1-asis Daugavgrivos latvių šaulių pulkas I WW1

Daugavgrīva Fortress (entry from Birzes street) is located on the Daugavgrīva Island where Buļļupe river joins the Daugava river. The fortress was built in the 17th century to defend from enemies moving in the direction of Riga, which was an important administrative, trade and production centre. Later it became the main fortification of the Latvian Army coastal defence with several support points. This defensive fortification system is one of the most valuable objects of Latvia's military heritage. This fortress has witnessed Latvian military history. For example, during the Crimean War (1853-1856) Latvian and Estonian gunboat crews were trained here. The main objective of these units was to protect local ports and the coast from attacks by the British navy. During World War I Daugavgrīva militiamen companies were formed here. These were the first Latvian combat units, which came even before the Latvian Riflemen. Nowadays it is possible to see the territory of the fortress. ‘Komētforts’ and the Seaside Nature Park are located nearby and Mangaļsala fortifications are on the other side of the Daugava river.

The Christmas Battle Memorial Park and Museum is located in Jelgava municipality, Valgunde parish, in the Mangaļi homestead. This museum is a branch of the Latvian War Museum. It was opened in 2005 and is located in the area where Christmas Battles took place. Unique World War I fortifications still remain in locations where battles took place. The indoor exhibit contains objects found in the battlefield. The open-air exposition has reconstructed fortifications. There are tourist routes and informative trails in the vicinity of the museum. The open-air exposition of World War I fortifications and indoor exhibits are available to visitors every day. Unique evidence of World War I fortifications can still be found in the vicinity of Ložmetējkalns. There is a 27 m tall observation tower that provides a panoramic view of the area where the Christmas Battle took place. The Christmas Battle is probably the best known and most dramatic event of World War I in Latvia. It has a special place in Latvia’s military and cultural history. This engagement is mainly associated with the attack of Latvian Riflemen on the German Army units in extremely harsh and unfavourable conditions. And it was also a unique situation where a large-scale combat operation was started without artillery support.

The approximately 30 km long dune ridge, which can be traced in nature from Iļģuciems (with minor interruptions) to Tīreļi today, is one of the most impressive landforms of the Seaside Lowlands, which is rarely perceived as a single natural formation. The dune was formed on the shores of one of the last Baltic glacial lakes, as the waters of the Baltic glacial lake receded. The dune ridge consists of two parallel 50–100 m wide dune belts. They are usually 6–10 m high, but their highest points reach 16–19 m above sea level. In the vicinity of Kleisti, Imanta and Beberbeķi, the beautiful pine forests covering the dunes are a popular place for walking, recreation and sports, and in winter - cross-country skiing. The part of the dune in the vicinity of Lāčupīte is associated with the events of the Bermontiades. On the dune in Pārdaugava is the Lāčupe or Lācaras cemetery . Between Pinkie and Babīte, the Beberbeķi Nature Park has been established to preserve the dunes. The western part of the Nordeķi-Kalnciemas dune ridge, approximately 10 km long, is called the Long Dune . Near the Long Dune (south of Trenči) is the Antiņi Brothers Cemetery , the Latvian Riflemen's Hospital medicine warehouse , and the renovated Latvian Riflemen's dugouts . South of the Long Dune is a massif of swampy forests and marshes, including Rāvājs and Maztīrelis . Opposite Maztīrelis is Ložmetējkalns with a viewing tower and a resting place and the so-called German rampart section . Even further west, near the Long Dune are the Latvian Riflemen Brothers Cemetery and the Piķi Brothers Cemetery. With greater or lesser interruptions, trenches are visible almost along the entire Nordeķi-Kalnciemas dune ridge. In the southwestern part of the Long Dune – in the swampy forests that adjoin it from the south, bomb craters from the First World War are visible. Along the entire length of the Long Dune (south of it), small forest paths run, suitable for walks and longer hikes – a great opportunity to explore the sites of the First World War battles.