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The main attractions of Daugavpils: list, photo and description. What to see in Daugavpils: an overview of the main attractions of the city of Daugavpils where

Daugavpils from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Daugavpils.

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The second largest Latvian city, Daugavpils, has been renamed four times in its history. And although its original history went from the Dinaburg fortress, which belonged to the Livonian Order, later the city passed "from hand to hand" either to the Lithuanians, then to the Poles, then to the Russians. The fusion of histories, cultures and destinies has created a special atmosphere and charm in modern city Latgale region.

Search for flights to Riga (nearest airport to Daugavpils)

How to get there

Daily from Riga to Daugavpils there are 4 trains (4 hours on the way) and 8 buses (every 2 hours, 3 hours 30 minutes on the way; www.autoosta.lv). Buses can also be reached from Rezekne (every 7 hours, 2 hours on the way) and Aglona (3 runs daily, 1 hour 30 minutes). The schedule of routes from Daugavpils can be found on the official website www.buspark.lv. Trains also run from Gomel, St. Petersburg and Vilnius (3 trains daily, 3 hours on the way).

The nearest airport is in Riga, but the Latvian authorities promise to soon open flights to Daugavpils itself.

The journey by car from Riga will take about 3 hours. There is also an international highway E262 going from Lithuania (Kaunas) to Russia.

Popular hotels in Daugavpils

Entertainment and attractions of Daugavpils

The main pearl of Daugavpils is its fortress, which today is the largest in all of Europe. This architectural structure was built at the beginning of the 19th century to strengthen the borders of the Russian Empire and has seen and survived many wars and battles in its lifetime.

All buildings in historical center The cities are classified as "Latgale baroque" - the buildings are distinguished by a peculiar shape and facades made of red brick with various elements of decoration. For example, the building of the city museum of local lore with an openwork pattern on the vault of the front doors, which was built in the 2nd half of the 19th century using multi-colored tiles. Even in the center, you can look at the church ensemble Jaunbūve on the Church Hill, consisting of an Orthodox cathedral, a Lutheran church and a Catholic church (all buildings of the late 19th - early 20th centuries). The central street of Daugavpils is Rigas, along which there are 80 architectural monuments. In the 80s of the last century, it became the first pedestrian street in Latvia. In the middle of the 20th century, the House of Unity was built between Rigas and Saules Streets, which today houses a library, theater, shops, cafes, and a bank. All major city events take place here.

For detailed information on “what to see and where to go”, as well as all the events and performances in the city, head to the center tourist information Daugavpils: Rigas street, 22a.

At the end of the 19th century, the head of the city, Pavel Dubrovin, created a park of 3 hectares in the center of Daugavpils - today this park bears the name of its founder and is a favorite vacation spot for all citizens. In the northeastern part of the city, Stropi, in the area of Lake Lielais Stropu, there is a popular recreational area. Daugavpils is also proud of its sports complex with the Ice Palace and the largest open-air swimming pool in the Baltic States.

On the way from the Daugavpils to Kraslava, on the picturesque banks of the Daugava River, national park Daugavas loki. On its territory, a model of the Dinaburg fortress of the 13th century was built, which laid the foundation for the history of the city. Also not far from Daugavpils, in the town of Pilskalne, there is a forest landscape park Pilskalnes Siguldina with educational trails and thematic wooden figurines.

In general, Daugavpils, like no other Latvian city, is surrounded by water and forest resources: 15 lakes, 8 rivers, countless streams and 10,000 hectares of forests and parks.

Daugavpils (Latvian: Daugavpils) is the second largest city in Latvia after its capital, Riga. It was founded on the site of the Dinaburg castle, which belonged to the Livonian Order, the first mention of which dates back to 1275. The city at different times belonged to Lithuanians, Poles and Russians, which was also reflected in its names Dinaburg, Borisoglebsk, Dvinsk, until in 1920 it acquired its name Daugavpils.

Sights of the city of Daugavpils with a photo and description

Historically, Daugavpils has always been a multinational city, even today more than half of its population is Russian. The abundance of cultures was reflected in the appearance of the city and its sights. Unfortunately, many of the architectural monuments were damaged during World War II.

