From the first minutes of getting into this city, Ludza fascinates with its many-sidedness and versatility. Authentic wooden houses in the historical center of the city, cutting into the sky domes of churches of various denominations, the picturesque nature of the surroundings and the mysterious ruins of an ancient castle. On this amazing background, the modern Latvian way of life and the long Latgalian traditions are harmoniously combined.
Ludza is a city-guardian of traditions
Ludza is one of the oldest cities in Latvia . The first mention of it dates back to the year 1171. From that time to the present, Ludza remains the link between East and West. This is what determines the diversity of cultures, architecture, languages and crafts that can be found in this region.
And Luzda is famous for its beautiful landscapes (the city is washed by the waters of five lakes) and a treacherous attitude to the preservation of old traditions, which the residents gladly share with all those who wish. That is why Ludzu is so loved by tourists from all over the world and gladly come back here again and again.
The most picturesque castle ruins in Latvia
The main attraction of Ludza is the ruins of the castle of the Livonian Order , erected by the German crusaders in 1399. The defensive fortress had three floors and six towers. There were three gates in the castle and two forburgs. Despite the fact that it was necessary to keep the defense of soldiers of different epochs quite often, a significant part of the centuries-old design was preserved. This happened due to a special approach to the construction of this facility. Three types of materials were used: gray cobblestones, red and black glazed bricks.
There are many legends about the castle on the hill. There is one that says that the castle was built by Lucia - one of the daughters of the ruler of Latgalian lands, who had no sons, and therefore had to divide the inheritance between the three daughters. They, in turn, built themselves on the castle, which later became big cities. The castle of the beautiful Rosalia became Rosziten ( Rezekne ), Maria - Marienhausen ( Vilaka ), and Lucia - in Lucin (Ludz).
According to the second legend there were only two sisters - Rosalia and Lucia. Once they agreed to build castles at a distance of 20 km from each other. But they only had a trowel. Then the sisters began to throw it to each other, and to erect the walls in turn. Once Rosalie missed, and threw the trowel too far. He fell to the ground, and there, where his handle hit, Little Ludza Lake was formed, and in the place of the blade, the Large Ludza Lake eventually appeared.
The ruins of the castle are located on Baznicas Street. You can not only touch its centuries-old walls and make incredible photos from a high hill, from where you can see a stunning view. In the tourist center of Ludza, you can order a 3D tour, and look into the virtual historical reconstruction of the castle through a tablet.
Architectural monuments
The main architectural monument of Luzd can be considered not one building, but the whole district of the city - its historical center (streets of Tirgus street, Odu, Stacijas, Talavijas, Baznicas, Kr.Barona and Soikana). Practically all the knowledge here was built in the XIX century. Many of them are under the protection of the state, as unique examples of urban development. Among the individual monuments of architecture it should be noted:
- Roman Catholic church (Baznicas street 52, restored in 1995 after a big fire);
- a chapel of the Karnitskys with a bell tower and a sculpture of the Virgin Mary (behind the church);
- Orthodox Holy Assumption Cathedral (Latgales 121, open daily from 8:00 to 18:00);
- the Jewish synagogue (1 May 30 Street, the oldest wooden synagogue in the Baltics, is open to tourists after restoration in 2016);
- The Evangelical Lutheran Church (Latgales 116);
- The Old Believer temple (Skolas street 44, the entrance is closed for tourists)
- the post office of 1929 (Latgales 110/19, a vivid example of functionalism in the world architecture of the 20-30s of the XX century).
In 2015, on the main square of the city of Ludza appeared another attraction - a sundial . An unusual composition consists of symbolic elements: a dial, a rose of winds and huge boulders.
Museums, exhibitions
Ludza Museum of Local Lore was founded in 1923, but most of the exhibits suffered during the Second World War. Since 1949 the museum is gradually reviving and constantly expanding. There are collections of objects that testify to the different epochs of the Ludza region. There are even unique exhibits dating back to ancient times (BC), when the Finno-Ugric tribes lived on these lands.
But the ethnographic department in the open air deserves special attention. Simply on the street you can see a courtyard house of the beginning of the XIX century, a peasant house built in the second half of the XIX century, a windmill in 1891, a pottery workshop of P. Vilzana, opened in 1927, and much more.
In the Ludza Crafts Center (Talavijas street 27a), tourists are invited to join the old traditions of the region. There is an amazing atmosphere here. Masters, sparing no time and energy, share their skills with all comers. You will have the opportunity to sit behind the potter's wheel and loom, see how the works of folk art are created, participate in cheerful fairs and evening gatherings of skilled workers who sing for handicrafts.
At exhibitions, which are held at the Center almost without interruptions, you can buy works of local craftsmen: ceramics, fabrics, forged and wooden products. Especially popular are tailor-made things from Latgalian flax. An exclusive long tunic or a linen shirt will cost about € 42-50.
Nobody is forgotten, nothing is forgotten
Separately, it is worth highlighting among the attractions of Luzda those that are associated with the perpetuation of memory of events in the history of this region, which residents of the city remember with a heavy heart. Among them:
- the mass grave of Soviet soldiers in the city park ;
- monument "The Sorrowful Mother"
- the brotherly burial of seven partisans behind the Orthodox Holy Assumption Cathedral ;
- a monument to the victims of the Holocaust (opened in 2015);
- burial ground Ludzas Odukalns .
But there is also one monument, which was installed on the occasion of the joyful event - the 800th anniversary of the city in 1977 . This is a large stone that is located on the square near the hotel Lucia.
Walking along the embankment of the Small Lake of Ludza, you can see images of small keys driven into the pavement. These keys mean that there is some attraction nearby. So, even without knowing the city, you can go sightseeing route on the keys. In Latvia, by the way, there is another such city with a similar "chip" - Liepaja (where tourists are offered to travel not by keys, but by notes).