Audioguides of Zilupe

This unusual town in eastern Latvia, where the riverside brings together nature and people, holds something truly special. It is a place where the sun rises the earliest and the everyday life drifts along calmly, inviting us to take in each picturesque scene of the town. The diversity of nationalities of those residing along the border gives this place a unique character where serenity and love create a harmonious setting.

Walking down the main street in Zilupe, Brīvības iela, near the railway station building, we reach one of the oldest sacred sites in the town, the Zilupe Orthodox Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Its origins date back to 1866 in Brigi hamlet. In December 1920, the Latvian government handed over the Brigi Church of the Resurrection to the Catholic congregation, leaving the Orthodox community to seek a new place.

Currently, we are walking down the main street in Zilupe – Brīvības iela, which holds the town’s early roots and has played a significant role in its development. It stretches for about one and a half kilometres and houses nearly all of the town’s essential institutions and landmarks. During the Vitebsk Governorate era, it was a simple rural road used to transport building materials for the railway construction. It is here where the Latvian Army marched east down this road to protect the country’s eastern border in Latvia’s first period of independence. Many local residents who were persecuted, including Jews and Roma from the Zilupe area, also took this street on their way to the railway station and the fate that awaited them.

The town park and the small square in the very heart of the town are a true oasis where to escape from the daily rush. It is a place to relax while listening to the soothing sound of the fountain and children laughing and playing on the playground. The benches and lush greenery, along with environmental installations, contribute to a vibrant atmosphere and invite everyone to pause in the rush of daily life.

In 1910, as Rozenova started to grow and evolve, the first school in the town – the Zilupe Jewish Primary School – was established. By 1924, with its expansion, the school had six grades and had become a primary school.

Zilupe Catholic Church serves as the spiritual centre of the town community. The Catholic congregation was established in 1927, as it was allocated a plot of land at Baznīcas iela 17. Built by Pastor Adalberts Cērciņš, the rectory became the centre for religious services and congregation activities.

Rivcāni hamlet, which was situated in a forested area on the left bank of the Sīnoja River in the 19th century, became an important location in the area of Zilupe during the construction of the mill. Initially low in capacity, the mill was only capable of grinding flour. It was powered by a watermill with a wooden pile bridge and a single turbine.

Zilupe River is an important element of the urban environment and border area of Zilupe. Its total length is 195 kilometres, with 73 kilometres lying within Latvia. The river serves as a border river between Latvia and Russia, as well as between Latvia and Belarus. It has two tributaries: Istra and Verbovka.

We have arrived at the outskirts of Zilupe, at Kalna iela 9, to be exact, where the Savelinki Chapel stands. Once a path connecting Zilupe to Pasiene, this chapel was constructed in the early 19th century. It is a significant cultural monument of national importance and a beloved place of worship for the community. Having once served as a place for holding religious services, it is currently used for the needs of the Zilupe congregation.