Jekabpils
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Jēkabpils (German: Jakobstadt) is a city in Latvia roughly halfway between Riga and Koknese. The city lies on both banks of the river Daugava that are joined by a bridge. The ancient valley, branches, and islands of the river make a picturesque landscape.
A stone cross-castle - Cruczeborch (German Kreutzburg)- was built in 1237 by the crusading Livonian_Brothers_of_the_Sword. Archeological excavations on the castle mound indicate that this place was a busy trading centre and living area for the Latgalians - one of the tribes in Latvia. When the castle was built, the village Krustpils spread around it. The village was often destroyed during times of war, such as Polish-Swedish battles, but was always rebuilt afterward.
During the 17th century persecuted Old Believers from Russia settled along the Daugava river. In 1670 this settlement gradually growing around the tavern Salas became known as Jēkabpils or Jakobstadt in honor of the duke of Courland, Jacob Kettler, who granted town rights to it. A local legend about the town's origin states that the duke was hunting one day but became lost. At the Daugava river he simultaneously spotted a lynx underneath a fir tree as well as a town at the same time. This image of the lynx underneath a fir tree is the town's coat of arms. Jēkabpils and Krustpils were joined together in 1962.
Geographical characterisation
The population of Jēkabpils town is 29,100 inhabitants. Both historical parts of Jēkabpils – Krustpils and former Jēkabpils are connected by the bridge across the river Daugava. Jēkabpils district is like a bed between neighbouring districts meandered by the Daugava.
The most popular sightseeing and cultural objects
In the oldest part of the town – the ancient building has been preserved. Today when walking along Jēkabpils one is surprised by a great number of small shops. In Jēkabpils district, not far from Jēkabpils there is the great Latvian poets J.Rainis memorial museum in Tadenava, there are also the Justine and Dugnaja castle sites. The highest point of Selija – Ormankalns is in Klauce area. Between Nereta and Akniste there is a memorial museum "Riekstini" of famous Latvian writer J. Jaunsudrabins.
External links
- Official Town website (http://www.jekabpils.lv) (in Latvian)
- Latgale Tourism (http://tourism.rdc.lv/high_en/jekabpils/tic/why.html)
- Town Heraldry (http://www.ngw.nl/int/lat/jekabpil.htm)
- Town Flag (http://www.ace.unsw.edu.au/people/rmjc/fotw/flags/lv-jkp.html)et:Jēkabpils