Daugavpils fortress

The most famous landmark of this city is undoubtedly its fortress, founded in 1810. This defensive structure covers an area of more than 150 hectares and includes in its structure 8 bastions, 6 counterguards, 6 ravelins, a moat and a rampart, a front square and residential buildings.

This object, erected by the best architects tsarist Russia, became the last bastion-type fortress in Europe and the only one of its kind that has survived to this day without changes.
Today, the entrance to the fortress and sightseeing is available at any time and is absolutely free. The exception is cultural events taking place on its territory. Also here is an interesting for tourists art center of the famous progenitor of abstract expressionism, the artist Mark Rothko.

Architecture of Daugavpils

The main architectural sights of Daugavpils are located in its historical center. Most of the monuments of urban architecture were erected in the 19th-early 20th century in the unique Latgale baroque style - red brick buildings with original facade decorations.

Unity House - the main architectural object of the historical center of Daugavpils - was erected in 1936. The building was built thanks to the initiative of President Karlis Ulmanis with funds donated by the residents of the city according to the project of the architect Verners Vitands. This is one of the first multifunctional buildings in Europe, it housed a theater, printing house, swimming pool, hotel, department store and other institutions.
Dinaburg Castle is the building from which the history of the city began. It was built in 1275 by the master of the Livonian Order Ernest von Raitzburg and during the years of its existence it was destroyed three times by enemies and rebuilt again. After the last fall of the fortress at the hands of Ivan III in 1577, it was finally razed to the ground, and a new one was built 19 kilometers downstream of the Daugava River on the site of the current Daugavpils. Today, archaeological excavations are being carried out here and an interesting layout of the structure for tourists has been installed.
Daugavpils City Council - this building was erected in 1889 as a building for the Divisional Assembly. Today officials of the city of Daugavpils headed by the mayor sit here.

Religious buildings

The cult architecture of Daugavpils was influenced by the abundance of different peoples living in this city, and their cultural and religious worldviews.

Did you know? Daugavpils is the center of three bishoprics: the Orthodox Church, the Autonomous Orthodox Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Martin Luther Church is a Lutheran church built in Daugavpils in 1893 under the guidance of architect V. Neimanis. The building was erected in neo-gothic and neo-romantic style and has asymmetrical features. The temple often suffered from fires and was restored only in 1990.
Cathedral Princes Boris and Gleb - an Orthodox church, built back in 1905 for the needs of the local garrison, and in 1925 became the place of service of the new bishop. The building was built in the neo-Russian style and is the largest among the Orthodox churches in Latvia.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic church, the construction of which began in 1902. One of the towers of the church, built in the Latgale baroque style, was destroyed by a strong gust of wind, but was restored in 1986. Inside, tourists are primarily interested in the ancient organ installed by the Polish master A. Homan shortly after the construction of the church.
The Old Believer Church of St. Nicholas was built from 1908 to 1928. and is the main Old Believer church in Daugavpils. The building, erected in modern style, was badly damaged during the Second World War, but was restored by the parishioners. More than 600 icons and books of the monastery from the period of the 17th-20th centuries are today part of the artistic heritage of the republic.

Cathedral of Princes Boris and Gleb

Did you know? These four religious buildings of different faiths are part of the architectural ensemble "Church Hill".

There is also a functioning synagogue in Daugavpils, built in 1850 and restored by April 11, 2006. Tourists can find this attraction at the address: st. Cietokshnia, 38. A visit to the museum is available upon prior request.

Museums of Daugavpils

Daugavpils has a large number of wonderful museums that will tell tourists about the history and culture of the Republic of Latvia and this city:

The Local History and Art Museum is one of the oldest and largest institutions dedicated to the history of Latgale, located in the city of Daugavpils and was founded in 1938. Its funds contain more than 88 thousand items dedicated to archeology, ethnography, bonistics, art and archival documents. Visitors can get acquainted with two main exhibitions dedicated to history and nature, as well as visit an exhibition of paintings.
The Naujene Local History Museum is one of the best in Latvia. There is a rich library, an underwater diorama, as well as expositions telling about the history of the Nauensky region in 1259-2005. Tourists are also very interested in the ethnographic collection of tools and household items of the inhabitants of Latgale.

