Long, long ago, when the blue lakes of Latgale still held countless secrets and the cities were just waiting to be born, there lived three beautiful sisters \u2013 Lu\u0137e, Rase and Dine. Each of them was blessed with a unique beauty and character. The sisters lived in different places, yet they were united by a strong bond and a shared dream \u2013 to one day create something that would be remembered long after they were gone.<\/p>\n
One day, they happened to meet a skilled master mason who was planning to build three magnificent castles. The sisters had so enchanted him that the master promised to build a castle for each of them exactly where she wished. However, the sisters could not agree, so they devised an unusual test \u2013 the master had to lay the bricks by passing them from one place to another until all three castles were complete.
\nThus, three towns were founded. The first \u2013 Ludza, named after Lu\u0137e; the second \u2013 R\u0113zekne, named after Rase; and the third \u2013 Dine\u2019s town, which we know today as Daugavpils.<\/p>\n
Each of the sisters had chosen her own special place in Latgale \u2013 the land of blue lakes, where hills meet the water and nature retains its unique beauty. Lu\u0137e and Rase had fallen in love with the tranquillity of the lakes and the beauty of the calm waters. Dine, however, had a completely different nature. Her heart was as swift as a river, but her spirit was as strong and unyielding as the flow of the Daugava. She chose to make her home by the mighty river, where the waters never stand still, where roads and people meet, and where new stories are born every day. Dine wanted her city to be as strong and vibrant as the Daugava itself.<\/p>\n
Dine was the youngest of the sisters, yet her heart was the biggest. She wanted her city not only to be beautiful, but for everyone to feel welcome there, and for its name to be passed down from generation to generation.
\nAs the years passed, Dine\u2019s town grew and changed. Majestic red-brick houses, churches and other splendid buildings rose up along its streets. Brick by brick, the town\u2019s character took shape, whilst the red hue became its distinctive feature.<\/p>\n
It is said that Dine herself once touched every single brick to imbue it with a little of the warmth of her heart. Perhaps that is precisely why Daugavpils\u2019 red-brick buildings still hold so many stories today.
\nDine was convinced that the city also needed its own flower. She chose the lily \u2013 a noble and graceful, yet resilient flower, capable of blooming even after a long winter. Since then, lilies have become a symbol of Daugavpils\u2019 beauty and resilience.<\/p>\n
But why was Dine herself a woman with red hair?<\/p>\n
Legend has it that, as the city grew ever more beautiful, Dine dyed her hair the colour of Daugavpils\u2019 red bricks. She wanted everyone who looked at her to immediately recognise the city she loved so dearly. That is why her hair shone in the red colour of the bricks, reminiscent of the city\u2019s historic buildings, which have retained their pride and strength through the ages.
\nAnd so Dine became Daugavpils itself \u2013 a woman in whom the city\u2019s soul resides. The city\u2019s architectural motifs are woven into her dress, its most notable landmarks are reflected in her jewellery, whilst the story of the red bricks shimmers in her hair. Lilies are always by her side, reminding us that true beauty lies not only in outward appearance, but also in the ability to grow, change and remain true to one\u2019s essence.
\nLegends tell us that Dine still lives in Daugavpils. You might come across her on the city\u2019s streets, on the fa\u00e7ades of historic buildings, and in places where people gather. Sometimes she hides in an architectural detail, sometimes she blossoms in a lily, but most often she reveals herself to those who know how to see the city\u2019s beauty.<\/p>\n
For Daugavpils is not merely a place on a map. It is a city with the heart of a woman, the strength of the Daugava, the durability of red brick and the beauty of a lily.<\/p>\n