Mark Rothko was born in Daugavpils. His art offers a special way into a city also shaped by its churches, fortress architecture, industrial history and nature trails. The main part of Daugavpils lies on the right bank of the Daugava between the river and Lake Lielais Stropu. The part of the city on the left bank is called Griva. This orientation helps distinguish Daugavpils and Griva as named parts of the city.

Art and City History

The Rothko Museum’s permanent exhibition includes a selection of original works by Mark Rothko, who was born in Daugavpils and is a world-renowned artist and master of Color Field painting. The museum also has a space for children’s creative activities. It thus showcases both Rothko’s work and a dedicated space for creative pursuits.

The Church Hill brings together places of worship representing all four of Latgale’s main denominations in a compact area. The ensemble shapes Daugavpils’ distinctive skyline. The Daugavpils Martin Luther Cathedral has an observation platform about 40 metres above the ground. The Church Hill and the platform offer different perspectives on the city’s religious architecture.

The historic centre of Daugavpils is a nationally significant urban monument. Its historic buildings were constructed in the 19th century according to a development plan approved in St Petersburg in 1826. Another urban landmark is Rīgas iela: the street, which is more than half a kilometre long, was converted into a pedestrian street in the late 1970s. Its length and documented transformation link exploring the city with a specific chapter in its development.

The Fortress and Industrial Themes

Daugavpils Fortress is a neighbourhood and a nationally significant architectural and cultural-historical monument. It covers more than 150 hectares and is considered the last bastion-type fortress in the world. Housed in a historic 19th-century building within the fortress, the Inženieru arsenāls Centre for Technology and Industrial Design is an exhibition venue for retro technology and applied design.

The Daugavpils Shot Factory offers another perspective on industrial history: it is Northern Europe’s oldest ammunition factory. Visitors can climb its 31.5-metre-high tower. After the tour, they can try products made there at the factory’s shooting range. The experience therefore covers not only the history of production but also this specifically offered activity.

The Šmakovka exhibition adds a regional drink to the mix: it is Latvia’s largest and most modern exhibition about Latgale’s traditional strong drink, which has become a distinctive emblem of the region. Together, the fortress, technology, ammunition production and drink culture offer different points of interest for a trip focused on history or culture.

Nature Trails and Outdoor Activities

There is a 3.3-kilometre promenade by Lake Lielais Stropu. The Purva Trail in Latgale Wetland Biodiversity Park is about 1.5 kilometres long and has several viewing platforms and observation huts for watching birds and animals. The Purva Trail is shorter than the promenade; the facilities in the biodiversity park also provide a specific focus on observing nature.

If you are planning a visit with a stroller or wheelchair, note the accessibility details for the Purva Trail: it is accessible and suitable for strollers and wheelchair users, with the exception of Biologu Taka. Another option for outdoor activity is the Stropu Sports and Recreation Loop in Stropu Forest. It is fully lit and intended for cyclists, roller skiers, inline skaters, runners and Nordic walkers. The trails therefore differ in length as well as in their stated purpose and intended activities.

City Tour and Choosing Your Trip

The guided city tour “Daugavpils Through the Tram Windows” can start and end at any tram stop in Daugavpils. This gives you a clear choice of starting and ending point for the tour. Visitors planning a trip can also choose between different themes: Rothko and the churches represent art and religious architecture; the fortress and shot factory, architectural and industrial history; the Purva Trail, nature observation; and the Stropu Loop, a range of outdoor activities.

For the broader travel overview: Daugavpils Municipality.