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is seen as the newest village along the Livonian coastline. It was established during the 17th century. Košrags had 78 residents in 1826. The first reading school for Livonian children in the Dundaga seashore villages was opened at the Žoki homestead in 1832. One of the teachers was Nika Polmanis, who was the first Livonian to have completed a professional education. He also translated the Gospel of Matthew into the Eastern Livonian dialect. Košrags had a windmill, water mill and boat building facility. During the spring, job seekers from Saaremaa stopped here. A port was installed in 1932, and a breakwater to collect sea fertiliser followed in 1938. During the 1930s, Košrags was regularly visited by Finnish and Estonian linguists to study the folklore of the Livonians. The Norpiedagi homestead was built by Livonian activist Didriķis Volganskis (1884-1968). His son, Livonian cultural worker and pastor (in Finland) Edgars Vālgamā (Volganskis, 1912-2003) was born there. He translated the Andrejs Pumpurs epic "Lāčplēsis" into Finnish. Košrags today is a cultural monument of national importance. |
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The ruins of the Koknese Castle are found where the Daugava and Pērse rivers flow together. The castle, which is on a floodplain, was built for the bishopric of Rīga in 1209, and it replaced an ancient Latvian castle that was made of wood. The castle was blown up by Saxon forces in 1701. A visitors centre is near the ruins, and there you can carve a Medieval coin or rent a boat to sail down the Daugava. Make sure to stroll through the Koknese park, which is alongside the ruins. |
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was first recorded in documents in 1582. The shallow water around the village contains many sunken ships. In 1826, Pitrags had 11 farms and 190 residents. A saloon was opened in the mid-19th century. In 1937, the village had 12 old farms and 38 fishing operations (mostly new farms). There were several fish processing plants in the village. One of the local residents was the distinguished Livonian language storyteller Marija Šaltjāre (Bertholde, 1860-1930). She shared more than 200 fairy tales and legends, more than 90 songs and games, etc. The Pitrags Baptist Prayer House was built in 1902. It was burned down during World War I, rebuilt in 1925, and renovated in the late 20th century. The Krogi homestead in the centre of Pitrags has a collection of 27 old types of Livonian coastline fencing. The owner also offers a chance to help with the smoking of fish and then to taste the resulting product. |
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A small town on the way from Riga to Bauska. Town's name is first mentioned in written sources in 1492. Here you can see Lutheran Church and former Manor Park |
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The central part of the town of Krāslava is an historical monument because its low-story and beautiful wooden buildings. The best views of the historical centre relate to the carp park near the Adamova trail, the Karņicskis hill, the bridge across the Daugava (Prospekta Street), and the Priedaine viewing tower on the left bank of the Daugava River. |
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"The heart of Latgale", where during the 9th – 12th century stood a fortified Latgalian castle. In 1285 Livonian Order began the construction of stone castle instead of Latgalian castle. After the collapse of Livonia (Rezekne in the composition of Poland) the city languished. Economic life in Rezekne restored in the second half of the 18th century. After the construction of St. Petersburg – Warsaw highway (1836) and railway (1861), Rezekne became a holiday destination for holidaymakers from St. Petersburg. During the World War II, buildings of the city significantly suffered. Today the town is an important economic and cultural centre of Latgale region. |
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Every traveller in Latvia relates the name of Edole to Edole Castle. The beginning of it dates back to the middle of the 13th century, but the outbuildings of it were constructed in the 16th and 19th centuries, when patio was formed. During reconstruction of the castle implemented in the 30ies of the 19th century the facades of the castle acquired their current – Neo-Gothic appearance. From the16th century until 1920ies Edole Castle was located within the property of a baron family. In 1905 during rebellions it was burnt down, but in 1907 it was reconstructed. Many legends and ghost stories are told about Edole Castle. |
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This is an urban construction monument that was created between the 17th and 19th century, and it is of national importance. The street layout around Jelgavas and Rātūža streets forms closed blocks of buildings. There are Lutheran, Catholic, Orthodox and Baptist churches in Jaunjelgava. One of the most outstanding architectural monuments is City Hall, which was built in 1912 and features Art Nouveau forms. None of the city’s five synagogues has survived. The historical centre of Jaunjelgava features a promenade that runs along the banks of the Daugava River. This is a popular place for strolls, leisure and swimming. |
