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 MAP OF LATVIA
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Vidzeme
Latvia’s capital city Riga lies in Vidzeme as does the spectacular Baltic spa town of Jurmala, the Latvian skiing centre and their world class bob sled track.
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Latgale
Latgale is home to an enormous number of lakes and is a dream for any fisherman. It also has the renowned Catholic spiritual centre, Aglona, a place of pilgrimage. |
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Kurzeme
Kurzeme bound by the sea to the north and west, is known for its many fishing villages and ice-free ports. It is also home to the 182 surviving ancient Liv people. |
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Zemgale
Zemgale is known for the spectacular architecture of its many beautiful castles, palaces and manor houses including the famous Rundale Palace.
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FACTS ABOUT LATVIA |
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On the map above you can see Latvia's four historical and cultural regions. On the National coat of arms, Kuzeme and Zemgale in the west are symbolised by a red lion and Vidzeme and Latgale in the east, by a silver griffin.
The Climate in Latvia is moderate with warm summers and very cold, snowy winters lasting from November to mid-March. Approximately 2.42 million people live in Latvia but only 57.8% of these are Latvian. That number is gently creeping up though. The official language is Latvian but Russian, English and German are widely spoken.
- The Latvian flag is among the oldest in the world
- Latvia’s national insect is the Marite (two-spotted lady bird)
- Latvia’s national flower is the Pipene (daisy)
- Latvia is famous for the Amber washed up on its shores
- Diers, sveti Latviju (God bless Latvia) is the national anthem
RIGA - LATVIA'S CAPITAL CITY
Capital city Riga was founded in 1201 and so celebrated its 800th birthday in 2001. Riga is the largest city in the Baltics and has a long history, a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant contemporary style. The population of 1 million enjoy easy access to other European cities. Stockholm, Copenhagen, London, Helsinki and Berlin are within a couple of hours flying time. This bustling city boasts an abundance of restaurants, pubs, cafes, and night-clubs.
The medieval old Town is home to countless galleries and museums that reveal the cultural history of Riga. The Art Noveau buildings form the face of the city and Latvia's rich musical tradition can be heard in the concert halls and at the Latvian National Opera. The Riga cityscape has an abundance of parks and gardens and sits on the banks of the majestic Daugava, Riga’s national river.
With thanks to Riga's Tourist Office
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Today's weather for Riga International |
Friday
Max -13 °C
Min -18 °C
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Guide to Latvia
