Euro Travel Pages

Loving Latvia

Located in the northern tip of Europe and west of the Baltic Sea, Latvia is bounded by Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus. The country is fairly young as it has just acquired its complete independence in 1991 but it does have a colorful past for such a small nation. With its capital in Riga, its largest city, the country is home to more than two million people from different ethnic backgrounds. Latvia is an interesting country to visit primarily because it is what people would like to call something off the beaten track. It may not be a popular tourist destination but those who were wise enough to venture into its scenic river valleys and historic cities will find exactly what they are looking for in an interesting trip.

Historical profile

Latvia’s history dates back to more than ten thousand years ago when it was first inhabited by the proto-Baltic ancestors of the Latvians. Being strategically located near a major water channel has helped it develop its culture through interactions with neighboring nations.

The country is well-known for its amber which was frequently used in creating various accessories. From the Romans and Greeks of the medieval period to the contemporary traders of today, traditional Latvian jewelry made of amber is quite a huge attraction.

The country has also experienced centuries of being under the rule of different European nations. At one point, it has become the subject of a struggle for supremacy among Poland, Sweden and Russia with most of its territories going to Sweden. Latvia was taken over by the Soviet Union after the Second World War until its independence.

The country is an economically thriving nation that enjoys one of the highest growth rates in Europe in terms of gross domestic product. Its government is currently trying to enact laws that will help its nation continue to grow and improve to be at par with the most powerful countries in Europe.

The people

Latvia has always been composed of a population with different ethnicities. Most of its people are still native Latvians but there are still a large group of Russians living in the country. Other ethnic backgrounds include Belarusians and Ukrainians to name a few. The official language is still Latvian – a type of language that belongs to the Indo-European language family where most Baltic Languages are classified under. Russian is also widely spoken. In fact, more people know how to speak Russian than they do Latvian.

Christianity remains to be the most dominant religion with a majority of its people belonging to the Lutheran Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

Attractions

There are many things to see and places to visit in Latvia. For such a small country, it does pack a lot of surprises for its guests. Music festivals, art museums and historic tours are quite popular in the area. The churches in themselves are architectural masterpieces worth visiting. Social realism is popular as a remnant of being under the rule of the Soviet Union.