Easy hikes and walks around Mazais Stropu ezers

The garden in front of the commandant's house is actually beautifully landscaped, but the decay of the many unused buildings surrounding it is depressing. Fortunately, at least some of them are in use, and some have even been restored.

The fortress as a whole is very worth seeing, even if it would deserve better use to prevent it from being left to decay.

In the Jaunbūve district you will find many old wooden houses, some of which are brightly painted. Here you sometimes feel transported 150 years into the past.

Today history in the fortress territory is witnessed by historical large-calibre cannons. In these days nine old cannons can be found here: five of them are from cast-iron, while four – made from steel. They were manufactured in the second half of the 19th century in an ordnance plant in Perm and in Obukhov steel casting plant (Russia). All cannons are made with threading in a gun tube, which increased the range of a missile and improved accuracy and close pattern of shooting. Two of the cannons are placed at the main entrance of the Commandant’s house facing the fortress garden. In the very middle of the garden three cannons enrich the fountain. The steel mortar gun (bore diameter 205 mm, model of 1872) of the fortress is placed on the “Wallgang” (a protected place on the upper part of a rampart) of the main rampart curtain between the Nicholas gate and the 7th bastion – in the way how cannons were placed when the fortress switched to defence emergency. One more steel cannon with the bore diameter of 107 mm (model of 1887) on the original Venglovski gun-mount is placed at the intersection of the streets Imperatora and Konstantīna. Two steel artillery tubes were installed at Hekeļa Street 3, yet now they are moved to a warehouse belonging to the building proprietor. https://rm.coe.int/16806f5dfd

Houses for officers were built in the 1820s-1830s on both sides of the Commandant’s house and the fortress garden. 1. Oficieru Street has still preserved two houses (No 2 and 8) also for officers at the commandant and committee of the military registration office, yet the architecture of these houses differs from that of other buildings. Officer Assembly with its own club and library was functioning in the fortress. In the 1920s-1940s the building was occupied by headquarters and other services of Zemgale division, different clubs were situated there as well. In order to view internal buildings of the citadel, choose the thematic route “Commandant’s Route” visible on the map that you can receive in Daugavpils Fortress Culture and Information Centre (Nikolaja Street 5). https://rm.coe.int/16806f5dfd

In order to prevent the enemy from approaching the main rampart of the fortress, its walls were detached from the external fortifications with the help of a moat. In case of an attack the moat could be flooded with water. In the moat, six reduits (inner fortification, shelter) were built fortified with earth ravelins (triangle-shaped constructions), but bastions were covered by contregardes that were reinforced by artillery caponiers. In addition three redoubts (closed fortifications) were built in the fortress esplanade some way from the moat; two of them have been preserved till modern days. To view the external fortification part, use the thematic route “Defender’s Track” (on the main rampart) or “Scout’s Track” (through the moat) – follow the indications on the map that can be obtained at the Daugavpils Fortress Culture and Information Centre (Nikolaja Street 5). https://rm.coe.int/16806f5dfd

In the 1820s-1850s four spacious two-storey stone barracks to house soldiers were built not far from the fortress gates. Three of the buildings have also a semibasement floor that was used for kitchen, lavatory and washing rooms. Toilet blocks, utility rooms and wells were located in barrack courtyards. In the 1920s-1940s soldiers of Zemgale division regiments were lodged in these buildings. The premises were considerably rebuilt during the Soviet times to meet the needs of the aviation school cadets. A third floor was built on the Nicholas barrack (Nikolaja Street 2), while the new Nicholas barrack (Mihaila Street 11) was turned into a school canteen. Today these spacious buildings are not used. https://rm.coe.int/16806f5dfd

Mark Rothko Art Centre is located in the building of the artillery arsenal (1830-1833). It is a place where the past has regained its second wind and is in step with the time, thus creating a unique place for varied creative manifestations. Some day the place was used to keep cannons, ammunition wagons and prodgy, swords and rifles, regimental colours and drums. The building is architectural monument of State significance. In the Art Centre one can see the original pieces of the worldknown artist Mark Rothko, born in Daugavpils, as well as to visit the exposition devoted to this artist. Mark Rothko (b. Marcus Rothkowitz) was born September 25, 1903. In 1913 his family emigrated to the United States of America. He is one of the most outstanding and remarkable artists of the second half of the 20th century, founder of the abstract expressionism movement. In the art centre it is also possible to visit changing personal and group exhibitions of well-known Latgalian, Latvian and foreign artists. The total surface of the exhibition halls is 2000 m2. One may visit expositions and exhibitions independently or accompanied by a guide. The tour around all art centre exhibitions takes 1 hour and 30 minutes, the tour of the A sector (M. Rothko biography and creative works) takes 45 minutes. The art centre also offers ordering tours around the fortress. Tours can be ordered by phone: +371 654 30279, +371 65430273, +371 20364226. Opening hours of Mark Rothko Art Centre: Monday – closed; Tuesday and Sunday – from 11:00 to 17:00; Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – from 11:00 to 19:00. Mihaila Street 3. +371 654 30 253 www.rotkocentrs.lv, rotkocentrs@ daugavpils.lv