Nauensky Museum of Local Lore

Other interesting museums and exhibitions of the city:

Museum of Jews in Daugavpils and Latgale;
center of Russian culture;
Latvian house;
pottery center;

shot factory museum;
exposition of historical outfits;
shmakovka museum.

Packing things in a suitcase is a very important part of the fees. to avoid misunderstandings at the airport, which occur quite often?

In fact, packing a suitcase in accordance with all the rules of the airline and at the same time convenient for yourself is not difficult at all. It is enough to follow some simple recommendations:

What to see in Daugavpils in 1 day

Despite the fact that Daugavpils is the second largest city in Latvia, one day is enough to see all its best sights. For an optimal tour, use something like this plan:

Start your walk with a visit to the main attraction of Daugavpils - its fortress.
In addition to contemplating the architecture of the fortress, you will also visit the Mark Rothko Art Center located on its territory.
Next, find the "Church Hill" and visit the temples of four confessions located on it (Lutheran, Catholic, Old Believer and Orthodox).
In the historical center of the city you will see the House of Unity and Andrey Pumpur Square, which houses the Orthodox Church of St. Alexander Nevsky.
If you are making a tour on Wednesday or Friday, be sure to visit the Latvian House Museum at 22a Rigas Street, which is open only on these days.
It is best to finish the tour with the Daugavpils Theater, where you can purchase tickets for an evening performance.

In addition to a city tour, you can also see the most beautiful natural park in its vicinity. Daugavas Loki”, which has many archaeological sites.

What to see in Daugavpils with children

There are not many attractions for children in Daugavpils. But still, the city can offer several interesting places to a tourist with a child:

The Latgale zoo will surprise the child with a large number of exotic animals.
The Pottery Center will introduce you to the process of processing clay and the creation of ceramic products.
Art Center Mark Rothko will provide a special room for young artists.
The Esplanade Leisure Park will delight children with a range of trails for various vehicles. There is also a special children's area.

Video overview of the sights of Daugavpils

Especially for those who are planning, we have selected for you a short but informative video about the sights Daugavpils, the second largest city in the country.

Perhaps our readers would like to add to the list of sights of the city of Daugavpils? Be sure to write about them in the comments!

All buildings in the historical center of the city belong to the "Latgale Baroque" - the buildings are distinguished by their original shape and facades made of red brick with various elements of decoration. For example, the building of the city museum of local lore with an openwork pattern on the vault of the front doors, which was built in the 2nd half of the 19th century using multi-colored tiles. Even in the center, you can look at the church ensemble Jaunbūve on the Church Hill, consisting of an Orthodox cathedral, a Lutheran church and a Catholic church (all buildings of the late 19th - early 20th centuries). The central street of Daugavpils is Rigas, along which there are 80 architectural monuments. In the 80s of the last century, it became the first pedestrian street in Latvia. In the middle of the 20th century, the House of Unity was built between Rigas and Saules Streets, which today houses a library, theater, shops, cafes, and a bank. All major city events take place here.

For detailed information on “what to see and where to go”, as well as about all the events and performances in the city, go to the Daugavpils tourist information center: Rigas street, 22a.

On the way from the Daugavpils to Kraslava, on the picturesque banks of the Daugava River, there is the national park Daugavas loki. On its territory, a model of the Dinaburg fortress of the 13th century was built, which laid the foundation for the history of the city. Also not far from Daugavpils, in the town of Pilskalne, there is a forest landscape park Pilskalnes Siguldina with educational trails and thematic wooden figurines.

In general, Daugavpils, like no other Latvian city, is surrounded by water and forest resources: 15 lakes, 8 rivers, countless streams and 10,000 hectares of forests and parks.

How to get there

The nearest airport is in Riga, but the Latvian authorities promise to soon open flights to Daugavpils itself.

The journey by car from Riga will take about 3 hours. There is also an international highway E262 going from Lithuania (Kaunas) to Russia.

