Liepaja
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Liepaja |
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Hotel Liva
The town of Liepaja was formed in the territory between the Baltic Sea and the Liepaja and Tosmare Lakes. The port channel divides the city into two parts. Neither the city nor the port are particularly large. The central parts of town are dominated by small stone and wooden houses.
After decades of isolation as a Soviet naval base, the dust is blowing off the linden-tree lined streets of Latvia's third biggest city, revealing beautiful if faded architecture and a pulsating cultural life. The focus of the town is its ice-free port. A trip to the former Soviet submarine base is a bizarre but worthwhile experience, while more sedate nautical adventures can be found along the miles of beaches that flank the city.
Modern Liepaja is an industrial, cultural and educational center. Buildings of different architectural styles and ages are located in Liepaja within a relatively small area. Different and unique, together they compliment each other and create an atmosphere characteristic only of Liepaja. The Art-Nouveau style in Liepaja architecture is special with its restraint and laconism, perfectly fitting in the whole city building. The most characteristic buildings can be seen on Kurmajas Prospect, Ausekla iela, Kursu iela and Dzintaru iela. The serene, clean beach of Liepaja is a nice place to rest.
HistoryLiepaja is the third largest city in Latvia, with a population of 93,000, is located in the south-western side of the country, on the Baltic Sea coast. It is first mentioned in historic chronicles in 1253, but was officially accorded city status in 1925. Every year on March 18 the inhabitants of Liepaja celebrate the city's birthday. Liepaja experienced the biggest impetus to its development at the end of the 19th century. In 1860 Liepaja still had just over 8.000 inhabitants. In 1868 the construction of the port of Liepaja started again and in 1876 a Liepaja - Riga railway line was opened; the rail line was of special importance to varied transit shipments through the port of Liepaja. An unprecedented rapid period of industrial and trade development began in Liepaja.
Liepaja surpassed the port of Riga and other competing ports in terms of the volume of reloaded cargo and at this time the population increased over ten times, exceeding 100,000. This kind and speed of growth was not experienced by any other city in Latvia.
The First World War and the new situation in Europe put a brake on the city's development. After the war, the population of Liepaja decreased by half, an even though there was noticeable economic activity and construction in the city up to WWII, Liepaja never reached its pre-WW l levels
The 1939 agreement with the USSR once again changed Liepaja's geo-political significance. The city became an USSR military support base in the Baltic Sea basin, and all economic activity, directly or indirectly was linked to the social program goals of the military base. In 1974 the population once again reached 100,000, and by 1985 it was already 114. 000. However, the percentage of Latvians in the city was only 38%. These specific developments in the city's history, and the use of the port practically only for military goals meant that Liepaja disappeared from the world economic turnover map.
After Latvia regained independence, the city once again had the possibility to develop normally. Making use of its advantageous geographic location and the benefits of being an ice-free port years Liepaja went from zero to 1.6 million tons of cargo turnover. And that is only part of the possibilities now open to Liepaja, since even without any special investment, the turnover can be increased to 6 million tons annually.
The former naval base
You will never find it on your own amongst miles of abandoned concrete, but tell a taxi driver to take you to the kara osta (military port) or more specifically the zemudenu baze (submarine base) for a truly bizarre sight. Amongst other scuttled hulks are a handful of submarines, mere ghosts of the sophisticated weapons of war they once were. On the wall of the main submarine pen is a Russian graffiti reading "do not climb on the ships - they're poisoned", but don't worry. In the bomb proof maintenance pen the Soviet navy used to change the numbers of the boats before they went out to sea again to fool the prying eyes of US spy satellite. The customs officers are quite happy to show you around. The orthodox Church, formerly a sailors' club, the palatial tsarist era officer's club, and the bleak wilderness aura of an abandoned, super-power naval base are worth the trip.
