Daugavpils: The shifting border city that survived empires, wars, and total cultural erasure

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Located in southeastern Latvia, Daugavpils has been a strategic prize for centuries. Once a thriving hub of Jewish culture and religious diversity, the city has been renamed and repurposed by Polish, Russian, Swedish, and Soviet powers. Today, it remains a multicultural crossroads defined by its complex, often tragic, historical layers.

Founded in 1273 by the Livonian Order, the city—originally called Dünaburg—has spent centuries as a contested garrison point. Its location between Riga and Minsk, and Warsaw and Saint Petersburg, made it a vital railway and industrial junction. Throughout its history, the city has been governed by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire, and the Soviet Union, with each era leaving behind a new name, from the Russian-era Dvinsk to the modern Latvian Daugavpils.

By the late 19th century, Daugavpils had become a vibrant Jewish center, with the 1897 census recording 32,400 Jewish residents, nearly 44% of the population. The city was home to 40 synagogues and world-renowned rabbinical scholars like Joseph Rosen and Meir Simcha of Dvinsk. It was also the birthplace of abstract expressionist Mark Rothko in 1903. This rich cultural fabric was shattered during the Nazi occupation, which began in June 1941. By the time the city was liberated in 1944, only about 100 of the city's 16,000 Jewish residents remained.

Today, the city retains its multicultural character, featuring landmarks like the Church Hill, where Lutheran, Catholic, Orthodox, and Old Believer traditions coexist. Despite the trauma of the 20th century, Daugavpils remains a significant educational and cultural hub, with institutions like the University of Daugavpils. The city continues to grapple with its identity, evidenced by a 2012 referendum where 85% of voters supported making Russian a second state language, reflecting the enduring influence of its complex past.

The city's architectural legacy is a testament to its 19th-century expansion, guided by plans endorsed in St. Petersburg in 1826. From the massive fortress completed in 1878 to the Art Nouveau and red brick buildings currently undergoing restoration, the city preserves a physical record of its layered history. As of 2023, Daugavpils is home to 78,850 people, serving as a state city that continues to balance its historical heritage with its modern role in southeastern Latvia.

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