Story

The origins of Daugavpils are connected with the trade route, which in the days of feudalism was one of the largest highways in Eastern Europe. It is mentioned in the Scandinavian sagas of the 5th century, when the inhabitants of Gotland traveled along the Daugava to Russia and further to Greece. The finds of Roman coins of the 1st century BC testify to the ancient population of the Daugavpils region. BC e. - IV century. n. e. on the right bank of the Daugava near Daugavpils.

In sources, Daugavpils was first mentioned in 1275, when the Livonian Order, on the orders of the Master of the Order, Ernst von Ratzeburg, began to build a stone castle in Vetspils on the site of the Latgalian wooden castle - Dinaburg. The territory of the castle covered the Rezekne, Ludza, Liksna and Ilukst districts. A settlement was formed near the castle, which in the XIII - XIV centuries. was of great commercial importance.

At the beginning of the XV century. Dinaburg was conquered twice by the Lithuanians, in 1481 it was defeated by the army of Tsar Ivan III, but the castle was restored every time. The Livonian War undermined the positions of the Livonian Order, and together with a number of other castles, the order in 1559 gave the fortress as a pledge to the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund II August. In 1566, after the liquidation of the Livonian Order, when the territory of present-day Latgale and Vidzeme was included in the Principality of Lithuania, Dinaburg became the center of one of the provinces and acquired its coat of arms.

In 1577, the army of Ivan the Terrible completely destroyed Dinaburg. The border point, where the interests of Russia and Poland touched and which the Swedes sometimes reached, could not remain unfortified, so Ivan the Terrible began the construction of a new fortress. The fortress, erected by the warriors of the Russian Tsar on the banks of the Shunyupe, like the whole of Latgale, after the Livonian War, went to Poland. In 1582, the Polish king Stefan Batory granted Dinaburg the "Magdeburg Law", opening the way for the city to a wider development.

Significant changes in the development of the city occurred with the justification of Jesuit missionaries here. It becomes the center of the Latgale Christian mission. Among the wooden houses of the townspeople, a wooden church and a two-story monastery grew up. In 1625 the Jesuits opened the first school in Latgale. After the signing of the Altmark Peace Treaty, Dinaburg becomes the administrative center of Latgale.

By decision of the Polish Sejm in 1647, Dinaburg became a place for transshipment of grain and other goods. In 1656, battles between Russia and Sweden took place on the Daugava. On the day of Saints Boris and Gleb, the Russians captured Dinaburg, and Tsar Alexei. Mikhailovich renamed the city Borisoglebsk. Work began on the restoration of the fortress, the wooden church of Boris and Gleb was erected, but already in 1667 Dinaburg was given to Poland and transformed into the administrative center of Latgale and the residence of the bishop.

As a result of the vigorous activity of the Jesuits, a cathedral and a school for the Catholic clergy appeared, and the Polish gentry moved here. In 1772, after the first partition of Poland, Dinaburg was annexed to Russia and became a county town of the Polotsk province. Then he was included in the Vitebsk province. In 1810, with the aggravation of Russian-French relations, it was decided to rebuild the small Dinaburg fortress into a first-rate fortress with a defensive belt.

The land was purchased from the Jesuits and the townspeople, and construction began under the guidance of engineer-colonel E. Hekel. Before Napoleon's invasion, only temporary fortifications were completed. In 1812, having beaten off the French offensive, the Russian army left the fortress. The French burned the wooden buildings and destroyed the stone fortifications. The construction of the fortress resumed in 1813 and continued until 1878. The fortress lost its strategic importance and later served as a warehouse for weapons and food supplies and a prison.

In the 1830s 19th century began to take shape Big Forstadt - the current center of the city. The architect A. Shtaubert, who worked on the construction of the fortress ensemble, also designed the administrative buildings of the new county government. To protect the city from spring floods, an 8-kilometer dam was built according to the project of engineer Melnikov (completed in 1841). This architectural ensemble is now the most popular among tourists visiting this city. Significant changes in the economic life of the city were made by railway communication: in 1860 the line St. Petersburg - Warsaw connected Dinaburg with St. Petersburg, and in 1862 - with Warsaw and Riga. The opening of locomotive repair workshops in 1866 became logical. In 1893, by decree of the Russian Emperor Alexander III, Dinaburg was renamed Dvinsk.

