Latvia, Lettland, Latvija

The settlement was first mentioned as "Lyva" in 1253. It was a small unfortified harbour town in the state of the Livonian Order. In the 14th century it was burnt down several times by the Lithuanians. As a result of the Reformation, two Lutheran parishes emerged in Libau. One congregation was formed by the Protestants of Latvian language, the other one for German speaking Protestants. The granting of the town charter took place in 1625. Soon after the construction of the harbour began. In 1698, a major fire destroyed most of the town's wooden buildings. The Great Plague of 1708 to 1714 claimed the lives of a third of the citizens. The Svētā Jāzepa Katedrālē (St. Joseph Cathedral) is the episcopal church of the Roman Catholic diocese of Liepāja. The neo-Romanesque church was built between 1894 and 1900.

The settlement was first mentioned as "Lyva" in 1253. It was a small unfortified harbour town in the state of the Livonian Order. In the 14th century it was burnt down several times by the Lithuanians. As a result of the Reformation, two Lutheran parishes emerged in Libau. One congregation was formed by the Protestants of Latvian language, the other one for German speaking Protestants. The granting of the town charter took place in 1625. Soon after the construction of the harbour began. In 1698, a major fire destroyed most of the town's wooden buildings. The Great Plague of 1708 to 1714 claimed the lives of a third of the citizens. The Svētā Jāzepa Katedrālē (St. Joseph Cathedral) is the episcopal church of the Roman Catholic diocese of Liepāja. The neo-Romanesque church was built between 1894 and 1900.

The settlement was first mentioned as "Lyva" in 1253. It was a small unfortified harbour town in the state of the Livonian Order. In the 14th century it was burnt down several times by the Lithuanians. As a result of the Reformation, two Lutheran parishes emerged in Libau. One congregation was formed by the Protestants of Latvian language, the other one for German speaking Protestants. The granting of the town charter took place in 1625. Soon after the construction of the harbour began. In 1698, a major fire destroyed most of the town's wooden buildings. The Great Plague of 1708 to 1714 claimed the lives of a third of the citizens. The Svētā Jāzepa Katedrālē (St. Joseph Cathedral) is the episcopal church of the Roman Catholic diocese of Liepāja. The neo-Romanesque church was built between 1894 and 1900.

The settlement was first mentioned as "Lyva" in 1253. It was a small unfortified harbour town in the state of the Livonian Order. In the 14th century it was burnt down several times by the Lithuanians. As a result of the Reformation, two Lutheran parishes emerged in Libau. One congregation was formed by the Protestants of Latvian language, the other one for German speaking Protestants. The granting of the town charter took place in 1625. Soon after the construction of the harbour began. In 1698, a major fire destroyed most of the town's wooden buildings. The Great Plague of 1708 to 1714 claimed the lives of a third of the citizens. Svētās Annas baznīca is the oldest church in Liepāja, as it was first mentioned in written records in 1508. It was a wooden church at that time, it got then altered and rebuilt several times. The last construction took place in the 19th century.

The settlement was first mentioned as "Lyva" in 1253. It was a small unfortified harbour town in the state of the Livonian Order. In the 14th century it was burnt down several times by the Lithuanians. As a result of the Reformation, two Lutheran parishes emerged in Libau. One congregation was formed by the Protestants of Latvian language, the other one for German speaking Protestants. The granting of the town charter took place in 1625. Soon after the construction of the harbour began. In 1698, a major fire destroyed most of the town's wooden buildings. The Great Plague of 1708 to 1714 claimed the lives of a third of the citizens. Svētās Annas baznīca is the oldest church in Liepāja, as it was first mentioned in written records in 1508. It was a wooden church at that time, it got then altered and rebuilt several times. The last construction took place in the 19th century. The monumental wood-carved altarpiece from 1697 is a masterpiece of the Baroque period. It is about 9,50m wide and more than 10 m high.

The settlement was first mentioned as "Lyva" in 1253. It was a small unfortified harbour town in the state of the Livonian Order. In the 14th century it was burnt down several times by the Lithuanians. As a result of the Reformation, two Lutheran parishes emerged in Libau. One congregation was formed by the Protestants of Latvian language, the other one for German speaking Protestants. The granting of the town charter took place in 1625. Soon after the construction of the harbour began. In 1698, a major fire destroyed most of the town's wooden buildings. The Great Plague of 1708 to 1714 claimed the lives of a third of the citizens. The market wall was erected in 1910. www.petertirgus.lv/

The settlement was first mentioned as "Lyva" in 1253. It was a small unfortified harbour town in the state of the Livonian Order. In the 14th century it was burnt down several times by the Lithuanians. As a result of the Reformation, two Lutheran parishes emerged in Libau. One congregation was formed by the Protestants of Latvian language, the other one for German speaking Protestants. The granting of the town charter took place in 1625. Soon after the construction of the harbour began. In 1698, a major fire destroyed most of the town's wooden buildings. The Great Plague of 1708 to 1714 claimed the lives of a third of the citizens. The market wall was erected in 1910. www.petertirgus.lv/

