History
The Latvian National Museum of History (LNVM) has launched a new book “Skirts in Latvia in the early 19th-20th century”. It's a voluminous study devoted specifically to this traditional clothing. The book compiles 500 types of skirts, part of the museum's clothing and textile collection that covers all regions of Latvia.
There is no shortage of memorable days on a Latvian history enthusiast's calendar, but one that perhaps doesn't get the attention it deserves falls today, for it was on January 23, 1558 that the cataclysmic Livonian War started.
This year, in 2024, the Latvian Association of Architects (LAB) is celebrating its centenary. To mark the special occasion, members of the Association have prepared a special offer for schools, universities, media, non-governmental organizations, state institutions, companies and other interested parties, by dedicating
100 minutes of their time to a social activity free of charge.
100 minutes of their time to a social activity free of charge.
What do Latvians have in common with Estonians? A lot, and among the many things it is the 60s, 70s and 80s porcelain. The dishes made by the Riga Porcelain Factory were taken to be painted by the northern neighbors. Examples are currently displayed at the Porcelain Museum in Riga in the exhibition “Riga and Tallinn meets”, Latvian Radio reports.
Cultural institutions from the Baltic States, Poland and Ukraine have submitted a joint nomination to the UNESCO international register "Memory of the World", urging the inclusion in it of letters sent from the Siberian Gulag, written on birch bark during the period 1940-1965, the Latvian National Commission of UNESCO said November 30.
On Saturday, November 18, Latvia celebrates the 105th anniversary of the country's independence, with numerous events taking place throughout the country. Many of these are being shown live on Latvian Television (LTV) and on LSM.
Archaeological excavations in Riga's Svētā Jēkaba (Saint Jacob) Cathedral have lasted for five years. During them, amazing scenes and facts were discovered, including a real "bone chamber" or ossuary and several significant burials.
While the largest events connected to Latvia's independence day on November 18 are inevitably found in the capital city, Rīga, the smaller cities and far-flung regions of the country also offer plenty of celebratory opportunities. Here is a selection. It is far from comprehensive, so to find more, check your local municipality's website.
For several years, the exhibition of the Museum of Occupation in the former KGB building or 'corner house' has been one of the most popular foreign tourist attractions. But the museum occupies only a small part of the building. The rest is empty and requires urgent work at the moment – if not, the museum might face closure, Latvian Television's 'Culture News' reported November 9.
Preparatory work for the start of the renovation of historic Rudbārži Manor have taken longer than originally expected, so its use as a military academy by the Colonel Oskars Kalpaks Vocational High School could only start in September 2026, reports Latvian Radio.
In anticipation of Lāčplēsis Day, a fire was lit in the square outside the Latvian War Museum on Monday, November 6, to commemorate the War of Independence.
The darkest time of the year in Latvia is also the time of the festival of light and freedom. The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia invites the public to light up the dark 'corner house' and commemorate those who once sacrificed freedom on behalf of Latvia by donating a flashlight that will be placed in the windows of the building from November 11 to 18.