This is The Most Russian City in Latvia 🇱🇻
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- čas přidán 13. 03. 2023
- Daugavpils is the second largest city in Latvia and it’s also known to be the most russian one. Latvians are only about one fifth of city’s population.
Daugavpils was on my wish list for many years, but it always seemed too far to visit as it takes a good four hour drive from the Latvian capital. But as I am making my way down to Lithuania it felt like a perfect time to finally visit Daugavpils. Join me!
#daugavpils #russiancity #russiansinlatvia
Thanks for the video! I think it would be proper to call Daugavpils Russian-speaking, not a Russian city because there are different nationalities, including a significant Polish minority. I guess they wouldn't like it if you would call them Russians. Anyway, Daugavpils is an interesting place with a rich heritage, different nationalities, and religions within one small city. Latvia has the most tram networks among all the Baltic States - in Riga, Daugavpils, and Liepāja. Estonia has only one - in Tallinn, while Lithuania has none. Daugavpils tram network was built right after WWII and it was done by local people. Each Daugavpilian was obliged to work on the tram line construction for a certain amount of hours. I guess it was also a part of Soviet propaganda back then because it was intended to build a tram network in Daugavpils a long time before but the construction began only under Soviet rule. Unfortunately, today the city is underdeveloped. Not only economically but also in terms of thinking, mentality, and world perception which is much different than in Riga or elsewhere in Latvia. These are also significant factors that are slowing the development of the city and the whole region. Daugavpils was one of the few municipalities where most of the people voted against joining the EU in the 2003 referendum. Today you can find there a significant amount of Putin supporters who now behave quietly taking into account the present war situation. I live in Riga but Daugavpils is the land of my ancestors, so I wish all the best to Daugavpils and Latgale, and I hope that one day it will become an economically developed region.
Wow, thank you for the comment and explanation of the great lenghts. I know there are many nationalities and people with different backgrounds, but russians are at least half and maybe it’s no entirely politicaly correct don’t think there is another city in Latvia with such a big native russian speaker percentage and language usage as in Daugavpils.
Latgale and Daugavpils is a beautiful part of Latvia that definitely don’t get enough recognision in my mind. Would love to return to this part of Latvia!
@@theruudy I definitely agree about not getting enough recognition and attention.
I guess it still comes from the times when Latgale was separated from the rest of the Latvian lands and still is quite different today.
Thank you for the first impression when visiting Daugavpils. I was there last summer. There is still a lot to discover for history researchers and art lovers...Ruudy, I am waiting for new stores:)
That is true! Need to come back some day and also visit some museums and art galleries 😊
Daugavpils is Latvian city, not Russian. In town live representatives of different nationalities (approximately 16+). Of course, most of them speak Russian as native language and communicate with each other in Russian, but we are Latvians and on the streets you may hear Latvian speech as well, because we live in Latvia. So, there is only a peculiarity in Russian-speaking population.
Thank you for the comment!
Daugavpils is located in Latvian territory, so of course it will be Latvian city. I understand your point, maybe the title could have been written more clearly, but think you also understand what I meant here 😊
Interesting video! I spent one week in daugavpils and went to riga and it felt like I went to another country. daugavpils certainly feels like a russian enclave inside latvia. I heard nobody talking in latvian anywhere.
That’s correct, Riga is visibly different than Daugavpils. Based on my experiences, language situation wasn’t that bad though. But nevertheless, thank you for watching and thank you for the comment also 🙂
Did you go to Daugavpils through choice or penance?!
@@witlof5492 kinda…it was part of our university course so in order to get a grade I ”had” to go there😂
@TheOliver8000 Hope the grade 1 was worth it! Personally, though I haven't been (nor would I wish to go) to Daugavpils, it looks a bit dour.
I want to visit Latvia in summer time
You should. It’s the best time to visit :)
Ruudy, thanks for this report. I have still not made it to Daugavpils. I was surprised how clean the city appears and also graffiti-free. Although I try to speak the few phrases I know in Latvian, I am happy to see you speaking Russian to the older generation. I find myself also speaking Russian while in LV. It's a handy language when visiting eastern Europe. Hopefully you get to Aglona one day. It's not far from there and it quite an amazing site in the middle of nowhere. Hope you get to visit also visit Liepāja and Ventspils. Especially Liepāja has enough to see on a winter day. The restaurant also looked good.
You are very welcome! 🙂
Daugavpils was also a positive surprise for me. For sure, you will meet russian speakers all around the world. I have been to Aglone many years ago, but should return to explore Latgale and other Latvian parts more deeply. Hopefully can make a bigger trip this summer when the weather gets better.
@@theruudy I agree about returning in Summer. I have seen a lot of Latvia only in the winter. When in Aglona, make sure you bring a bottle for the mineral water. It's almost like Borjomi!
@@theruudy yes, please go to Liepāja.
You have a nice style and pleasant personality for this type of videography. Your English is also excellent. You are a great ambassador for Latvia. I am hoping to possibly teach English at the university in Daugavpils next Sept., so your video was a useful introduction. Thanks-Steve from the U.S.
Thank you for for the good words. Really appreciate it!
Definitely, go for it! Will be new experience in life! ;)
I accepted the position. I will be an English professor at Daugavpils University starting in late August. Perhaps we'll have a chance to meet in person at some time. Thanks!@@theruudy
@@stephenschuit7880Wish you all the best with a position. And, indeed, who knows :)
I actually spent around 55 euros a night for a 4 star hotel in the old town of Riga last summer for a single bed room. So 40 euros does not seem very cheap in comparasion . But it seems hotels are quickly raising prices now to offset the massive cost increases.
I agree, it is definitely not cheap. But at the same time there weren’t many other decent options. Also, there are no hostels in Daugavpils. Seems like the less competition - the higher price is going to be! 😂
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Paldies :)
😎👍
Thank you! 😊
In the UK, we call that salad with carrots that you ate, Russian salad - so, quite appropriate for this most Russian Latvian town.
Could not look like that from the video, but this was the warm version of carrots with peas. Believe there is a different name for this dish, it’s more like a souce. Can’t even tell the latvian name, but it’s not salad! 😂👍
@@theruudy Oh, I thought the sauce was mayonnaise. The dish probably doesn't have a name - it looks like a cunning way to use up leftover vegetables! Very practical people, the Latvians! Keep smiling.
@@theruudy Oh, I thought the sauce was mayonnaise. The dish probably doesn't have a name - it looks like a cunning way to use up leftover vegetables! Very practical people, the Latvians! Keep smiling.
@@witlof5492 Haha, most likely that was also the case here! Will do my best 😉
Čau 🇱🇻
Čau no Latvijas 🇱🇻
Спасибо, что так хорошо рассказали, город провинциальный, никакой вот просто никакой, пока было училище, девушки из педагогов как-то устраивались. Горбач с елцыным все сломали, и нет теперь ………
Sposibo! Po moemu Daugavpils klasni gorod :)
И где люди?!! Ау ?!
Ne ochen mnogo, no bila 😊
Doesnt look good and worth visit
If you are in the region, would recommend to visit anyway 😉
It is a Catholic city 🇻🇦✝️
I am not sure how you determine that. But it is very likely 😊
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Serbia - Russia 🤝
@@theruudy 🇷🇸🇷🇺🥰