Līvāni Municipality: Glass, History and Routes

The Līvāni Glass and Crafts Centre offers an engaging introduction to the history of glass. The Līvāni Glass Museum is considered the only museum of its kind in the Baltics and has been located in the centre since 2013. It presents the history of the local glass factory from 1887 and explains how glass vessels are made. For a more in-depth look, you can spend several hours watching Soviet-era films about the factory, its work and its employees. Check the current presentation arrangements before travelling.

Experience Glass and Crafts

The centre’s exhibitions also extend beyond glassmaking. “Craftspeople in Latgale in the 19th–20th Centuries” presents the history and development of crafts in Latgale. The historic vaulted cellar features photographs of the spring floods in Līvāni; Latvia’s longest traditional belt is also on display here. In one building, you can encounter both regional handicrafts and different chapters of local history.

The glassblowing workshop revives a tradition more than 100 years old. Visitors can watch glass objects being made and learn more about glassmaking under the guidance of an experienced master glassblower. You can also make your own glass souvenir in the glass workshop; advance booking is required. The centre also offers creative workshops in ceramics, glass and textile art, which visitors can take part in. Availability may vary.

The “Dubna” applied folk art studio focuses on historic patterns typical of Latgale: it researches them and weaves them into modern textiles. You can view works created there and take part in its activities. The “Turki” folk group also shares Latgalian traditions through singing, dancing, riddles and crafts such as weaving, broom-making, mitten-knitting and churning butter. The programme is available by arrangement.

Historic Sites and Their Stories

The Jersika hillfort lies on the banks of the Daugava, between the ravines of two streams. Archaeological excavations suggest that people lived there as early as the 1st millennium BC. The site is privately owned; visits must be arranged with the owners. Confirm your visit with them again before travelling.

The Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration of Christ in Jersika is locally known as the “Iron Church” because its exterior structural elements are made of iron or cast iron. The church previously stood in Daugavpils; it was transported there by rail from Odesa. It offers an opportunity to learn more about the beginnings of Orthodoxy in the territory of Latvia. The information available may be out of date.

Further traces of history lead to places from different periods. More than 1,000 years ago, a settlement of traders and craftspeople called Dubna was established on an old Viking waterway, on the banks of the Dubna near its confluence with the Daugava. The origins of present-day Līvāni are associated with 1533, when the German Baron Jurgens Līvens built an estate and named it Līvenhof. The Old Believers’ house of prayer in Līvāni was rebuilt in the 1980s and gained a bell tower in 1998. The Catholic Church of Znotiņi is a restored red-brick church dating from 1926.

Bridges, Routes and Water

The municipality offers visitors the “Over Seven Bridges” route. Each bridge offers different views: from the town bridge in Līvāni, you can see islands in the Dubna, while the Kalvāni pedestrian bridge crosses the river. The Švirkstu Bridge is a stopping point with views over untouched natural landscapes along the Oša. Walks, creative events and activities are the focus at the Rožupe pedestrian bridge.

Another viewpoint is the open-air living room at the highest point in Līvāni. From there, you can look out over the town centre and the Dubna bay. Every August, the traditional gathering of Danču musicians, also called “Kāzu muzikantu saiets”, takes place at the Rožupe open-air stage. Check the current event date before travelling.

The Līvāni–Dignāja ferry connects the two banks of the Daugava and serves pedestrians, drivers and cyclists. It provides a direct crossing from Latgale towards Zemgale. Since its operating status and timetable are important for planning, check both before your journey.

Swimming and Relaxation

The “Upe” swimming pool in Līvāni has an 11 × 25-metre sports pool with four lanes, a 5 × 7-metre children’s pool, and a spa area with a sauna, steam room, whirlpool and cold plunge pool. The building, interiors and swimming pool are also suitable for people with reduced mobility. Check the current opening arrangements and facilities before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Līvāni, Engure Municipality, Skaista Parish, Olaine Municipality, Koknese Municipality, Ropaži Municipality, Kocēni Municipality, Balvi Municipality.

For the main travel overview: Latvia.