Daugavpils



Daugavpils is a city with a rich history and traditions. Daugavpils is the largest city in Latgale, the second largest and most economically developed one in Latvia, and one of the first cities of the Euroregion being created.
 
The city has its unique face – interesting architecture, historical and cultural monuments, magnificent nature, but the main wealth of the city is its people. The people who are interested that our Daugavpils would always take a deserved place on the economic and political map of Latvia.
 
Visitors of the city always note a special tenderness and kindness of Daugavpils’ residents.
 
We are by right proud of Daugavpils’ residents, who glorified the name of the city in sport, culture, science, and business. Our pride is both a many-sided culture and a multinational structure of the population. All this gives special sounding and originality to Daugavpils.

History of city of Daugavpils

In history sources Daugavpils was first mentioned in 1275 when the Livonian Order built a stone castle Dinaburga at the ancient trade route, 19 km away from the present-day city. Then a town grew and developed round the castle. During military expeditions, the castle was ruined and then rebuilt again several times.

On the present-day site of the city, fortifications and the town began to develop in the 70-ies of the 16th century. However, because of constant wars the development of the town was slow. It had been occupied by Polish, Russian and Swedish troops.

In 1582 Daugavpils was granted the rights of a town. In the early 17th century Catholic missionaries - Jesuits settled on the territory of Daugavpils. The Jesuits were those who organized the first school in Latgale and arranged the first theatre performances in the town. Daugavpils became the administrative and economic center of Latgale.

In 1772 Latgale, Daugavpils including, was incorporated into the Russian Empire. In 1811 the construction of a fortress, later used as prison, was started on the site of Daugavpils. In 1812 the fortress was attacked by the Napoleon troops. The further growth of the town occurred by developing territories round the fortress and outshirts of the town as well. The name of the oldest part of the town - "Vecā forštate" has been preserved to present days. South to the fortress there developed "Lielā Forštate" (Big Outskirts) which is the central part of the present-day city and whose major dominant is Riga street.

In the second half of the 19th century Daugavpils became an important traffic hub. Daugavpils was connected with Petersburg, Riga, Warsaw, Orl, Šiauliai by a network of railway lines; the Petersburg - Warsaw highway intersected the town and there was a route of small ships to Vitebsk. Industry began to develop in the town. The water-koumiss health center in Mežciems (Poguļanka) grew very popular.

During World War I the town lay within the front-line zone and therefore suffered greatly during military operations. Factories were evacuated, the number of population decreased. By the end of Latvia’s freedom and independence fights, in January 1920, Latvian and Polish troops arrived in Daugavpils. The Latvian Republic began its busy 20 years of economic, cultural and educational development.

In 1940 the Latgale Song Festival was organized in Daugavpils. The Festival was the last biggest cultural activity in the life of the independent Latvian State. During World War II was severely damaged. The greatest part of the dwelling-houses as well as the railway station were destroyed.

Taking into account the growth of the scientific potential at Daugavpils Pedagogical Institute, the latter was granted a status of university in 1993.

The city of Daugavpils is divided into several districts: the Centre, Esplanāde, District of Chemists, Vecā forštate (Old Outskirts), Jaunā forštate (New Outskirts), Viduspoguļanka, Jaunbūve, Gajoks, Ruģeļi, Čerepova, Stropi, Judovka, Grīva, Niderkuni. The name of the city has been changed several times. In the 13th-19th centuries it was known as Dinaburga, in the 17th century, for a short while, it was renamed Borisoglebska, on the change of the 19th-20th centuries it was given a name of Dvinska, but since 1920 its name is Daugavpils.

The coat of arms of Daugavpils

The present Daugavpils coat of arms was confirmed in 1925. It has a blue background with a knights’ symbol lily, a city’s symbol fortress and a zig-zag silver line which symbolizes a river.





Daugavpils city council

Address: Krišjāņa Valdemāra ielā 1, Daugavpils, LV-5401
Fax: +371 65421941
E-mails: info@daugavpils.lv ; infodome@daugavpils.lv
Website: www.daugavpils.lv