Liepaja

karosta

A former secret Soviet military town. If you are in Liepaja, you must go to Karosta. It is the northern part of the city, about 10 km 6 mi from the center. Karosta translates as War Port or Navy Harbor from Latvian. It used to be a secret military town for Russian empire, and later also for the Soviets. Latvia became independent, and some years after that, in 1994, the Soviet militarists had to leave Karosta. The population dropped dramatically from 25000 to 6000, leaving many empty houses behind. Then Karosta experienced something like a war without guns. Many houses where turned into ruins. Everything was taken away. Brick by brick, many historic, beautiful buildings disappeared forever. Now, Karosta has a population of 7000 and a dream of renaissance, which has already started. It is now a popular tourist destination and also home for international artist’s center, called K2. Many places of Karosta still look like after a war. Some places remind the abandoned towns of Chernobyl nuclear disaster area.

There is a beach in Karosta. There you will find some pebbles and the sand might not be that soft as in the previous beach. But Karosta is definitely a must see, if you visit Liepaja! Karosta translates as War Port from Latvian. It used to be a secret military town for Russian empire, and later also for the Soviets. On the seashore of Karosta you can also see a Breakwater, the longest one of Liepaja`s breakwaters, stretching 1.8 km into the sea, and you can go on it by car till approximately half of its length. Just be careful of waves in windy weather. And wind is famous in Liepaja. A Latvian expression says "the city where wind was born". And as any Latvian would tell, it's Liepaja. On the shore you can also see two fortresses. This is a wild beach with steep coasts, unlike the central beach with dunes.

Eight fortresses

all around the city, but the most scenic and interesting ones are these two on the shores of Karosta. The one closer to breakwater you can even see a small part of it from the breakwater, is Tuvejie Forti Nearby Fortress, and it was blasted up shortly after being built. The other one, further to the north, is Ziemelu forti Northern Fortress. It is not blasted up, so it has much more underground labyrinths and tunnels to explore, but it is not as scenic and dramatic from the outside as the first one. Nearby the Northern fortress you can see nature-friendly energy being made by a huge wind power generator, which can be seen from far in the distance.

Orthodox cathedral

in the central part of Karosta. It is surrounded by Soviet-style apartment buildings, making it very surreal and contrasting. It was used as a cinema and a gym for soldiers during the soviet occupation years. Now the St. Nicholas maritime cathedral is a church again and the sound of its bells can be heard from afar.

Submarine Accumulator Fence and Hangar

are the remains of a submarine base that was once here. There are also former dormitories, beautiful red brick buildings. All are abandoned and partially demolished.

Horse Arena

MANEZA is a roofless building, which was once used for soldiers` training to ride horses, as well as for official celebrations for up to 4000 people who could fit there. These days the building is not used, except for one nice event, when Liepaja symphony orchestra made an open-air concert here.

Twinned town of Chernobyl

are empty Soviet style apartment buildings, left in 1994. Some are already destroyed, some 10 are still there. Many older houses are empty as well.

Karosta Prison

It was a real military prison till 1997 and is now for tourists, where they are treated like real prisoners, and, if they are brave enough, can even stay overnight

Castle

is unfortunately in bad condition.

Temporary Art Gallery

modern, a bit weird, but always original and interesting exhibitions at Atmodas bulvaris 6. gallery k.Maksla. Ask for bicycle rental here, too.

Other things

Water supply tower, Karosta cemetery with soviet style monuments, Karosta park, many forests and Beberlini Lake - a nice place to have a barbecue party in summer. There is camping, too.

In the city center:

The Liepaja Museum

; 16, Kurmajas Avenue; Phone: 63422973; (http://www.liepajasmuzejs...).

Liepaja During Occupational Regimes

; 7/9, K.Ukstina Street; Phone: 63420274;

In Liepaja region: there are some nice towns, 100km of beautiful Baltic coast, lots of forests and it is worth to visit the Kalvene Zoo park, which is very big and animals have bigger space to live than usually in city zoos. Pape Nature Park is another option, if you want to see wild horses and wild boars. Same animals can be seen in Vitinu meadows, which is just the opposite coast of Liepaja Lake, not far from the airport. This visit must be guided and pre-booked in the tourism info center, because it is a nature protection area. Town of Aizpute has medieval atmosphere with little irregular streets, old wooden buildings and castle ruins, and it is on the way to Kuldiga, the medieval town with Europe's widest waterfall.

liepaja lake

Liepaja is surrounded by water. There are the Baltic Sea coast, two big lakes, some smaller ones, four channels in the city. The city, especially the southern part Vecliepāja is almost an island. Liepaja Lake is the fifth largest lake in Latvia. It is lagoona-type, meaning it was part of the sea in ancient days. It is not deep, and is relatively narrow - up to 3.5 km 2.2 mi - and long - about 15 km 9.3 mi. Liepaja city is on the north-western coast of the lake. If you go to Ezerkrasts Lakeside, you can see the best lake views from Tise iela Tise street. On one side are apartment buildings, and on the other, a meadow; behind the meadow is the lake. The lake, together with surrounding meadows, is a nature protection area, mostly because of some rare plants growing there and many species of birds that live or come across this place regularly. Swimming in the lake is not as nice as in the sea but warmer, because the bottom is sometimes swampy. There is, however, a special place for swimming at the very end of Vainodes street.

There is an interesting, yet very dirty and untouristic place called Zirgu sala. It is the biggest isle in the lake and is very close to city center, where it is connected by bridge. From the island, an approximately 1 km 0.6 mi long jetty, accessible even by car a very bad road though built of metallurgical factory oven-burned metallic stones, goes into the lake, providing nice views. It is sometimes called Golodova dambis or Zirgu salas dambis, but does not appear in any travel guides.

open air markets

They are always something special for western tourists, but part of daily life for local people. There are many markets throughout the city, but the two most important and largest are Peter’s market Petertirgus and Anne’s market Annas tirgus. Petertirgus is in the city center. It has big indoor and outdoor sections. In both you can find food and non-food items. There is a fish market in the basement of the indoor market building. Some craftworks can be bought outside, such as amber bracelets etc. This is the best place to buy local, ecologically clean fruit and vegetables, and July is strawberry time! Everything is relatively cheap.Annas tirgus is located one tram stop closer to the center than the bus/railway station, in Jaunliepaja. It is smaller, but has a big flea market section, where you can find many things from the Soviet era.