The economic growth of the city was interrupted by the first World War. Part of the industrial enterprises, together with the workers, was evacuated to Russia. In February 1918, German troops entered Dvinsk, and in 1919 it passed into the hands of the Bolsheviks without a fight. On January 3, 1920, Polish troops, together with detachments of the Latvian army, liberated the city. The city acquired a new name - Daugavpils. On June 17, 1940, Soviet tanks entered the city. In 1941, the Soviet occupation was replaced by the German one. A Jewish ghetto was set up in the bridgehead fort, behind the northern rampart of the fortress there was a camp for Russian prisoners of war Stalag 340 (Stalag). During the years of the Second World War, 2/3 of the city buildings were destroyed in bombardments and fires: Gayok and the city center were completely destroyed, most of the New Building burned down. On July 27, 1944, units of the Red Army entered Daugavpils. The second Soviet occupation lasted until 1991, when the Atmoda people's movement raised red-white-red flags in Daugavpils.

Daugavpils is the second largest city in Latvia. The history of the settlement, located on the Daugava River, goes back to the 80s of the 13th century, when representatives of the Livonian knightly order founded a castle on the river bank. The first name of the castle is Dinaburg. In the future, it changed more than once, until, finally, the city began to be called Daugavpils.

In addition to changing the name of the castle, there was also a change of owners: Lithuanians, then Poles, and then Russians. Different nations, different cultures - all this gave the modern Daugavpils a unique charm and atmosphere. The unique location of the city surrounded by green spaces, a variety of entertainment, attractions and reasonable prices attract travelers from different countries to Daugavpils, Latvia.

The bulk Russian tourists gets to Daugavpils from Riga. Relocation options:

Bus
Buses to Daugavpils depart daily from the capital of Latvia. About five flights depart in the morning hours: from 7:30 to 14:30. In the evening you can leave at 18:05 and 20:20.

In addition to routes directly to Daugavpils, you can use the bus, following, for example, to Vitebsk, Gomel or Kyiv. They also have a stop in Daugavpils.

The starting point of the buses is the International Riga Station. Travel time is about 4 hours. The cost of a bus ticket to Daugavpils is 9 euros. They are purchased at the ticket office of the bus station or online (for selective flights) on the website www.autoosta.lv. You can also check the current schedule here, a version in Russian is available.

Train
Railway communication on the route Riga - Daugavpils cannot be called convenient or economical. There are several reasons for this:
1. Schedule. The train from Riga to Daugavpils departs from the capital once every two days at 20:20. The train departs from the Riga-Passageriou station.

2. Ticket price - 17 euros. Tickets are purchased at the ticket office of the station or on the website railway countries www.ldz.lv.
The journey by train takes 2 hours and 45 minutes, which is an hour less than by bus. And this is perhaps the only advantage of this type of moving.

Automobile
Going to Daugavpils, you can follow the highways: P 73 or E 22 + A 6 or E 22 + P 63. The most optimal option in terms of time is the P 73 highway, in this case the distance will be 225 km and you can overcome it in an average of 3 hours.

Other car transfer options will take longer, although the trip in this case will be accompanied by picturesque surrounding landscapes and a huge temptation to stop the car and take memorable photos.

The best time to relax

Rest in Daugavpils is not associated with the beach season, so you can visit the city at any time of the year. The main thing is to choose the right clothes that exclude freezing or, conversely, overheating.

In the winter months, the average daily temperature is -5 degrees, in summer the air warms up to 20-22 degrees, rarely - up to 26. The rainiest months are July and September, the number of rainy days can reach up to 13 per month.

Where to stay?

Daugavpils - large tourist centre. There are hotels of different star ratings in the city, there are mini-hotels, apart-hotels, large complexes, including hotels of world chains. Accommodation prices are different, the minimum cost is about 2000 rubles per room.

It is possible to book private apartments. The most convenient way to do this is to use the service www.airbnb.com.

