Rēzekne

Latgales Mara, a statue symbolizing Latgale's unity with the rest of Latvia

Rezekne (Latgalian: Rēzne, Russian: Резекне) is in Latgale, Latvia.

Understand

The town is a good place from which to explore the nearby Rāzna National Park, which contains Lake Rāzna, Latvia's second largest. Being a major rail junction, Rezekne is a place where travellers may get stuck for a few hours/days between trains.

Rēzekne was first mentioned in 1285. In the 9th century, there was a Latvian castle here, which was destroyed in the 13th century by German crusaders belonging to the Order of the Earth. Consequently, they built a new stone castle as a checkpoint for the eastern border of the League Confederation.

In 1582, the city became Polish, as part of the Duchy of Lijfland. After the first Polish division, it went with the rest of Latgale under the Russian empire.

The first congress of the Latgale region was held in Rēzekne in spring 1917, during the World War I. Following the independence of Latvia in 1918, the city became its cultural centre.

Get in

By train

Rēzekne has two train stations. The Moscow-Riga trains stop at Rezekne 2. The Riga-St Petersburg and Vilnius-St Petersburg trains call at Rezekne 1. Both stations are fairly central. Local trains run several times daily to Riga.

See

Rēzekne castle ruins

• Castle ruins. 
• Latgales Māra (Letmal Māra). This statue by Leons Tomašickis is the symbol of the city and dedicated to Latvia's independence. 
• Sacred Heart of Jesus church. 
• Latgales kultūrvēstures muzejs (Latgale Museum of History and Culture), Atbrīvošanas 102 (North of the roundabout). Tu–F 10:00–17:00, Sa 10:00–16:00. 

Sleep

• Kolonna Hotel Rēzekne, Brīvības iela 2 (near Rezekne 1 station). €40 - 60. 
• Viesu nams Rūmes, Platači. Dorm €12, rooms from €20. 

Go next

• Ludza – Small and scenic town, 25 km from Rēzekne.
• Lake Lubānas – In the far southeastern corner of Vidzeme. The largest lake in Latvia by area, but also one of the shallowest ones with average depth just 3 m. A great place for windsurfing and under-ice fishing in winter.
• Teiču Swamp Nature Reserve (Teiču dabas rezervāts) – In the south east. Take some of the wood-board walking paths to observe wild animals and birds. It is necessary to contact the reservoir's guide for entry permission.
• Gulbene – A small town with the only narrow gauge railway in the Baltics, to/from Alūksne.