Daugavpils fortress is an area of 150 hectares, it is a unique monument of architecture and cultural history of national importance. Now it is included in the LPMA with the status of a fortress. And this is not accidental, said Artjoms Mahļins, head of the Daugavpils fortress and museum administration.
“The members of the association are both castles and castle ruins. They are all fortifications, but the Daugavpils fortress is a very unique element and complex of fortifications.
Daugavpils fortress is one of the objects, and the fortress has many other important, beautiful objects, museums, expositions, fortifications and ramparts. By signing this contract, the Association of Castles and Manors of Latvia itself also confirms its interest in us becoming its member.”
The state city of Daugavpils has entered the LPMA as the 99th member with a yearly payment of 150 euros as a member of a legal entity. Latgale is generally not active in this cooperation, the joint agreement with Daugavpils is also a new step in the activity of the association itself, LPMA chairman Roberts Grinberg admitted.
“Our association is very flexible in this regard. Our association includes not only castles and manors, but also castle ruins. Now, a new step has been taken with the fortress. It is such a historical fortification structure, Daugavpils stands out on the scale of Latvia. This cultural and historical heritage is must be told, reflected and popularized not only in the context of Latvia, but in the context of the whole Baltic.”
It will be a mutually beneficial cooperation, Grinberg emphasized.
“We are planning cooperation for the next five years. Various joint projects are planned. Every year, the association organizes tourism development promotions “Let’s tour Latvian castles and manors” and “Night of Legends”, in which the Daugavpils fortress will also have the opportunity to participate in the future,” explained Grinberg.
Daugavpils fortress is developing, projects are being implemented. Even now, said Daugavpils council chairman Andrejs Elksniņš.
“The program for the reconstruction of the Daugavpils fortress garden has already been approved. Construction works could start this year, and they will be completed within a year.
As a result, we will clean up the fortress garden and reconstruct the fountain in the middle of the garden. Then there are plans to arrange the space of the former war hospital and also to restore the Jesuit school. It would be a unified cultural space and environment,” stated the mayor of Daugavpils.
Daugavpils fortress is an environment for tourists to spend at least two days. Cooperation with LPMA will only be beneficial in popularizing this environment, said the director of the Rothko Museum, Maris Čačka.
“It will again be a new audience that will enrich the understanding of the specifics of this region, of the presence of this unique cultural-historical monument in our country. And of the cultural content contained in this monument. The Rothko Museum will also be a beneficiary, as the Association of Latvian Castles and Estates organizes various activities , also motivates tourism gourmets to choose one or another destination. Why not a trip to Latgali, directly to Daugavpils, to the Daugavpils fortress? Because you can safely spend two days here, see, enjoy, think, remember history and see what else is here can change,” said Čačka.
Daugavpils Technical and Industrial Design Center “Inženieru Arsenāls”, where the cooperation agreement was signed, also sees a positive contribution, moreover, the goals and environment for development are broad, the head of the center Raitis Ķikusts did not hide.
In the picture, the head of the Daugavpils Technical and Industrial Design Center “Inženieru Arsenāls” Raitis ķikusts
Photo: Silvija Smagare
“There is a total of 9,000 square meters of built-up area, we have to wait for opportunities for projects to expand our expositions in much more detail. So that visitors can spend not only 2-3 hours here, but much more – even the whole day,” noted Ķikusts.
Daugavpils fortress has long been not only a neighborhood of the city, it is also the most popular tourist attraction in Daugavpils. The investments made in it are large and should still be invested, said Mahlins, head of the Daugavpils fortress and museum administration.
“According to my calculations, around 42 million euros have already been invested here, both municipal, state and private investments. How much more is needed? I think that even one billion would not be enough here!” thought Mahlins.
