Rēzekne (Latvian:[ˈrɛːzekne]ⓘ,Latgalian:Rēznepronounced[rʲæːzʲnʲæ] orRēzeknepronounced[ˈrʲæːzʲækʲnʲæ],Russian:Резекне) is astate city in theRēzekne River valley in theLatgale region of easternLatvia. It is calledThe Heart of Latgale (Latvian:Latgales sirds, Latgalian:Latgolys sirds). Built on seven hills, Rēzekne is situated 242 kilometres (150 miles) east ofRiga, and 63 kilometres (39 miles) west of the Latvian-Russian border, at the intersection of theMoscow –Ventspils railway andWarsaw – Saint Petersburg Railways. It is the 7th largest city in Latvia.
TheLatgalian name of the city isRēzne (Latgalian:[rʲæːzʲnʲæ]) orRēzekne (pronounced[ˈrʲæːzʲækʲnʲæ]). Historically, inGerman sources, the location has been known asRositten. It is calledRzeżyca in Polish. Under theRussian Empire the city was namedRezhitsa (Russian:Рѣжица;Yiddish:רעזשיצע,romanized: Rezhitse), but since Soviet period known asРезекне (Russian pronunciation:[ˈrʲɛzɛknɛ]).
ALatgalianhill fort[4] is known to have existed at Rēzekne from the 9th to the 13th centuries, until its destruction at the hands ofGermancrusaders of theLivonian Order. In 1285, the knights built a stone fortress on the site, which is today known asRēzekne castle ruins, to serve as a border post on their eastern frontier.
The nameRēzekne was first documented in 1285. Throughout its early history, Rēzekne was attacked many times by Russian and Lithuanian forces.
During the 19th century, the construction of the Moscow-Ventspils and Saint Petersburg-Warsaw railways transformed Rēzekne from a sleepy country town into an important city with two stations.
In the spring of 1917, the firstLatgalian congress was held in Rēzekne, in which Latgale was declared to unite with the other Latvian regions. Following Latvia's declaration of independence in 1918, theLatvian War of Independence and the driving out of both the German andRed armies from Latvia, the city became a cultural centre for all of Latgale.
German POW march through Rēzekne 1940s
Rēzekne was heavily damaged by bothNazi andSoviet armies duringWorld War II. It was captured by troops of the GermanArmy Group North on 4 July 1941 and placed under the administration of the newly createdReichskommissariat Ostland on 25 July 1941. The Germans operated a subcamp of the Stalag 340prisoner-of-war camp in the city.[7] Rēzekne was recaptured by troops of the Soviet2nd Belorussian Front on 27 July 1944. Due to the heavy air-bombing by Soviet forces in 1944, two-thirds of its buildings were destroyed. Out of a pre-war population of 13,300, only 5,000 people remained in the city at the end of the war.
Rēzekne was rebuilt after the war with an emphasis on industrial development. Rēzekne had the 5th highest industrial output in theLatvian SSR, including a dairy processor (Rēzeknes Piena konservu kombināts), a lumber mill, and an electric-instrument factory (Rebir).
Based on the data provided by Latvijas Statistika, the population of Rēzekne was 10,795 in the year 1897. It decreased to 9,997 in 1920, while increasing again to 12,620 in 1925 and 13,139 in 1935.[8]
Residents of Rēzekne by ethnicity (2022)
Latvians
47.5%
Russians
41.6%
Poles
2.1%
Belarusians
1.5%
Ukrainians
1.4%
Others
5.8%
As a result of thePale of Settlement, many Jews settled in Latgalia and were confined to the cities. In the 19th century, the population of Rēzekne was around 60% Jewish, while Russians formed the largest minority (about 24% in 1897[9]). The remainder of the population included Poles, Germans, and a small number of nativeLatgalians. With the economic development following the arrival of the railroad, the population grew steadily, reaching 23,000 by the eve ofWorld War I.
After Latvia's independence in 1918, the population of ethnic Latvians in the city grew substantially, but Jews still made up slightly over a quarter of the population (25.4% in 1935.) In 1939, the population was 13,000. DuringWorld War II, the Jewish population was annihilated, most betweenJuly and October 1941, due to theHolocaust. Most other residents were either deported toGulag camps in Siberia, or fled westwards. As a result, the post-war population was only 5,000.
As part of the Soviet Union's policy ofRussification, many Russians and Belarusians moved to the city after theSoviet occupation of Latvia at the end of World War II.[10] By 1989, Russians accounted for the majority of the population, at 53%. After Latvia's independence in 1991, many repatriated to Russia.