Where to eat?

Numerous restaurants and cafes of the city offer visitors dishes of various cuisines of the world: European, Oriental and others. There are French pastry shops, Italian pizzerias, fast food establishments. And, of course, there are restaurants that serve only dishes of local Latvian cuisine.

City dwellers say that being in Daugavpils you should definitely try fish in a local cuisine cafe. It is better to choose trout or mackerel. Lunch or dinner in an inexpensive restaurant will cost an average of 9 euros per person. Add a cup of coffee or a glass of beer to dinner - 1 euro.

What to see?

The main historical attraction of Daugavpils is an ancient fortress, which, by the way, is the largest in Europe. Built in the 19th century, the fortress was used as military base and was repeatedly attacked.

Interesting. The construction of the fortress lasted almost seven decades. In fact, at the time of completion of construction - in 1878, it was already considered obsolete. Bastion-type fortresses were no longer built in Europe.

Today, restoration work is being carried out on the territory of the fortress and in some buildings. The gates, the bridge square, the arsenal, the cannon and a number of other premises have already been restored. Entrance to the territory is free. Volunteers work within the walls of the fortress - enthusiasts who enthusiastically tell visitors the history of the fortress.

Art Center Mark Rothko

On the territory of the fortress, in the building of the arsenal, there is an art gallery of Marko Rothko. The museum is small. There is a permanent exhibition of works by Rothko himself, and temporary exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, ceramics and other areas are organized in parallel. There are interesting interactive art objects.

The study of permanent expositions is accompanied by quiet music, a nice bonus is the well-groomed museum territory. By the way, in addition to the art center, there is a cafe and a hotel in the building. Entrance to the art center is paid, a ticket for a family of 4 will cost 14 euros.

city museums

The M. Rothko Art Center is not the only one in Daugavpils. Walking along the streets of the city, you can visit the following museums:
1. Local Lore and Art Museum. The name speaks for itself: the halls of the museum contain exhibits that tell about the history of the city. If finances allow, pay for the services of a guide, with him a visit to the museum will be truly informative and will allow you to form a complete picture of the emergence and formation of Daugavpils. By the way, not only exhibits of the museum are interesting. The building itself, built at the end of the 19th century, has a unique openwork pattern on the front doors, the facade is decorated with colorful tiles.

2. Shmakovka Museum. Shmakovka is a local strong drink, about which a guide or interactive screens at the exhibits will enthusiastically tell visitors. In addition to getting acquainted with the process, the history of the drink and the manufacturing process, museum guests can taste shmakovka itself (for a fee).

3. Museum military equipment and a Sventa manor. It is interesting that all the equipment is on the move. You can climb on the exhibits, put on helmets and take memorable photos. The estate, located next to the museum, is interesting for its interior decoration and interiors. Both objects are located in a small village in the bosom of nature.

cityscapes

The central street of Daugavpils is Rigas. Along it there are about 80 architectural monuments. So, at the junction of the two streets Rigas and Saules, the House of Unity was erected, it is in it that most of the city's events are organized today, a theater, a library, shopping boutiques and cafeterias operate.

The so-called Church Hill, rising in the heart of the city, is interesting. It adjoins an Orthodox cathedral, a Catholic church and a Lutheran church. All buildings date back to the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century.

Parks and recreation areas

Daugavpils is the only Latvian city bordered by a large number of water bodies and forests. Directly in the city there are also park areas that deserve attention.

1. Dubrovin Park. At the end of the 19th century, the mayor Pavel Dubrovin allotted 3 hectares of land for a park zone. Today it is the most popular leisure place for citizens.
2. Recreational area near the lake Lielais Stropu.
3. National park Daugavas loki. It is located on the route from Daugavpils to Kraslava, directly on the banks of the Daugava River. A model of the Dinaburg fortress is installed here.
4. Landscape forest park Pilskalnes Siguldina. It is located near Daugavpils in the town of Pilskalne. Hiking trails are equipped on the park lands and thematic figures and wooden signs are installed.

Visiting local natural areas and parks is a great opportunity to escape from the bustle of the city.

How to have fun?

