Daugavpils, the second largest city in Latvia, located on the east of this country, close to the Lithuanian and Belarusian border. The city is home to approximately 80000 people, mostly Russian-speaking. This fact seems a little bit strange but this is heritage of the times of the USSR, at that time, the city was developing dynamically, people from the depths of the Soviet Union settled in the city and many of them have remained here until today. Society of Daugavpils is a mix of about 30 nations and ethnic groups, mostly Russians, Latvians and Poles. The city was within the borders of Poland until the first partition in 1772. Despite the almost 250 years of functioning outside of Poland, Daugavpils apart from people speaking Polish and cultivating Polish traditions and customs, we have here many places related to the Polish identity of this city.
Today I'll focus on places located in Varšavas iela (street).
Center of Polish Culture ("Polish House")
Tenement house on Varšavas iela 30 was purchased from the previous owner in the 1930s with the money collected in a public fundraiser. During World War II, it was taken over by the Soviets and handed over by them at the end of the 1980s. This is where the Polish heart of Daugavpils beats. The center is the seat of the local branch of the Union of Poles in Latvia "Promień", the "Promień" choir, the "Kukułeczka" Folk Dance Ensemble, the "Uśmiechnięta Tęcza" theater group, the "Barwy Daugawy" vocal group and many other initiatives also operate here. On the first floor there is a gallery where exhibitions of various artists, not only related to Polishness, are presented.
Adress: Varšavas 30, Daugavpils.
State Polish Gymnasium in Daugavpils them. J. Piłsudski
The only Polish school in town provides education at twelve levels: from first to twelfth grade and the matriculation examination. It continues the traditions of Polish schools from the pre-communist times. It has been operating under its present name since 2008. Polish Gymnasium is a bilingual school: subjects are taught there both in Latvian and in Polish. The local community praises the very good standard of the school and the opportunities created by: multilingualism, trips to Poland and a family atmosphere. Some graduates choose to continue their studies in Poland.
Adress: Varšavas 2, Daugavpils.
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Polish places in Daugavpils. Part 2. here