The settlement was first mentioned as "Lyva" in 1253. It was a small unfortified harbour town in the state of the Livonian Order. In the 14th century it was burnt down several times by the Lithuanians. As a result of the Reformation, two Lutheran parishes emerged in Libau. One congregation was formed by the Protestants of Latvian language, the other one for German speaking Protestants. The granting of the town charter took place in 1625. Soon after the construction of the harbour began. In 1698, a major fire destroyed most of the town's wooden buildings. The Great Plague of 1708 to 1714 claimed the lives of a third of the citizens. Wild mushrooms and wild berries can be find on all markets in the Baltic states. www.petertirgus.lv/

The beaches are empty and seem endless.

Johann Ulrich von Schwerin, who founded the predecessor of this church, was a German nobleman, who converted to Catholicism and married a Polish woman, Barbara Konarska. Later, Schwerin converted the people in his country to Catholicism with the help of the Jesuits. These catholic people called themselves "Suiti" - and they still exist. The Suiti are said to have isolated themselves from their Protestant neighbours and not allowed inter-religious marriages. In the course of this self-isolation, which lasted almost four centuries, a variety of Latvian emerged enriched with Polish, German, Lithuanian and Livonian influences. About 50.000 folk songs in Suiti exist. In October 2009, the Suiti culture was included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List and is thus protected.

At the mouth of the Venta River was a settlement called Sagare, which was mentioned in 1253. In 1290 the castle "Winda" of the Livonian Order was completed as the center of the Windau commandery. The town developed around the castle. It was chartered in 1314 and became an important mercantile city of the Hanseatic League. As part of the Duchy of Courland, Ventspils blossomed as a shipbuilding centre. 44 warships and 79 trading ships were built here, and it was from Ventspils that the Duke's fleet set out to colonize Gambia and Tobago. Metal, amber, and wood-working shops also became important to the city's development. During the Polish-Swedish War and the Great Northern War, Ventspils was destroyed, and in 1711 a plague wiped out most of the remaining inhabitants. After the Third Partition of Poland in 1795 Ventspils fell under the control of Russian Empire.

At the mouth of the Venta River was a settlement called Sagare, which was mentioned in 1253. In 1290 the castle "Winda" of the Livonian Order was completed as the center of the Windau commandery. The town developed around the castle. It was chartered in 1314 and became an important mercantile city of the Hanseatic League. As part of the Duchy of Courland, Ventspils blossomed as a shipbuilding centre. 44 warships and 79 trading ships were built here, and it was from Ventspils that the Duke's fleet set out to colonize Gambia and Tobago. Metal, amber, and wood-working shops also became important to the city's development. During the Polish-Swedish War and the Great Northern War, Ventspils was destroyed, and in 1711 a plague wiped out most of the remaining inhabitants. After the Third Partition of Poland in 1795 Ventspils fell under the control of Russian Empire. The port was modernized in the 1890s and connected to Moscow by rail. It became one of Imperial Russia's most profitable ports

At the mouth of the Venta River was a settlement called Sagare, which was mentioned in 1253. In 1290 the castle "Winda" of the Livonian Order was completed as the center of the Windau commandery. The town developed around the castle. It was chartered in 1314 and became an important mercantile city of the Hanseatic League. As part of the Duchy of Courland, Ventspils blossomed as a shipbuilding centre. 44 warships and 79 trading ships were built here, and it was from Ventspils that the Duke's fleet set out to colonize Gambia and Tobago. Metal, amber, and wood-working shops also became important to the city's development. During the Polish-Swedish War and the Great Northern War, Ventspils was destroyed, and in 1711 a plague wiped out most of the remaining inhabitants. After the Third Partition of Poland in 1795 Ventspils fell under the control of Russian Empire.

At the mouth of the Venta River was a settlement called Sagare, which was mentioned in 1253. In 1290 the castle "Winda" of the Livonian Order was completed as the center of the Windau commandery. The town developed around the castle. It was chartered in 1314 and became an important mercantile city of the Hanseatic League. As part of the Duchy of Courland, Ventspils blossomed as a shipbuilding centre. 44 warships and 79 trading ships were built here, and it was from Ventspils that the Duke's fleet set out to colonize Gambia and Tobago. Metal, amber, and wood-working shops also became important to the city's development. During the Polish-Swedish War and the Great Northern War, Ventspils was destroyed, and in 1711 a plague wiped out most of the remaining inhabitants. After the Third Partition of Poland in 1795 Ventspils fell under the control of Russian Empire. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Nicholas is named after Tzar Nicholas I following a donation from the Emperor to build the church between 1834 and 1835. The church remained intact during the two World Wars, but was restored at the beginning of the 21st century.

