In total approximately 15 000 to 20 000 Jews were placed in the Daugavpils ghetto, of which less than 100 persons survived. On 8 – 9 November 1941, as the result of regular selection in the ghetto, 1134 Jews, children among them, were sent to Mežciems and shot. In 1967, on the site of mass murder, close to the Mežciems Station a memorial obelisk was erected. In 1974 a memorial stone was placed, its inscription in Russian sates: “In this place on 8–9.11 1941 German fascists shot 2000 civilians – children and adults”.
Objekta vieta: City/District
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Holocaust Memorial Place in Railwaymen’s Garden
The Nazi troops entered Daugavpils on 6 June 1941 and already on the first days of occupation launched the campaign to exterminate the Jews of Daugavpils. Until 7 July 1125 Jews were arrested and taken to the prison, they later were shot in the Railwaymen’s Garden. During the Soviet period a granite stele on a concrete base was erected here, it bears the inscription “Here the fighters, commanders of the Soviet Army, tortured to death by German–fascist invaders in 1941–1945 are buried. Eternal glory to those who perished.” In 2007 the Council of Jewish Communities of Latvia placed a memorial sign – two black granite plaques with the Stars of David and an inscription in Latvian, Russian, English and Yiddish: “In July 1941, the Nazis executed here more than 1,000 of Daugavpils Jews”.
Memorial to the Victims of Nazism
From July 1941 to the end of 1943 in the Mežciems (historical name – Poguļanka) Forest Jews, taken from Daugavpils ghetto at various times, were shot here. The exact number of victims is unknown. In 1960 a memorial (sculptor Harijs Sprincis, architect Zigurds Ābelīte) to the victims of Nazism was unveiled in the Mežciems Forest; however, the most part of the monument was destroyed in the 1990s. On 9 July 1989 Jewish activists from Daugavpils reinterred the remains that had been found at the end of the 1980s in Mežciems in separate pits. In 2007 the Council of Jewish Communities of Latvia placed on the site two black granite plaques with an inscription in Latvian, Russian, English and Hebrew: “The remains of prisoners of the Daugavpils ghetto are buried here”.
A Memorial Plaque to Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook
The Memorial Plaque to Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (1865 – 1935) was opened on March 7, 2013 on the wall of the Daugavpils Synagogue. Rabbi Abraham Isaac. He was the outstanding Jewish religious thinker and public figure, the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of the land of Israel.
Cottage “Vīrogna”
Cottage “Vīrogna” offers accommodation in a pleasant countryside, bath with a banquet hall, tent places, fire place, sports ground, fishing opportunities and possibility to harvest and mushroom in the pine forest.
Accomodation “Raiņa māja Berķenelē”
The memorial house of Janis Rainis in Berkenele offers overnight accommodation in 4 bedrooms with 10 beds with possibility accommodate 20 extra persons, kitchen spaces, tent places in the garden and comfortable rooms for seminars, parties, creative camps, plenary sessions, celebrations.
Holiday houses “Beibuki”
Sport club “Beibuks” offers rest and accommodation services up to 40 persons on the Daugava river bank, on the “Daugavas Loki” Nature Park’s territory in 14 km from Daugavpils on Krāslava direction. There are boats, silence and peace on the Daugava river bank. Boat and wooden raft rental are available.
Cottage “Pakrasti”
Cottage “Pakrasti” offers 2 log houses, a nice country bath with slots, sheds by the lake and the beach, boat rental, tent sites, sports and children’s playground, fishing and underwater hunting opportunities.
“Pie Komendanta” Museum of the World War I in Daugavpils Fortress
The museum is located in Daugavpils Fortress. Artefacts that are viewable in Museum of the First World War (1914 – 1918) was found in surrounding of Daugavpils. A museum that is dedicated to the World War I time period. A collection of weapons, artillery shells, grenade and household items (e.g. bottles, glasses and other) are displayed. Old postcards and unique photos can also be found in the collection.
Old Believer’s Prayer House in Griva
The temple was built in the 30s of the 20th century.
St.Nichola’s Russian Orthodox Church in Daugavpils
It was built in 1894 and is located near graves. It is built of red bricks; the decorative masonry bands are made in the corners of the building, above the footings and under the roof cornices. A semi-circular-shaped sheet metal roof is constructed above the entrance door, where there is also a small round window with St. Nicholas painting in the center of it.
Cottage “Meža skuķi”
Cottage “Meža skuķi” offers rest in separate guest cottage with sauna. For active recreation there is available basketball basket and a playground, mini-football and hockey gates, fishing, mushroom and berry picking.