![]() Latvian cities suffered a decline of population recently due to emigration and before that due to Soviet genocide. Small numbers of remaining Jews no longer need many buildings, and thus many synagogues became abandoned (although they are now being repaired). Latvian towns, especially those of Latgale, once hosted a significant minority of Jews, but it was decimated by emigration and Holocaust. A derelict crypt of a rich German family in the Soviet-desecrated great cemetery of Riga. Riga great cemetery, partly destroyed by Soviets and vandalized, is also impressive-though-sad. Gulbene palace) or partly abandoned (e.g. Jūrmala) and entire romantic castle-like palaces remain either fully abandoned (e.g. Many of the elaborate buildings of the rich Germans, such as wooden villas at the seaside cities (e.g. Germans once made up the majority of the population in most Latvian cities, but the community was destroyed by World War 2 and Soviet Genocide. German wooden villas, palaces, and cemeteries. Unlike Soviet barracks, Russian Imperial barracks are of quite elaborate architecture.įormer festival grounds for Russian Imperial soldiers in Karosta. Another former Russian installation with numerous abandoned buildings is the Daugavpils fortress. The highlight of the era is an entire Karosta navy town north of Liepāja (once home to 30000), now half-abandoned (ex-prison reopened as a museum). Before the Soviet Union and brief independence, Latvia was ruled by the Russian Empire (until 1918), which had also heavily militarized it. Abandoned Soviet military town Skrunda-2. The highlight is the entirely abandoned Skrunda-2 ghost town (once home to 5000), but other sights include the repurposed VIRAC radar near Ventspils (the surrounding buildings are abandoned) and a former nuclear war bunker for Soviet elite near Sigulda (now a paid attraction). ![]() As the westernmost land ruled by the Soviet Union (1940-1990), Latvia was heavily fortified, and these installations became obsolete after Soviet troops departed. There are diverse abandoned locations in Latvia: Turbulent Latvian history of growths and declines, occupations and genocides meant that many locations, buildings, and even entire settlements became useless and abandoned as the times went by.
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