Daugavpils is the second largest city of national significance in Latvia, the largest city in Latgale Planning Region. Daugavpils is located on the eastern border of Latvia and is an important center of socio-economic development in the Baltics.
Daugavpils is a city at the historic crossroads of the European Union, known as the Eastern Gateway. It has preserved its heritage as a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional city centre, but has developed as a modern, European city and has become the main industrial, educational and cultural support of Latgale.
Facts and figures
1275 – Dinaburg (Daugavpils) was first mentioned in historical chronicles.
1582 – Dinaburg acquired the rights of the city.
City territory – 72.48 km2
Population (as of January 1, 2022) – 79 120
The territory of the city of Daugavpils borders with Augšdaugava district.
The territory of Daugavpils is divided into 25 districts, 20 of which are located on the right bank of the Daugava and five on the left.
Railway station Daugavpils is located 218 km from Riga (lines Riga - Daugavpils, Daugavpils - Rēzekne, Daugavpils - Indra, Daugavpils - Vilnius).
The distance to Riga is 232 km (A6 motorway).
The distance to the border of Lithuania is 25 km.
The distance to the border of Belarus is 35 km.
The distance to the Russian border is 120 km.
How to get to Daugavpils
Daugavpils bus station (Viestura iela 10), +371 65423000
Bus schedule – www.1188.lv
Bus tickets on the Internet – www.bezrindas.lv, www.ecolines.net
Passenger train schedule – www.vivi.lv, www.1188.lv
History
Daugavpils is the second largest Latvian city, it is located on the banks of the river Daugava (Zapadnaja Dvina), in the southeastern part of the Republic, 232 km away from the capital Riga. The city has changed its name many times: Dinaburg (1275), Borisoglebsk (1656-1667), Dvinsk (1893-1920), Daugavpils – since 1920.
The Historical Centre of Daugavpils City: The historical centre is the greatest attraction of the city and one of the most successful examples of balancing the aspects of ancient and modern times. Daugavpils is one of the few cities in Latvia which can pride itself on a unified ensemble of both classic and eclectic styles. The cultural heritage comprised of architectural, artistic, industrial and historical monuments combined with the picturesque surroundings create the essence of Daugavpils image and endow it with a special charm.
Today Daugavpils is an important centre of culture, education, sports and leisure. Daugavpils University, several branches of Riga higher education institutions, 5 vocational education institutions, and 13 comprehensive schools are located in Daugavpils.
Top 10 Most Visited places in the Daugavpils
Rothko Museum is a multifunctional complex of contemporary art, culture and education situated in the Arsenal building at Daugavpils Fortress. It is the only place in Eastern Europe where the original masterpieces of the famous painter and the founder of abstract expressionism Mark Rothko can be seen.
Daugavpils Fortress Visitors Centre is established in the building of a former water tower the foundations of which were laid in 1865. Previously the building was a component part of the fortress water – supply system and also provided water to the fountain in the fortress boulevard.
Here, in the artificially created jungles, visitors can see spotted pythons, spectacled caimans bathing in the sun, red koi carps swimming in the ponds, playful macaques and sugar gliders jumping in the lianas and other swimming, whistling, crawling, hopping and flying tropical creatures. Children can stroke a furry rabbit, play with touching guinea-pigs and feed exotic fishes in the pond.
Daugavpils Regional Studies and Art Museum is one of the oldest museums in Latgale, founded in 1938. Located at 8 Rigas Street, in a magnificent building. The facades are decorated with coloured glazed tiles, and the entrances have openwork metal roofs covered by glass. Each entrance is guarded by two sculptures of lions. The museum has the room of the Daugavpils painter Leonid Baulin. The museum offers cultural, historical and nature displays.
Center of Technics and Industrial design «Engineering arsenal» is the largest exhibition of motorized vehicles in Latgale region. It is a unique exhibition space of retro technology and applied design, which is located in the historic 19th-century building of the Daugavpils Fortress.
Daugavpils Innovation Centre – a new learning environment for everyone, where you can experiment, research, create innovative solutions, develop entrepreneurial abilities, and connect learning content with real life and the digital environment. Interactive exposition in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and entrepreneurship is spread over an area of more than 940m2.
It is the largest and most contemporary Latgalian Culinary Heritage Centre in Latvia, which offers an attractive story about Latgale’s strong drink that has already become a brand in Latgale. It is possible to gain knowledge of the process of making shmakovka with the help of the latest technologies, as well as to look at authentic and impressive production equipment in the three halls of the exposition (with a total area of 290 m2).
Medical exhibition with an exposition of birth control items is a permanent exposition devoted to the history of medicine that is located in Daugavpils Fortress. Three halls with the total area of 350 square meters present a great number of objects, photos and documents that tell us how people were treated in past centuries and give a brief overview of the history of Daugavpils medical institutions.
Family Digital Activity Hub is a great place for recreation and entertainment with family and friends. Digital Activity Hub is the place to explore the technology of the 21st century.
The centre offers the possibility to get acquainted with the cultural heritage of Latgale – ceramics and pottery traditions. This is the only place in Latvia where visitors can see and learn about the hardened Baltic raku ceramics which is being matured in fermented rye-flour liquid.
More information about Daugavpils tourism offer Daugavpils Tourist Guide 2024.
Individual advice on the tourist offer and information leaflets are available at the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) 22a Rigas Street, Daugavpils, LV-5401
Phone: +371 65422818 +371 26444810
.jpg)
