Jēkabpils (German: Jakobstadt) is a city in Latvia roughly halfway between Riga and Koknese. The city lies on both banks of the river Daugava that are joined by a bridge. The ancient valley, branches, and islands of the river make a picturesque landscape. Riga (in Latvian language orthography Rīga), the capital of Latvia, is situated on the Baltic Sea coast at the mouth of the Daugava River, at 56°58′ N 24°8′ E. Riga is the largest city in the Baltic States and serves as a major cultural, educational, political, financial, commercial... The Daugava river (Latvian: Daugava, German: Düna, Polish Dźwina, Russian: За́падная Двина́, Belarusan: Дзьвіна́) is a river rising in the Valdai Hills flowing through Russia and Belarus, then Latvia, draining into the Gulf of Riga, an arm of the Baltic Sea. ...

A stone cross-castle - Cruczeborch (German Kreutzburg)- was built in 1237 by the crusading Livonian_Brothers_of_the_Sword. Archeological excavations on the castle mound indicate that this place was a busy trading centre and living area for the Latgalians - one of the tribes in Latvia. When the castle was built, the village Krustpils spread around it. The village was often destroyed during times of war, such as Polish-Swedish battles, but was always rebuilt afterward. The Livonian Brothers of the Sword (Latin Fratres militiae Christi, literally the brothers of the army of Christ), also known as the Christ Knights, Sword Brethren or The Militia of Christ of Livonia, was a military order started in 1202 by Albert of Buxhoeveden, bishop of Riga (or Prince-Bishop... This article is about the region in Europe. ...

During the 17th century persecuted Old Believers from Russia settled along the Daugava river. In 1670 this settlement gradually growing around the tavern Salas became known as Jēkabpils or Jakobstadt in honor of the duke of Courland, Jacob Kettler, who granted town rights to it. A local legend about the town's origin states that the duke was hunting one day but became lost. At the Daugava river he simultaneously spotted a lynx underneath a fir tree as well as a town at the same time. This image of the lynx underneath a fir tree is the town's coat of arms. Jēkabpils and Krustpils were joined together in 1962. The Old Believers (старове́ры or старообря́дцы) are a schismatic group of the Russian Orthodox Church. ... Courland, Kurland, Couronia, or Curonia, a former Baltic province of the Teutonic Order state in Livonia (ca. ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Geographical characterisation

The population of Jēkabpils town is 29,100 inhabitants. Both historical parts of Jēkabpils – Krustpils and former Jēkabpils are connected by the bridge across the river Daugava. Jēkabpils district is like a bed between neighbouring districts meandered by the Daugava.

The most popular sightseeing and cultural objects

In the oldest part of the town – the ancient building has been preserved. Today when walking along Jēkabpils one is surprised by a great number of small shops. In Jēkabpils district, not far from Jēkabpils there is the great Latvian poets J.Rainis memorial museum in Tadenava, there are also the Justine and Dugnaja castle sites. The highest point of Selija – Ormankalns is in Klauce area. Between Nereta and Akniste there is a memorial museum "Riekstini" of famous Latvian writer J. Jaunsudrabins.

External links

• Official Town website (http://www.jekabpils.lv) (in Latvian)
• Latgale Tourism (http://tourism.rdc.lv/high_en/jekabpils/tic/why.html)
• Town Heraldry (http://www.ngw.nl/int/lat/jekabpil.htm)
• Town Flag (http://www.ace.unsw.edu.au/people/rmjc/fotw/flags/lv-jkp.html)