About Latvia

LATVIAN INSTITUT

The portal provides overall information in severel languages about Latvia, its geography, history, politics, culture, society and other topics. The portal presents the most relevant and notable facts and photographs highlighting the beauty of Latvian nature, architecture and cultural heritage.

LATVIAN CULTURAL PORTAL

This is a portal of the Ministry of Culture of Latvia where you can find detailed up-to-date information about Latvian music, art, theatre, dance, cinema, literature, concerts, performances and other cultural events.

NATIONAL PORTAL OF LATVIA, Latvija.lv, your guide to e-Latvia

This portal was created to provide people in Latvia and abroad with centralised access to electronic services offered by different institutions.

OFFICIAL TOURISM PORTAL OF LATVIA

A portal for an unhurried leisure in Latvia. For travellers, Latvia is a destination to be enjoyed. It is a green land with vast forests and untouched nature, a land with sandy beaches easily to reach from cities with an ancient cultural tradition and history , diverse architecture and exciting sights to see. With a slow pace of life in the countryside, with modern cities, with unintrusive yet hospitable people and a safe environment.

RIGA – EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2014

Each year, the European Union designates a city to be the European Capital of Culture (ECC). For a whole year, this city can demonstrate its cultural life and European values to the rest of Europe. To be the ECC gives an excellent opportunity to highlight both the richness and diversity of culture in its country and in Europe as a whole, as well as the link among cultures and people in various countries. The ECC is chosen on the grounds of programmes offered by the candidates that should present long-term measures for cultural, economic and social development in the city.

Umea and Riga have been designated European Capitals of Culture for 2014.

MUSEUM OF THE OCCUPATION

In September 2011, the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia presented its latest innovative project – “The Virtual Museum of the Occupation of Latvia”. This Museum is a broad range digital exposition with additional 3D elements. Trough access to the Internet the Virtual Museum will serve to provide its readers with a considerable amount of information from within the resources of the Occupation Museum – documents, photographs, objects, maps, personal memories and other materials.

VIRTUAL TOURS IN LATVIA AND 360º PANORAMIC IMAGES

The Ocean Virtual Tours Agency during several years has been producing spherical 360º panoramic images of Latvia, virtual tours and multimedia reports from the most attractive sites and notable events.

VIRTUAL ART GALLERY

The Gallery showcases the classics of Latvian art and developments in modern fine art. Currently the Gallery includes home pages of 168 artists.

LATVIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ART

The Latvian Nacional Museum of Art is the largest treasury of professional art in the country and plays a notable role in collecting, preserving and promoting cultural values in Latvia and abroad. The museum, on a regular basis, holds art exhibitions, research conferences, various art and cultural events, takes part in international projects and issues publications.

The structure of the Latvian National Museum of Art includes the museum´s main building on Krišjāņa Valdemāra iela, the Arsenāls exibition hall, the Museum of Romans Suta and Aleksandra Beļcova, the Museum of Decorative Art and design and the Museum of Foreign Art.

MUSIC IN LATVIA

This portal is supported by Jāzeps Vītols Music Academy of Latvia in association with the Music Information Centre of Latvia.

LATVIAN NATIONAL OPERA

The source of Latvian opera dates back to 1912 when Pāvuls Jurjāns established the Latviešu Opera in Riga. On January 23, 1919, the Latvian National Opera staged its debut performance, Richard Wagner´s opera Der fliegende Holländer. At present, the Latvian National Opera is a repertory theatre which stages an average of six new performances during the season from September till end of May, keeping balance between opera and ballet. During the season, the LNO shown more than 200 performances and hosts a number of symphony and chamber concerts.