Rēzekne: Culture, History and Architecture

Rēzekne offers several cultural points of interest for a trip. When searching for a hotel in Rēzekne, it may help to first decide what you are most interested in: medieval history, museums and exhibitions, architecture, music or regional cuisine. The sites offer different perspectives, from the chronology of a castle hill to art, music and a view of the historic city centre.

History at Rēzekne Castle Hill

The medieval castle ruins on Rēzekne Castle Hill are considered the city’s oldest historical monument. From the 9th to the 12th century, this hill was home to a fortified settlement of the ancient Latgalians. At the end of the 13th century, the castle of the Livonian Order was built there and named Castrum Rositten. The site’s history can therefore be divided into two clearly distinct periods: first, the settlement of the ancient Latgalians, followed by the castle of the Order. This chronology makes the hill’s different historical layers easy to understand.

Ceramics, Art and Music

For music, there is the Embassy of Latgale GORS, an acoustic concert hall in Rēzekne. The Latgale Culture and History Museum offers a different focus: its collections include Latgale ceramics, fine art and ethnographic objects. The exhibition “Wonders of clay and fire” is dedicated to Latgale ceramics; this collection is considered the largest of its kind in the world. The museum also offers educational programmes for schoolchildren and families with children, covering subjects from archaeology to art. As programme availability may change, check what is on offer before your visit.

Historic Buildings and Regional Art

Rēzekne’s history can also be read in its buildings. The Green Synagogue dates from 1845 and is considered the city’s oldest wooden building; it is the only one of eleven synagogues to have survived to this day. Rēzeknes Mākslas nams is a single-storey wooden building constructed in the last quarter of the 19th century as a summer residence for the Vorobjov merchant family. It houses the exhibition “Latgales glezniecība,” featuring works by older and contemporary artists from Latgale. In this way, architectural history and art from different periods sit side by side. The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus stands apart with its neo-Gothic style and two towers.

Monuments and City Views

The “United for Latvia” monument is dedicated to the soldiers of the Latvian War of Independence of 1920. Together with the medieval history of the castle hill and the buildings of the 19th century, it extends the city’s historical timeline to include another topic. The terrace of the Zeimuļs tower offers panoramic views of Rēzekne’s historic city centre. This view complements the exploration of individual buildings with an overview of the historic city centre.

Guided Tours and Regional Cuisine

If you would like to include a guided tour in your plans, the Rēzekne Tourism Development Center organises excursions and creates customised routes. The centre offers guided tours for groups and individuals in Latvian, Latgalian, Russian and English. As visitor offerings may change, check the latest options in advance. Regional cuisine offers another point of interest: cafés in Rēzekne have developed special dishes made with pearl barley and added them to their menus. The selection on offer may vary.

Discover more destinations: Gaigalava, Balda, Seksti, Gaiduļi, Kaunata, Malta, Rikopole, Astici

View the overview of the wider area: Rēzeknes Novads.