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Jurmala town (the second largest in Latvia) was founded in 1959, by combining Kemeri and Sloka towns in the Riga city Jurmala district. It stretches 32 km along the coastal line of Gulf of Riga. Jurmala resort once was one of the most important objects of this type in the Northern Europe. This was facilitated by the development of local and interstate transport and traffic (coaches, steamers, train). The first guests was accommodated in Dubulti, where in 1834 the first hotel was built, but in 1847 - The first wellness centre. In the 19th the first medical institution launched. Starting from 1834 the rapid construction of summer cottages began. Development of the resort was ended by the World War I. After the war the number of resort vacationers boomed from 12 thousand (in 1920) to 32 thousand (in 1935). Kemeri resort developed along with Jurmala, which received a massive of vacationers' amount during the Soviet period. |
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The historical centre of Talsi, which is known as the town of nine hillocks. The historical construction around Baznīckalns hill, Lake Talsi and Lake Vilkmuiža mostly dates back to the 19th century. Lielā Street is particularly beautiful with its low-rise buildings (two or three floors and ridged roofs). There are beautiful views from the area around Lake Talsi and Ķēniņkalns hill. |
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Eine Floßhauptstadt Lettlands mit dem jährlichen Flößerfest im Mai. |
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(formerly Pize and Pizā in Livonian). The current name of the village comes from a lighthouse (Mihailovskii majak) that was built during the age of the Russian Empire and named for the nephew of Tsar Alexander II. The lighthouse that is there now is the third one to be built on the site. It was built in 1957 and is the highest lighthouse in Latvia (57 m, can only be viewed from the outside). The Lutheran church in Mikeļtornis was built in 1893, and nearby is the Pize Saloon (1857), which is terrible condition. The saloon has a typical design from the 19th century and is the only venue of its type on the Livonian coastline. The first Livonian cultural activist, Jānis Princis (1796-1868), was born in Miķeļtornis, and he and son Jānis translated the Gospel of Matthew into the Western Livonian language. The two of them also wrote a collection of poetry, "Holy Songs and Prayers for Sailors." The only poetry book in Latvia prior to that was published by Blind Indriķis. A student of Vilhelms Purvītis, Livonian painter Andrejs Šulcs (1910-2006), was born at the Olmaņi homestead in Miķeļtornis. A monument to Livonian poets was installed at the local cemetery in 1978 and was the first monument dedicated to Livonians. There are plans to open an environmental object by artist Ģirts Burvis, "Century of Sailing Ships", in 2019. |
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Ancient legends say that ship sank in the sea near the old cemetery during a storm and during a worship service. The pastor and members of the congregation volunteered to use a rowboat to save the crew of the ship. Some of the men were rescued, while others were washed ashore. In honour of this tragic, but also happy solution, the captain called the place Feliksberga, or the Lucky Shore. Later it became known as Pilsberga, and it was renamed Jūrkalne only in 1925. |
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Vom 18. Jh wurde die Stadt ein russischer Marinestützpunkt. Von 1962 bis 1994 war Paldiski ein Übungszentrum für atomare U-Boote der Sowjetischen Marine mit zwei auf dem Festland befindlichen Kernreaktoren (ung. 16.000 Beschäftigte) und eine "geschlossene Stadt". |
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Construction of the Sigulda castle was begun by the Order of Brethren of Swords in 1207, but in 1236 it was rebuilt for the needs of the Livonian Order. The building suffered much damage during wars in the latter half of the 16th century and the early part of the 17th century. It was burned down during the Great Northern War and was not restored. Visible today is the south-western wing of the castle’s convent building and the main gate tower, behind which is the internal forecastle with an open-air stage that offers an impressive view of the ancient Gauja River valley. The new Sigulda castle was built between 1878 and 1881, and it was owned by Count Kropotkin. From 1923 until 1940, the castle housed a centre for writers, and during the Soviet Union it was a hospital for cardiology patients. Since 2003, the Sigulda Administrative District Council has been located here. The buildings that have been preserved include a wooden home (mid-19th century), where the Kropotkin family used to live, a granary (late 18th or early 19th century), the home of the gardener (19th century) and a brick wall (19th century). If we go to the north-eastern direction, we will find the Vējupīte valley less than two kilometres away. It includes the shallow (3.6 m) but high (6.1 m) Pēteris cave and the deep Pūču valley with the little Kraukļupīte River. At the place where the two valleys come together we find the Satezele castle hill (its flat surface is 90 x 75 m), where, in the early 13th century, the oak castle of the ruler of Livonian lands, Dabrelis, was