Rēzekne is a 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 and Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railways. It has a population of 31,216 (2016) making it the 7th largest city in Latvia.
Latgale is one of the Historical Latvian Lands. It is the easternmost region and is north of the Daugava River. While most of Latvia is historically Lutheran, Latgale is predominantly Roman Catholic: 65.3% according to a 2011 survey. There is also a strong Eastern Orthodox minority (23.8%), of which 13.8% are Russian Orthodox Christians and 10.0% are Old Believers. As of 2020, the region's population was 255,968.
Latgalians were an ancient Baltic tribe.
Historical Latvian Lands or formerly Cultural regions of Latvia are several areas within Latvia formally recognised as distinct from the rest of the country. While some of these regions are seen purely as culturally distinct, others have historically been parts of different countries and have been used to divide the country for administrative and other purposes. The Constitution of Latvia recognises four distinct regions: Kurzeme, Zemgale, Latgale and Vidzeme.
Latgalian is an Eastern Baltic language belonging to the Balto-Slavic branch often spoken in Latgale, the eastern part of Latvia. It is debated whether it is a separate language with heavy Latvian influence, due to historical mutual exposure, or an eastern dialect of Latvian. Nevertheless, its standardized form is recognized and protected as a "historical variety of the Latvian language" (vēsturisks latviešu valodas paveids) under national law. The 2011 Latvian census established that 8.8% of Latvia's inhabitants, or 164,500 people, speak Latgalian daily. 97,600 of them live in Latgale, 29,400 in Riga and 14,400 in the Riga Planning Region.
The Light of Latgale was a Latgalian regionalist political party in Latvia.
Krāslava Municipality is a municipality in Latgale, Latvia. The municipality was formed in 2001 by merging Krāslava Parish and Krāslava town. In 2009 it absorbed Auleja Parish, Indra Parish, Izvalta Parish, Kalnieši Parish, Kaplava Parish, Kombuļi Parish, Piedruja Parish, Robežnieki Parish, Skaista Parish and Ūdrīši Parish town the administrative centre being Krāslava.
The Latgalians are an ethnographic group, sometimes classified as a sub ethnos of Latvians, living in Latgale, who speak Latgalian, a distinct dialect of Latvian seen by some as a language and share a common culture that sets them apart from other Latvians.
Latvian pottery or Latvian ceramics is one of the country's oldest art forms, dating back to the Neolithic. The best-known subset of Latvian pottery is Latgalian pottery. The eastern region of Latgale is the most prolific producer of wares.
Provisional Land Council of Latgale was created on April 27, 1917, after the democratic February Revolution in Russian Empire. The Council was crucial in achieving separation of Latvian inhabited lands of the former Inflanty Voivodeship from the Vitebsk Governorate and uniting them with the Baltic provinces of Courland and Vidzeme in the new state of Latvia.
Jānis Pujāts was a Latgalian art historian, known for the popularization of the Latgalian pottery in the Soviet years. Author of books about Latgalian pottery.
Latgalian pottery or Latgalian ceramics, also known as Silajāņi ceramics is the best-known subset of Latvian pottery. The region of Latgale historically has been the most prolific producer of wares. Latgalian ceramics rose to the popularity in the Soviet period, when art historian Jānis Pujāts wrote books about the best Latgalian ceramicists and organized several exhibitions to showcase their works.
Andrejs Paulāns-Kraskevičs was a Latvian and Latgalian ceramicist. He is regarded as one of the greatest Latgalian ceramicists. In 1937, Paulāns was awarded with a Gold Medal at the Paris Exhibition.
Polikarps Vilcāns was a Latvian and Latgalian ceramicist. One of the most renowned Latgalian ceramicists. In 1937, Vilcāns was awarded with a Gold Medal at the Paris Exhibition.
Antons Kūkojs was a Latvian and Latgalian poet, painter and theatre director. In 2000, he was awarded with the Order of the Three Stars.
The Latgale Culture and History Museum in Rēzekne, Latvia, is a history museum with a large collection of items, including Latgalian ceramics. It receives about 31,000 visitors per year.
The Latgale Party is a regionalist political party in Latvia representing the Latgalian minority of Latvia. It is a part of the New Unity coalition and since 2014, it has been led by Jānis Lāčplēsis and Aldis Adamovičs.
