 19th-century military stronghold built by the Russian Empire.This fortress stands among the best-preserved of its kind in Europe, its stone walls still sharp-edged against the sky.The fortress holds several bastions, gates, and sturdy defensive walls, some now open for visitors to wander.Inside, you can step into the Daugavpils Regional and Art Museum, where displays tell the city’s story through worn photographs, folk costumes, and paintings.Nearby stands the Saints Boris and Gleb Cathedral, a striking 19th‑century Russian Orthodox church built in the graceful curves and domes of Byzantine Revival style.The cathedral’s walls glow with mosaics that catch the light, its carved wood panels draw the eye, and its vast interior feels almost endless, marking it as both a spiritual heart and an architectural treasure.Daugavpils, meanwhile, is where the renowned abstract painter Mark Rothko was born.At the Mark Rothko Art Centre, you can trace his life through luminous fields of color and see his works alongside changing exhibitions of contemporary art.Set inside the old Daugavpils Fortress, the center stands as one of the city’s key cultural landmarks, drawing art lovers from across the globe to its echoing halls.Just a short walk away, the Daugavpils Railway Station-one of Latvia’s oldest-still carries the weight of its long, storied past.It went up in the late 1800s and once bustled with merchants and travelers, the air thick with the smell of coal smoke.The station and its quiet streets still carry the charm of a bygone era, making it a must-see for anyone drawn to railway history, while the Daugavpils Regional and Art Museum-tucked inside the old fortress-showcases exhibits on local history, art, and archaeology.You’ll find everything from ancient artifacts to modern Latvian art here, including a striking set of Mark Rothko’s paintings alongside local and regional history displays.At the Latgale Culture and History Museum, step into the region’s past through vivid exhibits on folklore, handwoven crafts, and the story of Latgale’s growth over the centuries.The museum often puts on events and hands-on workshops where visitors can try traditional Latvian crafts, like weaving with bright wool.Nearby, Paterna Hill rises with its stark Soviet-era monument honoring World War II soldiers who never came home.From here, you can take in sweeping views of the city and stand at a spot that echoes Daugavpils’ Soviet past.The Jewish Cemetery, shaded by old birch trees, and the nearby Holocaust memorial honor the once-vibrant Jewish community that shaped the city’s history.These sites stand as a quiet reminder of the city’s pain under Nazi occupation, where echoes of loss seem to cling to old brick walls.Daugavpils today is a tapestry of cultures, home to vibrant Latvian, Russian, and Polish communities.The city’s unique character grew from its multicultural roots, leaving their mark on the arches of old stone buildings, the aroma of spiced street food, and the rhythm of its celebrations.All year long, festivals fill the streets with music and color.Highlights include the Mark Rothko Art Days, honoring the painter’s legacy with vivid gallery shows, and the Daugavpils City Festival, alive with music, dancing, and the smell of fresh-baked bread.The Latgale Song Festival celebrates the region’s traditional music and dance, filling the air with fiddles and swirling skirts.Daugavpils, ringed by lush parks and nearby nature reserves, offers plenty of green spaces to wander and breathe in the pine-scented air.Esplanade Park and Višķi Nature Reserve draw visitors for relaxed walks, lazy picnics, and fresh air under the trees, while the wide, steady Daugava River invites boating, fishing, or a quiet kayak ride across its rippling surface.You can take a river cruise and watch the city glide past, with green hills stretching beyond.The same rolling countryside is perfect for hiking or cycling along quiet, winding paths.The countryside around Daugavpils rolls out in quiet fields and pine-scented groves, making it a perfect spot for hiking, cycling, or just lingering by a riverbank.You can drive there from Riga in about three hours.The city links easily by road to other Latvian towns and to nearby regions in Lithuania and Belarus.Hop on a train in Daugavpils, and you’ll find regular service to Riga and beyond, with the soft hum of the tracks carrying you through the countryside.
Landmarks in daugavpils