once found. Nearby is the Kraukļu valley, with 11 m sandstone walls and a cave that is 5.2 m deep. Nearby is the Paradise (Painter) hill, which offers a lovely landscape that has been painted and photographed since ancient times. There is a Ferris wheel in the western part of Sigulda that is open during the summer, as well as an aerial tram that is the only transport vehicle of its type in the Baltic States and was installed in 1969. The cable that carries the tram is 1,060 metres long and links the shores of the ancient Gauja River valley between Sigulda and Krimulda. The cable is approximately 40 metres above the Gauja. The south-western part of Sigulda features the mighty Beite cliff which is split by a deep stream valley. To the west of the cliff is the Emperor’s View viewing area that is 67 m above the Gauja and offers a good view of Krimulda and the Turaida Castle. A viewing area was established here in 1862, when Tsar Alexander II of Russia visited Sigulda. The wooden Emperor’s chair is to the east of the viewing area. The Turaida Museum Reserve is in the place where the shore is split by deep valleys carved out by streams. It features several outstanding monuments that are as much as 1,000 years old. Of note are the Turaida Estate (21 buildings), the grave of the Rose of Turaida, the Turaida Lutheran Church (1750), which is one of the oldest wooden churches in Latvia) and the Turaida Castle. Folksong hill, which is nearby, is used for various thematic events. |
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This is an ancient populated area. There were 50 homesteads here during the 1930s, with only ten remaining in 1990. The Livonian scholar and entomologist Kārlis Princis (1893-1978) was born in Oviši. In 1944, he emigrated to Sweden. The Oviši lighthouse (1814) is 38 metres high and is the oldest functioning lighthouse in Latvia. There are lovely views from the top of the lighthouse. The building in which employees of the lighthouse used to live was erected in 1905 and has been preserved. A narrow-gauge train station was in the building at one time. The Oviši Lighthouse Museum is nearby, as is the metal Tree of Austra. Opposite Cape Oviši is a great place for bird watching. |
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Cesvaine was first mentioned in written sources in 1209. For each traveller in Latvia, the town is associated with the family of Baron Woolf, who bought the Cesvaine estate in 1815. Cesvaine experienced the economic boom after establishment of Plavinas Gulbene railway. Town suffered significantly during the World War II. At the end of 2002, the Cesvaine Castle was struck by the tragedy - a fire, which damaged most of the castle. Cesvaine Castle is "recovering" by means of large public, state and local government support and still keeps the status as a significant tourism attraction in a scale of Vidzeme and Latvia. |
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Known as Alšvanga in the past, this place was mentioned for the first time in 1231 in an agreement that was signed between the deputy legate of the pope in Rome and the Courlandian tribes of the region. The Livonian Order ruled the territory until 1561, and from 1573 until 1738 the order’s castle belonged to the von Schwerin dynasty from Pomerania. It during the rule of this aristocratic family that a stone church was built in honour of Archangel Michael, and local residents began to convert to Catholicism. Alsunga became the Catholic centre for all of Kurzeme, and local residents became known as the Suiti (from the Schwerin suite). For nearly 400 years, Alsunga has been the historical centre of the Suiti territory. This is Latvia’s most conservative region and is widely known with unusual songs, colourful folk costumes and various folk traditions and beliefs. The Suiti have their own dialect, foods and many other things that have been long since abandoned or forgotten elsewhere in Latvia. The religious has commingled with the folk here in one unique whole. The Alsunga District covers 191 km2 and has some 1,500 residents. |
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Maza apdzīvota vieta ar dažām viensētām uz pussalas (salos tulkojumā no lietuviešu valodas nozīmē „sala") starp vairākiem ezeriem. Salos II ir viens no sešiem Augštaitijas nacionālā parka etnogrāfiskajiem ciemiem. Ciems patiks tiem, kas meklē ļoti nomaļas vietas ar vecām guļbaļķu dzīvojamām un saimniecības ēkām. No Salos II pa sauszemes maršrutu var doties pārgājienā līdz Ladakalnim un Ginuču pilskalnam (sk. iepriekš). |
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Ģipka is a village that once was the site of the first maritime school in Kurzeme. It was opened in 1869, just a few years after a similar school in Ainaži. This was a Category 2 maritime school, which trained helmsmen for long-distance trips and captains for short-distance trips. The school was moved to Mazirbe in 1894. Before the maritime school, the building housed a different kind of school, and a second floor was added in 1867 specifically for the maritime school. Today this is a residential building. During 28 years, the school trained more than 200 professional sailors, and it was of great importance in facilitating ship building in shoreline Liv villages. (Source: Roja TIC) |
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