What are the interesting place to see in Daugavpils? All visitors who come to the city for the first time ask this question. Therefore, we’ll continue a series of articles about the most popular places and attractions in Daugavpils. Today we’re going to tell you about Daugavpils University, the Esplanade, Andrejs Pumpurs Park, and the Kadish Synagogue.

Daugavpils University

Daugavpils University is an institution of higher education that is located in the center of Daugavpils. The university was founded in 1921. It was renamed several times. In 2001, it acquired its present name. The university has two buildings: the old and new ones. The old building hosts two faculties: the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Music and Arts. The Faculty of Sciences and mathematics, the Faculty of Education and Management, and the Faculty of Social Sciences are located in the new building.

The Esplanade

The Esplanade is a district of Daugavpils which is located not far from Daugavpils University and is considered one of the most densely populated districts in the city. Daugavpils University sports center with a swimming pool, Music College, Daugavpils Multifunctional Sports Center, and Daugavpils City State Gymnasium are situated there.  There is also a recreation park which is the first cycling park in the Baltics with the territory of 4 hectares and located in the city.

Andrejs Pumpurs Square

Andrejs Pumpurs Square is the oldest park in Daugavpils. It is located opposite Unity House and the old building of Daugavpils University. The square was founded in the second half of the 19th century. It also has a portrait sculpture of the poet Andrejs Pumpurs installed in 1966.  Besides that, in the square there is a fountain named “The Girl with a Lily”. Next to the fountain there is the Orthodox Chapel of Aleksander Nevsky. The Chapel was built to commemorate the cathedral which was located on the same place in the middle of the 19th century until it was destroyed. Now the keys from the old cathedral are kept in the city museum. Daugavpils City State Gymnasium is situated not far from Andrejs Pumpurs Square.

Daugavpils Kadish Synagogue

Daugavpils Kadish Synagogue is the Jewish community in Daugavpils that has been living here for centuries. Before World War I there were over forty synagogues in the city. However, at present there is only one symbol of this history left in Daugavpils – the Kadish Synagogue that was built in the middle of the 19th century. Legend holds that it was built using funds from a devout Jew in memory of his deceased brother. The synagogue also houses a museum of Jewish history called “Jews in Daugavpils and Latgale”.

That’s all for today. In the next article, we’ll tell you about other landmarks in Daugavpils.