Liepaja

The city was founded by settlements established by the Livonian Order in the 13th century. Like many other Baltic settlements, Liepaja’s history was shaped by successive rulers: Prussia, Poland, Lithuania and Sweden, before the Russians took over in the 18th century. Industrial development in the 19th century led to the first tramway in the entire Baltic region. A large naval base was built before the First World War. The port of Libau was a departure point for emigrants heading to the United States. More recently, the city has also worked purposefully to develop its tourism potential anew. Liepaja lies between the Baltic Sea and an inland lake, Lake Liepaja (Liepajas ezers).

The city’s sights can be explored on a walking tour called “Liepaja in Notes.” Information is available from the tourist information office. The tour highlights Liepaja’s role as Latvia’s music capital. Along the way, you can visit, for example, the Liepaja Museum, the Latvian Musicians’ Walk of Fame with its first rock café, the Crafts House and the Holy Trinity Church. Alongside the Latvian capital, Riga, the city is home to one of Europe’s largest collections of Art Nouveau buildings. The extensive historic military installations are of particular interest and are now open to visitors. These include the remains of the Northern Fort, demolished in 1908, and the naval port, which occupies about a third of the city. Today, it is a hub for creative people.

Created between 1870 and the turn of the century, Liepaja’s Seaside Park covers about 50 hectares, making it one of the largest of its kind. It forms an attractive backdrop to Liepaja’s expansive Baltic Sea beach, which has been regularly awarded Blue Flag certification since 2001. Liepaja therefore offers excellent conditions for a varied holiday on Latvia’s Baltic coast. There is a plentiful choice of hotels and holiday apartments.

You can book hotels in Liepaja directly.