DAUGAVPILS, Latvia
Daugavpils, earlier Dvinsk, Dinaburg, Borisoglyebsk, is the second on size and importance city of Latvia after the capital Riga. It is a center of the eastern part of Latvia which is called Latgallia. Territory:
72,48 sq. km.
72,48 sq. km.
Population:
109 421 (01.01.2005)
Letts – 16,39 %
Russians – 54,95 %
Poles – 15 %
Byelorussians – 9 %
Ukrainians – 2,31 %
109 421 (01.01.2005)
Letts – 16,39 %
Russians – 54,95 %
Poles – 15 %
Byelorussians – 9 %
Ukrainians – 2,31 %
Geographic position
The city is located on the rigver Daugava (the Western Dvina), at the borders of Lithuania (25 km) and Byelorussia (33 km).
The city is located on the rigver Daugava (the Western Dvina), at the borders of Lithuania (25 km) and Byelorussia (33 km).
History
The city was founded according to a decree of baron Ernest fon ratseburg by Fraters Militae Christi as a castle named Dinaburg on the bank of the river Dvina in 1275. In 1561-1772 Dinaburg belonged to Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was a center of Livonia. It received the rights of the city in 1582. In 1656-1667 the city belonged to Russia and had a name “Borisoglebsk”. It received name Dvinsk in 1893. On the 31st of December Dvinsky district of Vitebsky province was transferred to “Soviet Latgallia”. In January of 1920 the city was occupied by Polish army which had come to help the Lithuania Republic. In that period the groups of Latvian Soviet government (the Letts shooters) and received the name Daugavpils from the Letts. According to the traty of peace signed on the 11th of August of 1920 in Riga Dvinsk and Dvinsky district were transferred to Latvia from Russia.
The city was founded according to a decree of baron Ernest fon ratseburg by Fraters Militae Christi as a castle named Dinaburg on the bank of the river Dvina in 1275. In 1561-1772 Dinaburg belonged to Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was a center of Livonia. It received the rights of the city in 1582. In 1656-1667 the city belonged to Russia and had a name “Borisoglebsk”. It received name Dvinsk in 1893. On the 31st of December Dvinsky district of Vitebsky province was transferred to “Soviet Latgallia”. In January of 1920 the city was occupied by Polish army which had come to help the Lithuania Republic. In that period the groups of Latvian Soviet government (the Letts shooters) and received the name Daugavpils from the Letts. According to the traty of peace signed on the 11th of August of 1920 in Riga Dvinsk and Dvinsky district were transferred to Latvia from Russia.
Education and Culture
Daugavpils has its own university, a range of filiates of Riga higher educational institutions, 7 professional schools, more than 20 secondary schools, 7 of which are Russian, 5 are Latin and one is Polish.
Guests of the city may visit Daugavpils regional natural history museum, the state theatre, cinema «Renesanse».
The city is a place of many popular international festivals: the festival of chorus spiritual music in january, the festival of traditional masks in February, Jazz festival in April, celebrations in the Day of the City in June and September days of chamber music.
The city gave the world the tango king Oskar Strock, an artist Mark Rotko, an actor and director Solomon Mikhoels.
The main historical sight of the city is Russian fortress of the beginning of the XIX century built by supervising of C. Opperman. V. Kukhelbekker was kept in Dinaburg fortress.
Consular agencies of Russia and byelorussia work in DAugavpils.
Economics:
The city has a developed and diverse area of industrial branches, a wide net of social and trade infrastructure.
Daugavpils is an important transport unit between Russia (120 km to the border) and European Union.
Twin Cities:
Khaderslev (Denmark) – since 1993
Narofominsk (Russia) – since 1997
Ferrara (Italy) – since 1998
Mutala (Sveden) – since 1998
Vitebsk (Belarus) – since 1998
Radom (Poland) – since 2003
the Central Administrative District of Moskva (Russia) – since 2003
Ramla (Israel) – since 2003
Kharbin (CPR) – since 2003
Panevezhis (Lithuania) – since 2004
Saint Petersburg (Russia) – since 2004 р.
Narofominsk (Russia) – since 1997
Ferrara (Italy) – since 1998
Mutala (Sveden) – since 1998
Vitebsk (Belarus) – since 1998
Radom (Poland) – since 2003
the Central Administrative District of Moskva (Russia) – since 2003
Ramla (Israel) – since 2003
Kharbin (CPR) – since 2003
Panevezhis (Lithuania) – since 2004
Saint Petersburg (Russia) – since 2004 р.
Partnership «Kharkiv-Daugavpils»:
Partner intermunicipal relations of Kharkiv and Daugavpils were started in February of 2006, when the official delegation of Kharkiv visited Latvia according to the invitation of Daugavpils city council and Declaration of intent of cooperation between two cities was signed.
Since that time regular and active exchanges occure in different branches. In particular the treaty of cooperation was signed between Karasin KNU and Baltic Russian university, the exhibition of a famouse Kharkiv photographer V. Ogloblin “Walks along Kharkiv” was organized. Representatives of Daugavpils school of ballroom dances took part in the traditional festival-conquest of ballroom dances “The Cup of Kharkiv-2006”. Exchange of official delegations on the Days of both cities and exchange of experience of social and economy municipal problems occure. Kharkiv delegation took part in forum of twin cities of DAugavpils in June of 2007, and the official delegation of Daugavpils city council took part in celebration of the Day of Kharkiv in 2007. In 2008 the treaty of complete of two cities is planned to be signed.
http://www.daugavpils.lv/
http://www.daugavpils.lv/