In 1991, the population of Rēzekne was 43,156. Since then, the population has decreased to 30,800 (2017), due to a low birth rate, an aging population (the average age in Rēzekne is 40.3 years) (see alsoageing of Europe), and a high rate of emigration abroad and to larger cities such asRiga.[11]
Due to Rēzekne's multi-ethnic character throughout the centuries, many religious communities have settled in the city. Ethnic differences were often distinguished on religious lines; the Germans broughtChristianity to Latvia in the 13th century, as well asLutheranism during the Reformation Period. The Polish influence overLatgalia in the 17th and 18th centuries strengthenedCatholicism among the nativeLatgalians. Incoming populations of RussianOld Believers introducedRussian Orthodoxy, and up to the 1940s, Rēzekne had a very large Jewish population, and therefore, manysynagogues.
The Catholic Cathedral "Vissvētā Jēzus Sirds" (Sacred Heart of Jesus), (built 1893–1914) dominates Rēzekne's skyline looking from the castle hill.
The cathedral was consecrated in 1901. It was built on the site of a previous wooden church which had been constructed from the funds allotted by Kraków military leader Belinski. In 1887 the church was destroyed in athunderstorm-caused fire.
The cathedral has curved wooden altars decorated by the sculptures of Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary, St.Teresa, and others. The cathedral is famous for its depictions in stained glass of the first Livonian bishops,Saint Meinhard andAlbert of Riga. Since 1995 it has been the centre of the Rezekne-Aglona diocese with the seat of the bishop.
The church has an active choir whose members have studied music. A majority of the members work as musicians and enjoy their Sunday singing in the church.
The other Catholic church, "Sāpju Dievmāte" (Our Lady of Sorrows) is much newer, built from 1935 to 1939.
Construction began in 1936. The 27 metres (89feet) tall building was built inneo-romantic style. The church was consecrated on 6 December 1937, but the construction was finished only in 1939. Next to the church is a sculpture ofOur Lady of Fátima.
Like many 1930s buildings in the city such as the Nation Palace of Latvian Society (the House of Culture nowadays), the Secondary School no.3 elementary school, and the Red Cross Hospital (nowadays a students hostel) it was designed by the architect Pavlov.
Orthodox Church of the Birth of Holy Jesus' Mother
Orthodox Church of the Birth of Holy Jesus' Mother
The construction of the church dates back to 1840, though it was not consecrated until 1846. In 1854, it was closed for reconstruction. After a two-year reconstruction period the church obtained its definitive look.
Tile stoves, tiled floors, three-storeyiconostasis and agranite stoop decorated the church. A small stone chapel in memory ofAlexander II's rescue from death is situated on the left side of the church entrance. On the right there is a glass burial vault where the founder of the church, the owner of the Adamova manor general Karaulov and his wife Helen were buried.
The red brick church from was built in the 1930s. The church was designed by the architect J. Cīrulis inNeo-Gothic style. The church was consecrated in 1938. In the summer of 1949 the Soviet authority deprived the parishioners of their church, removed its crosses and dismantled the belfry. For many years there was a film rental company.[clarification needed]
The parish got back its property at the beginning of the 1990s and the building has undergone major repairs. It is possible to climb the 37 metres (121 feet) bell tower and see Rēzekne from above. Classical music concerts and divine services take place in the church nowadays.
The church was built in 1895. In 1906 it was considerably reconstructed, with a belfry with three bells, for which the church is now famous. One of them weighs 4,832 kg (10,653 lb) and is the biggest bell in Latvia. The bell clapper alone is 200 kg (441 lb) heavy.
A museum is now opened in the premises of Rēzekne Old-Believers Cemetery Commune which shows the daily routine and lifestyle of Latgalian old-believers. In one of the rooms the collected items reflect church life, another has ethnographical items. The museum can be visited on request.
Prior to World War II, there were eleven synagogues in Rēzekne. The Green Synagogue is the only one to have survived to this day.
The synagogue was built in 1845 and is considered to be one of the oldest wooden buildings in Rēzekne. The synagogue was open until the 1990s, when it was closed for fire safety reasons.
The State Inspection for Heritage Protection of Latvia added it to the list of the most endangered sites in 2004. The Rēzekne City Council with the support of Norwegian Financial Institutions started reconstruction of the building. Within the framework of the project it will be possible to create an exhibition devoted to the history of Rēzekne's Jews.
One of the most famous statues in Latvia, known as "Latgales Māra", is found in Rēzekne. It was designed byLeons Tomašickis and first unveiled on 8 September 1939. The bronze statue commemorates the liberation of Latgale from theRed Army in January 1920.