At the mouth of the Venta River was a settlement called Sagare, which was mentioned in 1253. In 1290 the castle "Winda" of the Livonian Order was completed as the center of the Windau commandery. The town developed around the castle. It was chartered in 1314 and became an important mercantile city of the Hanseatic League. As part of the Duchy of Courland, Ventspils blossomed as a shipbuilding centre. 44 warships and 79 trading ships were built here, and it was from Ventspils that the Duke's fleet set out to colonize Gambia and Tobago. Metal, amber, and wood-working shops also became important to the city's development. During the Polish-Swedish War and the Great Northern War, Ventspils was destroyed, and in 1711 a plague wiped out most of the remaining inhabitants. After the Third Partition of Poland in 1795 Ventspils fell under the control of Russian Empire.

At the mouth of the Venta River was a settlement called Sagare, which was mentioned in 1253. In 1290 the castle "Winda" of the Livonian Order was completed as the center of the Windau commandery. The town developed around the castle. It was chartered in 1314 and became an important mercantile city of the Hanseatic League. As part of the Duchy of Courland, Ventspils blossomed as a shipbuilding centre. 44 warships and 79 trading ships were built here, and it was from Ventspils that the Duke's fleet set out to colonize Gambia and Tobago. Metal, amber, and wood-working shops also became important to the city's development. During the Polish-Swedish War and the Great Northern War, Ventspils was destroyed, and in 1711 a plague wiped out most of the remaining inhabitants. After the Third Partition of Poland in 1795 Ventspils fell under the control of Russian Empire.

Riga is the capital of Latvia. With a population of more than 600.000 about a third of all Latvians live here. A settlement of the Finno-Ugric Livs existed on the bank of the Düna. At the end of the 12th century, merchants from Gotland came to trade here. Albert von Buxthoeven, a fierce missionary, was the first bishop in Riga from 1201 to 1229. Riga developed as the hub of Russian trade and the starting point of the German colonization of the Baltic. The merchants who settled here after the subjugation of the surrounding peoples rapidly gained influence. In 1225, they were able to elect the city bailiff themselves, when the City Council existed already. After the Reformation, the power of the archbishops came to an end. After the outbreak of the Livonian War in 1558 the city favoured the status of a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. It was only when the imperial support failed to materialize that the renewed advance of Russian armies led the city to pay homage to Poland's King Stephen Báthory in 1581, who in return confirmed the city's traditional freedoms and privileges. The 40-year Polish-Lithuanian rule, under which the citizens of Riga successfully resisted anti-Reformation efforts ended with the conquest of the city by Gustav II Adolf of Sweden in 1621. The Swedish crown treated Riga by its rank as the second-largest city in the kingdom and had it lavishly fortified. During the Russo-Swedish War (1656-1658), Riga withstood the Russian siege and maintained its position as one of the most important cities in Sweden until the beginning of the 18th century. During this period the city enjoyed extensive self-government. Riga has one of the largest collections of Art Nouveau buildings in the world, with at least 800 buildings. Our hotel was one of them. There were beautiful windows

Riga is the capital of Latvia. With a population of more than 600.000 about a third of all Latvians live here. A settlement of the Finno-Ugric Livs existed on the bank of the Düna. At the end of the 12th century, merchants from Gotland came to trade here. Albert von Buxthoeven, a fierce missionary, was the first bishop in Riga from 1201 to 1229. Riga developed as the hub of Russian trade and the starting point of the German colonization of the Baltic. The merchants who settled here after the subjugation of the surrounding peoples rapidly gained influence. In 1225, they were able to elect the city bailiff themselves, when the City Council existed already. After the Reformation, the power of the archbishops came to an end. After the outbreak of the Livonian War in 1558 the city favoured the status of a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. It was only when the imperial support failed to materialize that the renewed advance of Russian armies led the city to pay homage to Poland's King Stephen Báthory in 1581, who in return confirmed the city's traditional freedoms and privileges. The 40-year Polish-Lithuanian rule, under which the citizens of Riga successfully resisted anti-Reformation efforts ended with the conquest of the city by Gustav II Adolf of Sweden in 1621. The Swedish crown treated Riga by its rank as the second-largest city in the kingdom and had it lavishly fortified. During the Russo-Swedish War (1656-1658), Riga withstood the Russian siege and maintained its position as one of the most important cities in Sweden until the beginning of the 18th century. During this period the city enjoyed extensive self-government. Brīvības piemineklis, the Freedom Monument in Riga is honouring soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence (1918–1920). It is considered an important symbol of the freedom, independence, and sovereignty of Latvia. Unveiled in 1935, the 42-metre high monument serves as the focal point of public gatherings and official ceremonies in Riga. Following the Soviet occupation in 1940 Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union and the Freedom Monument was considered for demolition, but no such move was carried out. In 1963, when the issue of demolition was raised again, it was dismissed by Soviet authorities as the destruction of the monument would have caused deep indignation and tension in society. During the Soviet era, it remained a symbol of national independence to the general public. Indeed, on June 14, 1987, about 5,000 people gathered at the monument to lay flowers. This rally renewed the national independence movement, which culminated three years later in the re-establishment of Latvian sovereignty after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.