Facilities
Company Contact Address Information Lodgings Hotels Amrita
Tel (+371-34) 80 888/03 434 fax (+371-34) 80444
Feja
Kurzemes 9 (entrance from Peldu), tel (+371-34) 22688/25945
fax (+371-34) 27667
The best place to stay. The cosy little "family hotel" has a restaurant in the basement, which has adequate food but is rather pricey. Guarded parking lot. Reserve beforehand!
Liva
Liela 11 tel (+371-34) 20121
The main place to stay, the city-owned hotel offers something for every budget. The cheaper ones are spartan but clean, while the others are worth the not outrageous price.
Nicava Motelis
Nicas pag., tel (+371-35) 34162 fax (+371-35) 34173
Owned by the same people as hotel Feja.
Unnamed private house
Plavu 44 tel (+371-34) 32766
Marite and Andris Gorsvanis are amber crafters making ends meet in tough times by renting out three rooms in their very posh home. They are all lavish and luxuriously decorated and the B&B has a cosy sauna. Ten minutes from the centre and the beach.
Hostels Bed & Breakfast Eating Café Ilze Graudu 23, tel. (+371) 26 724 This dark cellar restaurant boasts impressive ambiance in the form of vaulted brick arches, aging paintings and romantic lighting. The menu lacks originality, but they do provide live musicians every evening to distract you from waiting for your meal. Little Johnny's Zivju 3, tel. (+371) 22 370 Tacky pictures of Marilyn Monroe and a New York skyline do not a pizzeria make. Small frozen pizzas and plenty of standard Latvian fast food to boot. Naves ena (In the Shadow of Death) Barinu 32, tel. (+371) 80 202 Named after Rudolfs Blaumanis' famous ice-fishing novella, this excellent bar and restaurant located in one of the city's oldest homes offers hearty Latvian meals and authentic ancient atmosphere. Drink a local Uzavas beer by the fireplace under giant oak beams. Pie Krustmates Agates Zivju 4/6, tel. (+371) 81 555 Godmother Agate serves a buffet of tasty Latvian home cooking in quaint, rustic surroundings. Definitely one of the cheapest places in town, it's probably also the best for breakfast. Sams (Catfish) Zivju 7/9 Congratulations to the person who opened a seafood restaurant on, of all places, Fish Street. The amazing interior consists of giant anchors, driftwood, a wooden bar that resembles a pier and canvas sails for curtains. Pastas, steaks, pizzas and seafood. Look for the bow of a row boat and a hanging lantern by the entrance. Other 37 O.Kalpaka Street, Liepāja LV – 3401
Phone: +371 3423723
Fax: +371 3481455 email
23 Graudu Street, Liepāja LV – 3400
Phone: +371 3425506
Fax: +371 3481474
Baltic Transit Agency Jsc.
2 Roņu Street, Liepāja LV - 3400
Phone: +371 9211873
Fax: +371 9345121
Hanza Liepaja Ltd.
7 Sliežu Street, Liepāja LV - 3401
Phone: +371 3428735
Fax: +371 3429003
Liepaja SEZ "LASKANA" Ltd.
Liepāja harbour berths No.40,41,56 Liepāja LV- 3401
Phone: +371 3423111
Fax: +371 3424462
Latma - S Ltd.
6 - 108A Flotes Street, Liepāja LV – 3400
Phone: +371 3424504
Fax: + 371 3425471
Liepaja Shipping Agency Ltd.
4a Apsu Street, Liepāja LV - 3401
Phone: +371 3425854, 3426278
Fax: +371 3481190
Seatrans Ltd.
7 Kūrmājas Prospect / 306 - 307 /, Liepāja LV – 3401
Phone: +371 3426539
Fax: +371 3427648, 3426336
54 Vecā Ostmala, Liepāja LV – 3401
Phone: +371 3425756, 3422644
Fax: +371 3425475, 3481454
Wh. H. Muller Baltic Ltd.
7 Eksporta Street, Rīga LV – 1045
Phone: +371 7325565
Fax: +371 7830256, 7326032
