Daugavpils

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Daugavpils

Daugavpils (Lithuanian Daugpilis), population 115,265 in 2000 census) is the second largest city in Latvia.

Location

Daugavpils is located approximately 230 km south-east of the Latvian capital, Riga, on the banks of the Daugava River which is over 1000 km in length and which flows from its source in Russia, through Belarus and Latvia before entering the Baltic Sea via the Gulf of Riga.

The city has a favourable geographical position as it borders with Belarus and Lithuania (distances of 33 and 25 km respectively). It is located some 120 km from the borderline with Russia.

The city is surrounded by many lakes. All this makes the city a promising region for the development of international tourism.

Demographics

According to 2000 census city has population 115,265. Russians with 54,2% form majority in the city and are followed by Poles 15,1%, Latvians 14,3% and Belarussians 8,3%. Afther Pale of Settlement till World War II majority of the city were Jews. During German occupation there was Jewish ghetto in the city.

History

The first historical reference goes back to 1275. Thus, the year 2000 was celebrated as the 725th anniversary of the city. Between 1561 and 1772, Daugavpils belonged to Poland-Lithuania and was called Dyneburg, capital of Polish-Lithuanian Livonia. Daugavpils obtained town rights in 1582.

Daugavpils has several alternate names in various languages:

Borisoglebsk, Борисоглебск (Russian)1656–1667.
Dźvinsk, Дзьвінск (Belarusian)
Dvinsk, Двинcк (Russian)
Dünaburg (German)
Dźwinów, Dźwińsk, Dyneburg (Polish)
Denenburg, דענענבורג (Yiddish)

Art, Archetecture, and Culture

Daugavpils is an important cultural centre in Eastern Latvia. There are 22 primary and secondary schools, 4 vocational schools and the Saules College of Art. More than 1,000 teachers and engineers graduate from the Daugavpils Pedagogical University and local branch of the Riga Technical University annually.

The city theatre was restored a couple of years ago. Besides, there are also one cinema theater and other cultural institutions. The city exhibition centre offers a lot of cultural activities.

There are many architectural, historical and cultural monuments in Daugavpils. The most prominent is the Daugavpils Fortress of the eighteenth century.

Notable Residents

One of the most famous persons born in Daugavpils is abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko.

In the early 20th century, Daugavpils simultaneously housed two prominent Rabbis: Meir Simcha of Dvinsk and Yosef Rozen (the Rogachover Gaon).

External links

Cities in Latvia