Latgale - Latvijas austrumu pierobeža

The Daugavpils Fortress is located on the right bank of Daugava, in the western part of the city of Daugavpils. This is the only fortress of the first half of the 19th century in Northern Europe, which has survived almost unchanged. Construction began in 1810, shortly after which it suffered in the war of 1812 and the floods of 1829. The fortress was a place of strategic importance, including in the fight against Napoleon’s army. Consecrated in 1833, the fortress was completed almost half a century later, in 1878. The Daugavpils Fortress is divided into quarters, with the Parade Square located in the central part. Later the fortress lost its strategic importance and a warehouse was set up in it in 1897. Before World War I, Latvian Army officers, including General Jānis Balodis and Colonel Frīdrihs Briedis, served in the Daugavpils Garrison. In honour of the centenary of the war of 1812, a monument was unveiled in the fortress park in 1912. Army units were stationed here during the Soviet era, and the Daugavpils Higher Military Aviation Engineering School was established. The fortress features several tourist attractions, including the Daugavpils Fortress Culture and Information Centre (trips around the Daugavpils Fortress are available), World War I Museum, Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre, the White Horse art gallery, a medical exhibit displaying contraceptives, the Housevintage antique shop, the Daugavpils Bat Centre and the ‘Retrogaraž-D’ exhibit of retro cars.

Daugavpils Shotgun Factory was founded in 1885. The factory is the oldest ammunition manufacturing plant in Northern Europe. The only factory of its kind in the Baltics, and one of the oldest industrial heritage sites in Latvia. The factory houses the only working lead shot casting tower in Europe.

Throughout the centuries, the factory has always produced high-quality hunting shotguns, which it continues to do today. The factory displays equipment and structures that were built in the 19th century, supplemented before and after both World Wars, but they harmonize well with the modern equipment used in the production of ammunition.

The factory offers a historical exhibition, a shot-casting workshop, and a climb up its unique 31.5 m high tower, under which there is a 13.5 m deep cooling well. The ammunition factory is a destination for many domestic and foreign tourists who want to feel the unique atmosphere of the 19th century today and get to know the ancient equipment in action. After the factory tour, everyone has the opportunity to try out the manufactured products in the factory shooting range.

Second World War Artifacts Exhibition-Museum in Aglona. The exhibition contains 1000+ items, which are displayed in a relatively small space in such a way that they are easy to see and are close to the viewer, not hidden in showcases, so you can fully feel the aura of the events of those times. Exhibits were collected for many years in active war zones during the Second World War, also through barter or purchased at auctions. The museum exhibits one of the largest collections in Latvia. In one place you can see almost all the light, "hot" weapons (carbines, machine guns, machine guns) that fought on the Eastern Front. The personal belongings of the soldiers of both warring parties, ammunition, projectiles, reactive projectiles, air bombs, cumulative weapons, cold weapons are available for viewing. A look at the uniforms and the kitchen as well. In the museum, you can try on uniforms, helmets, etc., hold a model of a machine gun and take a picture on a motorcycle with a sidecar.

Monument to the 3rd Jelgava Infantry Regiment's January 16, 1920, freedom struggle in Latgale. With the inscription: “The place of the 3rd Jelgava Infantry Regiment's battles, the victory march through Latgale. 1920.16.I. We brought the sun, freedom and independence to Latvia”

The monument was unveiled in 1936. On August 16, General Žanis Bachs (1885–1941) consecrated it by Pastor Ādams Vizulis (1891–1970). The author of the monument's design was Engineer Zilēvičs.

The Latvian War of Independence (1918–1920) operation to liberate Latgale began on January 3, 1920. By mid-January, the Latvian and Polish armies had liberated Daugavpils and most of southern Latgale up to the Dagda–Indra line from the Bolshevik forces that had seized power in Russia. On January 9, the Latvian army began its offensive in Northern Latgale, rapidly advancing towards the Kārsava and Pitalova stations.

In the middle between the two directions of attack remained the Bolshevik-controlled area around Varakļāni, Viļāni and Rēzekne. On January 20, Latvian army units began the operation to liberate Rēzekne. Rēzekne was liberated on January 21. The Latvian army, across the entire expanse of the Eastern Front, reached the border of Latvian-inhabited lands by the end of January. Already on February 1, Soviet Russia signed an armistice agreement with Latvia.

With the victory in the Battles of Latgale, Latvia's eastern border was secured and the opportunity to annex Latgale to Latvia was gained. The Latvian army achieved the final unification and independence of Latvia in 1920.

The monument, dated 1920.16.I., is dedicated to the moment when the 3rd Jelgava Infantry Regiment took up its starting positions before the operation to liberate Rēzekne.