In another thread there was a heated discussion about Liepaja city in Western Latvia - the city has been evaluated as chaotic and unEuropean. Yes, in many aspects it is like this - most part of it has got Soviet heritage because this was one of the most heavily bombed cities in Latvia during the World War II. One third of the city is taken by Karosta district - former Russian Empire and Soviet Union military garrison city, which is to great extent abandoned as Soviets left. But there is still a lot to see, a huge lot.
My thread will show many nice places but by far not all what this city can offer. There is missing modern architecture, parks (Jurmala park is one of the most beautiful in Latvia among the other 500 and more parks of this country), beaches (only Ventspils and Jurkalne beaches can compete), and what is very painful - the most beautiful waterfront in Latvia - Liepaja Channel.
From the other side - I earn some additional money by taking pics of cultural monuments - I focus on separate buildings and try to make them look nice. thus you will see lots of separate buildings with possibly few people in view. There are rather few streetviews.
Most pictures are from summer 2007. Some are from 2004. Over these 3 years city has changed a lot to the best - incredibly much!
First part -
Centre of Liepaja or
Old Liepaja. It is much larger than Old Riga, but there are only scattered 17th-18th century buildings with later style buildings and war torn scars in between. But believe me - there is a huge lot to see!
1. St. Trinity Church (1672), Barocco style, in overall bad condition. The organ of the church was the largest in the world in time period from 1885 to 1912, currently it is the largest in Europe. Sorry - no inside pictures.
2. Side entrance
3. Stendera 5, 18th century wooden house, covered with painted weatherbords on 19th century
4. One side of the central square of the city - Rozu laukums. This is beautiful place, should take more pictures from vicinities.
5. "Pablo Club" - all this building is rock-cafe. By the way - there are some more rock-cafes in Liepaja to keep the 24-hours rhytm of the city alive.
6. Pasta Street
7. Ludvika Street 7 - typical early Klassicism building from early 19th century. There can't be better property in the Centre of the town IMHO.
8. Graudu 45 - late Art Noveau
9. The same hapless (because of heated discussions) Tirgonu Street - colourful and always lively pedestrian street in Centre.
10. Liela Street 5 - "common" early Jugendstil.
11. Kursu 17 - "common" late Jugendstil
12. Kursu 21 - another "common" Jugendstil building
13. Kursu 20 across the street - some decades older building.
14. Kurmajas prospekts - ornate street leading from the Centre to the beach
15. Kurmajas 2-4
16. Kurmajas prospekts 8
17. Sv Jazepa catholic church (1749) - may be nothing that special but the only where i went inside and enjoyed the interior.
18.
19.
20. Jana Street - warehouses from 18th century. Very special place to my mind. Nicely lighted in nighttime.
21.
22. Graudu Street
23. Another view of Graudu Street
24. And yeat another view of Graudu Street - from 2004. Now everything here looks beautiful and renovated.
25. J. Dubelsteina 14 - late Barocco
26. Graudu 31
27. Stendera 5 - this is taken in 2003.
28. St. Anna Lutheran church (1693)
29. Alejas 2
30. Ausekla 9 - gymnasium
31. A. Pumpura 7 - typical Liepaja apartment building
32. Dika 14 - with nice girl
33. Baznicas 3 - one of the buildings in the Liepaja theatre complex, sorry for not taking pictures of the impressive Jugendstil theatre building itself
34. Kungu 3 - Interesting Barocco frescoes were found inside some years ago, during the reconstruction.
35. Kungu 26 - late 17th century
36. Neighbour - Kungu 24, of similar age
37. Another neighbor - Barinu 32. 17th century wooden hotel. Peter the Ist stayed here on the way to Netherlands.
38. City Council building
39. Avotu 2. Hard to take proper picture in this narrow street.
40. Avotu 11 - subtle Jugendstil.
41. K. Valdemara Street - general view. Still a lot to renovate - but what a potential!
42. K. Valdemara Street 20-24, "Stalin Barocco" from 1950ies.
43.
44. K. Valdemara 41 - polytechnicum building, serves for the same purposes today.
45. K. Valdemara 51 - typical wooden apartment building in outer core of Centrum. unfortunately most are not renovated like this one.
46. Petertirgus market - very active also nowadays
47. Petertirgus market inside
48. Republikas 52
49. Peldu 44 - Neogothic apartment building
50. Toma Street 46, renovated, nice hotel.
51. Toma Street 19, just a regular apartment building.
52. Republikas 23, traditional Art Noveau wooden apartment building. Damn plastic windows...
53. Neigbour - Republikas 21. "Heavy" Neorennaisance style, some decades older than it's neighbour.
Next post will show the "Sanatorium" historical district nearer to the beach.
...repaired some mistakes