Do you have free time, do not want to visit museums or walk in the parks? Daugavpils offers a number of standard urban pastimes:
1. Visit to the cinema "Renaissance".
2. Bowling in one of the two bowling alleys.
3. Skating in the ice palace.
4. Swimming in outdoor pool, available during the summer.
5. Skiing. A suitable place is Mount Eglukalns near Daugavpils, suitable for vacationers in the winter.

What to bring?

Those wishing to purchase memorabilia and souvenirs should visit one of the city's art studios. Visiting them is an opportunity to see the process of creating a masterpiece, to watch the perfected actions of a master or artist, and, of course, to purchase a work you like. There are pottery studios, sculpture workshops and art galleries in Daugavpils.

I must say that the city authorities support such studios and local masters. Exhibitions of local artists and artisans are periodically arranged, including in the M. Rosko art center.

By the way, the pottery studios are worth visiting for travelers with children. In some, under the guidance of a professional, each family member can make a unique product that will later remind you of an educational trip to the Latvian city of Daugavpils.

The second largest city in Latvia - Daugavpils- turned out to be a pleasant quiet town with low buildings in the center and several tall houses on the outskirts. The city with a population of 100,006 people (as of 01/01/2013) is located at a distance of 232 km from, 296 km from, 46 km from Braslav and 35 km from the Belarusian-Latvian border.

The city was first mentioned in 1275, so in 2015 it celebrates its 740th anniversary. But nothing remains of the original city. The city acquired its modern appearance and division into large areas - the central part, the right bank of the Daugava, the area behind the railway and the Daugavpils fortress - much later.

What is surprising is that Daugavpils and Belarus have several things in common. interesting facts. We will talk about them in our articles about the places visited, but for now we are introducing generally useful information.

How to get to Daugavpils by transport?

You can get to Daugavpils from Minsk by bus twice a day - departure at 09.50 and 21.50. Ticket price - 180,000 rubles. Travel time - 6-7 hours (depending on the speed of crossing the border). By the way, remember that it is strictly forbidden to import dairy and meat products into Latvia and there is a limit of 2 packs of cigarettes per person. For violation of the rules and regulations will have to pay a fine. The bus stops on the way there in Braslav, on the way back - in Braslav, Sharkovshchina, Glubokoe, Dokshitsy and Begoml.

You can also go from Minsk to train Minsk-Riga, which departs at 21.28 and arrives at 05.48. The train runs only on odd days! The price of a reserved seat is 632,000 rubles, a coupe is 1,020,000 rubles (prices are current at the time of writing). Travel time 8 hours 20 minutes.

If you come to Daugavpils by morning bus at 04.20 am, then you will need to make sure that you can be settled in a hotel or apartment. Because, you see, at such a time something to watch in the city is not very interesting.

Where to live in Daugavpils?

Among the accommodation options on booking.com there are just over 25 accommodation options. good hotels 3* in Daugavpils - Hotel Latgola (Gimnazijas iela 46) and Good Stay Dinaburg Hotel (Dobeles iela 39). There, with a high degree of probability, there will be free places at any time and on any day. Prices - from 35 euros per day in a double room.

In Daugavpils, you can also look at apartments and apartments for a day, find an excellent guest house or stay at a hotel at a gymnasium and a medical college.

By the way, in the Hotel Latgola on the 10th floor there is the Plaza restaurant, which offers a view of the city in all directions. From it you can see the Church Hill, and through the railway tracks, and all other parts of the city, and the Rigas pedestrian street. Therefore, we advise you to at least come here and look at the city from above in order to get an idea of how it works and where everything is located. In general, thanks to the relatively small total area of 72.8 km. sq., center of Daugavpils compact and easy to get around on foot. From the railway or bus station to Rigas, the road will take 5-7 minutes on the strength.

Restaurant PLAZA on the 10th floor of Hotel Latgola

Views from the PLAZA restaurant

If you need to go to another part of the city, you can use trams (there are 3 routes in the city) or buses. From the center you can get to the Daugavpils Fortress and the Mark Rothko Art Center by tram 3.

