Liepāja is a state city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea. It is the largest-city in the Kurzeme Region and the third-largest city in the country after Riga and Daugavpils. It is an important ice-free port. The population in 2020 was 68,535 people.
Rēzekne is a state city in the Rēzekne River valley in Latgale region of eastern Latvia. It is called The Heart of Latgale. Built on seven hills, Rēzekne is situated 242 kilometres east of Riga, and 63 kilometres west of the Latvian-Russian border, at the intersection of the Moscow – Ventspils railway and Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railways. It has a population of 31,216 (2016) making it the 7th largest city in Latvia.
Valmiera is the largest city of the historical Vidzeme region, Latvia, with a total area of 19.35 square kilometres. As of 2002, Valmiera had a population of 27,323, and in 2020 – 24 879. It is a state city the seat of Valmiera Municipality.
Ogre is the state city in Ogre Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, 36 kilometres east of the capital Riga, situated at the confluence of the Daugava and Ogre rivers. It has been a city since 1928. The population in 2020 was 23,273.
The Popular Front of Latvia was a political organisation in Latvia in the late 1980s and early 1990s which led Latvia to its independence from the Soviet Union. It was similar to the Popular Front of Estonia and the Sąjūdis movement in Lithuania.
Russification, or Russianization, is a form of cultural assimilation in which non-Russians, whether involuntarily or voluntarily, give up their culture and language in favor of the Russian culture and the Russian language.
Anatoly Yakovlevich Solovyev is a retired Russian and Soviet cosmonaut and pilot. Solovyev was born on January 16, 1948, in Riga, Latvia. Solovyev holds the world record on the number of spacewalks performed (16), and accumulated time spent spacewalking.
In Latvia, Russians have been the largest ethnic minority in the country for the last two centuries. The number of Russians in Latvia more than quadrupled during the Soviet occupation of Latvia when the size of the community grew from 8.8% of the total population in 1935 (206,499) to 34.0% in 1989 (905,515). It started to decrease in size again after Latvia regained independence in 1991 falling to 24.2% at the beginning of 2022.
Ikšķile is a town in Latvia, in Ogre Municipality. It was the first capital of the Roman Catholic Bishopric of Livonia, known by the German name of Üxküll. Saint Meinhard, known from the Livonian Chronicle of Henry, was the first bishop of Üxküll. In 1197 Berthold of Hanover, a Cistercian abbot of Loccum, was made the second bishop of Üxküll. Those days the town was the center of the upcoming crusading activities in the Livonian area. Bishop Berthold moved the episcopal see to Riga, but was killed by the Livs in battle.
Saldus is a Latvian town located in Courland and is the main town, and the central location in Saldus Municipality. The name Saldus has been noted in historical sources as far back as the mid-13th century, but the founding year is considered to be 1856, and it gained town rights in 1917.
Salacgrīva is a town in Salacgrīva Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia. The centre of the area surrounding Salacgrīva is the mouth of Salaca River, and the town's name literally means "Mouth of Salaca" in Latvian. It is famous for hosting Positivus Festival every July since 2007 for 3 days attracting thousands of tourists.
Culture of Lithuania combines an indigenous heritage, represented by the unique Lithuanian language, with Nordic cultural aspects and Christian traditions resulting from historical ties with Poland. Although linguistic resemblances represent strong cultural ties with Latvia in various historical moments Lithuania was influenced by Nordic, Germanic and Slavic cultures. Various cultural changes occurred throughout Lithuania's transformation from a country occupied by the Soviet Union to an independent Baltic state.
Ogre Municipality is a municipality in Vidzeme, Latvia. The municipality was formed in 2002 by merging Ogre town and Ogresgals Parish. In 2009 it absorbed Krape Parish, Ķeipene Parish, Laubere Parish, Madliena Parish, Mazozoli Parish, Meņģele Parish, Suntaži Parish and Taurupe Parish, the administrative centre being Ogre. The population in 2021 was 57,617.
Skanste is a neighbourhood located in the center of Riga, the capital of Latvia, and is currently becoming its most modern part. Geographically, the neighborhood is situated in the northern part of the railway ring on the right bank of the Daugava, bordering with the Sarkandaugava, Brasa, Centrs, and Pētersala-Andrejsala neighborhoods.
Jelgava Gymnasium or Academia Petrina is the oldest higher educational establishment in Latvia. Based on an idea by Friedrich Wilhelm von Raison, it was established in Mitau, capital of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, by Duke Peter von Biron in 1775. The duke wanted to attract professors like Immanuel Kant and Johan Gottfried Herder, but they refused.
Krāslava New Palace or Plater's Palace is located in the historical region of Latgale, in eastern Latvia. It is an 18th-century manor ensemble with main manor house and other manor buildings and a Baroque-style park.
Riga Secondary School No. 13 is one of the best-known educational establishments in Riga, Latvia. The school provides basic education and general secondary education programmes.
The Janis Rozentāls Art School is a Latvian art school teaching the academic arts of drawing, painting and composition — as well as graphics and design.
Riga State German Grammar School is a state gymnasium-level school located at 21 Agenskalns street, Riga, the capital of Latvia.
Vidzeme Concert Hall "Cēsis" is an 800-seat regional multifunctional music and culture centre located on Rauna street in Cēsis, Vidzeme, Latvia. The Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings, art exhibitions, seminars and conferences. Constructed in 2011-2014 it provides a venue for Regional amateur art collectives. and Cēsis Music Secondary School. The centre is owned by Cēsis municipality.