The central figure, the woman, is popularly associated withMāra, the ancient Latvian goddess of motherhood, fertility, and earth. The cross in her outstretched arm symbolizes the deep importance of Catholicism to Latgalian culture. The words "Vienoti Latvijai" beneath the statue (meaning "United for Latvia") designates the decision to reunite with the rest of Latvia during the Republic's formation in 1918, even though Latgale had been politically separated from the rest of Latvia for 300 years.
Because the statue symbolized Latvian nationalism, the Soviets toppled it in November 1940 during the firstSoviet occupation of Latvia. Under German occupation the local residents restored it on 22 August 1943. The reinstated Soviet government pulled it down again in June 1950. After that, the fate of the original statue is unknown.
After Latvia regained its independence in 1991, the statue was reconstructed using old photographs and blueprints, and unveiled on 13 August 1992. Though Soviet rule greatly changed Latgale,Latgales Māra still symbolizes a Catholic Latgale united with Latvia, free of foreign domination.[12]
The Castle Ruins, situated on the hill by the river, are the remainders of the ancient fortified residence of ancient Latgalians which existed there from the 9th to 13th centuries. At the end of the 13th century theLivonian Order built a stone castle (Rozitten castle). It was situated in a strategically important place, so the Russians, Lithuanians and Poles were seeking to conquer it. The castle was completely destroyed during thePolish-Swedish war (1656-1660). A model of Rēzekne castle by Edmunds Smans is located near the castle hill.
TheLatgale Culture and History Museum (Latgales Kultūrvēstures muzejs) was opened in 1959. The museum offers exposition of the town history, art exhibitions, and pedagogical activities for children. The exposition ofLatgale ceramics is the only permanent exposition in Latvia to reflect Latgalian ceramics in its history from the beginning of pottery in theNeolithic period until the achievements of present-day Latgalian ceramists and modern developments. Ceramics collection includes 2000 ceramic wares, made by the renownedLatgalian ceramicists, such asAndrejs Paulāns,Polikarps Čerņavskis,Polikarps Vilcāns,Jānis Backāns,Ādams Kāpostiņš and others.[13] At the moment the museum stock collection has about 70 thousand items.[14]
The building which is now known as the Art House was built in the last quarter of the 19th century for the merchant Vorobjov. It features rich woodcarvings on its façade, decorated in an eclectic style.
It soon became the property of the city, and was used as a teachers' institute, a school, a tuberculosis centre and a military registration office. This frequent change of users almost totally destroyed the original rich interior.
In the middle of the 1990s it was acquired by the Rezekne Art College. Due to the efforts of the students and teachers, the Art House got back its original outlook. It houses the exposition "Latgalian painting" from the reserves of the Latgale Culture History Museum.
Eastern Latvia's Center of Creative Services "Zeimuļs"
The Eastern Latvia's Center of Creative Services "Zeimuļs" houses classes of interest and non-formal education for children and youth.
The opening of the center was on 1 September 2012. The architects were Rasa Kalniņa and Māris Krumiņš who used Latvian ethnographic motifs in their design. The main construction materials are concrete, glass, metal and wood. It is the largest building with agreen roof in the Baltic countries. The towers offer one of the best views in Rezekne, over the Castle Hill and the historical center of the city.
The multifunctional culture centre "Gors" (The Embassy of Latgale) was opened in 2013. In addition to the main 1000-seat concert hall, it includes a 220-seat concert hall, Registration of marriages hall, exhibition space, repetition halls and a restaurant. The centre is used for a variety of purposes, including concerts, conferences, film, ballet and theatre.[15]
Rēzekne Academy of Technology is one of the higher education institutes and research centers of Latvia. It has three faculties, namely, faculty of education, languages, and design, faculty of engineering and faculty of economics and management. Rēzekne Academy of Technology offers study programs at the Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral levels.[16]
^abcSłownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich (in Polish). Vol. X. Warszawa. 1889. p. 159.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^abcSłownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich (in Polish). Vol. X. Warszawa. 1889. p. 161.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Megargee, Geoffrey P.; Overmans, Rüdiger; Vogt, Wolfgang (2022).The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume IV. Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. p. 338.ISBN978-0-253-06089-1.
^Stalšāns, Kārlis (2013).Krievu ekspansija un rusifikācija Baltijā laikmetu tecējumā : grāmata bagātīgi ilustrēta ar kartēm, kartogrammām un diagrammām (in Latvian). Rezekne, Latvia: Latgales Kultūras Centra Izdevniecība.ISBN9789984292328.