Where to eat in Daugavpils

You can refresh yourself in Daugavpils around the clock (break from 7 to 9 in the morning) Hesburger(Rigas iela 55), you can have breakfast even on a day off from 7 to 11 am in Hotel Latgola in a restaurant Plaza(buffet breakfast, cost 6 euros). You can dine in Daugavpils in several restaurants where you can taste both local dishes and European cuisine.

Culinary events often take place in Daugavpils. For example, now 9 establishments in Daugavpils offer special dishes and desserts as part of the Daugavpils Virtuve Festival. For example, you can try the Dinaburg knight's soup or carbonade "a la Gagelstrom" and pumpkin wine at the Arsenal cafe, warm pike-perch fillet salad and Dinaburg Fortress tincture at the Plaza restaurant, rye bread burger with chicken and onions and " Daugavpils chestnuts" in the restaurant "Daugavpils" and, of course, real Dinaburg beer without preservatives.

For example, in a restaurant Governors(Lacplesis iela 10) you can try both Russian and European cuisine. Prices are quite reasonable and you can dine for two for 13-15 euros (large pan of meat, potatoes and sauerkraut) with two glasses of local restaurant beer.

The interior of the Governors restaurant

Nice to have lunch with beautiful views V historical place you can in the cafe arsenals, which is located in (Mihaila iela 3).

What to see and do in Daugavpils

In general, two full days can be allocated to visit the city - an option for a weekend getaway. Fortunately, on Saturday and Sunday, the main museums and places of interest are open in the city, you just need to come up with a plan for a walk in advance and it’s even better to sign up for an excursion somewhere. For example, tours of the Shot Factory (by the way, a great option for those who are not particularly fond of fine arts, but want to learn something useful about the city, and for men it’s a great place to shoot at a shooting range) are scheduled. Mon and Tue 14.00 and 16.00, Wed, Thu and Fri - 10.00, 12.00, 14.00 and 16.00, Sat and Sun 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00, 16.00 and 17.00. About how the Daugavpils Shot Factory is connected with Belarus - read in our material:

To visit Daugavpils fortress and get to know it better, we recommend ordering a tour and walking with a guide. But you can do it yourself. IN Art Center them. Mark Rothko, which is located in Artillery arsenal, the exhibitions are so technically equipped and thought out that you can spend the whole day here and tirelessly discover new and new pages of art, photographs, ceramics, exhibitions and objects. Even children will not be bored here - there is a special room for them where you can relax, draw and frolic. Read more about the exclusive tour of the Art Center. Marco Rothko can be read in our article:

Alley of benches and Tree of Love.
On the Daugava embankment at Novembra iela 18 there is a memorial sign "Dedication to Rothko". Shosseinaya Street used to start from here, where Mark Rothko's family lived from 1892 to 1913.

And if you walk further down the street Novembra, then you can see church hill - a place where four cathedrals of different confessions stand side by side - the Cathedral of Martin Luther, the Roman Catholic Church of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Boris and Gleb.

For holidays in Daugavpils with children can choose Latgale Zoo and look at boas, monkeys, scorpions and other exotic animals. You can also go to the Pottery Center and get acquainted with the process of processing clay and ceramics.

Shops in Daugavpils

Buy souvenirs it is possible both in the Rothko Art Center, at the Shot Factory or in the Ethnographic and art museum, and in souvenir shops in the city center, in hotels, etc.

Buy products or things can be in the mall Solo and Ditton Nams which is located on parades iela And Saknu. Behind it there is a big shop Maxima, and on the side of Hotel Latgola located shopping mall with boutiques and shops (open from 08.00 to 22.00). There is a shop next to the bus station. Super Netto where you can buy everything you need from the products.

In general, everyone in the city knows Russian and is fluent in it, so they can always help, suggest something or show the way.

If you are thinking where to go for the weekend (and, mind you, at any time of the year), then you can always look at Daugavpils and its main attractions. Therefore, we recommend this option for those who love art, those who love industrial tourism (because visiting the Shot Factory is really very interesting!), walking around zoos with children and just having a great time in other cities. Only 6 hours and you are there! Great plan! ;)