Military town of Karosta Photo: Military town of Karosta

Military town of Karosta is a suburb in the North of Liepaja, which occupies about 1/3 of its total area and a historic landmark. Karosta emerged in the late nineteenth century.

The road to the military camp 2 passes through the bridge. The first bridge over the canal, which connects the nearby Liepaja lake and the Baltic sea. And the second axle passes through Karetsky canal, which runs for several kilometers inland. Once in the depths of the channel existed docks of the Baltic fleet of the Soviet Union, and the journey here was ordered by a large number of citizens.

Liepaja became a major trading centre during the first Baltic Crusades for the reason that the Bay did not freeze in the winter. In the XIX century the city became the Foundation base of the Baltic naval fleet of the Russian state. The location close to Prussia was one of the most important circumstances which determined the election of Liepaja city as a base of the Navy. This military base is the last, which was founded and built by the Russian Empire.

The history of Liepaja military town of Karosta has more than a century. A decree on the construction of the fortress, the sea port and military town adopted Russian Tsar Alexander III in 1890. Simultaneously with the growth and development of the port has created an impressive system of FORTS along the shores of the Baltic sea. After the death of Tsar Alexander III, his son, Tsar Nicholas II, manages to call the new military port in honor of his father. In 1919, after the adoption of Latvia's independence, the port of Alexander III changes its name to Karosta, so now it is simply called – the Military port.

Port Alexander III was conceived as an independent entity, including its infrastructure, power plant, sewage system, Church, school and email. Interestingly, the letters sent from Liepaja Port Alexander III and Vice versa, not worth 1 penny, as ordinary messages within the city, and 3 pennies as if it were an international shipment.

Today Karosta became an interesting tourist place in Liepaja. On the territory of the former military port of the monuments of those years. This is a drawbridge made of steel. It was built in 1906 and still operating. Away you can see the amazing beauty of the Orthodox Cathedral of St. Nicholas, erected in 1901. And yet there is a military prison, consisting of several 2-3-storey buildings of brick red. The first detainees were sailors who participated in the 1905 revolution. Here they were shot. Buried, on the contrary – in the brethren cemetery. In Soviet times the building was used as a military prison, and later for the army of Latvia. But the latter did not catch on, and it was decided to give it all on display for tourists.

Prisons have now become a Museum. They are open to tourists. In the chambers created the atmosphere of those times, as if prisoners: dirty mattresses, metal mugs, stools. And administrative compartment you can see the portraits of Lenin, state metal tables, a police escort form on the hanger.

Another interesting object is the Northern FORTS. These coastal fortifications perform its function very long. In 1908 they were blown up because of a peace Treaty between Russia and Germany. But after 6 years, these countries will again become sworn enemies. And the destruction of the system of FORTS only undermined the position of the country. And after a few years will cease to exist Tsarist Russia. In the labyrinths of the Northern FORTS you can also get to wander through them by torchlight.

Now in a military town home to approximately 8,000 residents. It can be reached from the center of Liepaja, on the bus or the bus.

Liepaja military town of Karosta is a unique place, a unique monument not only in Latvia but also in world history and architecture.

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Military town of Karosta
The Cathedral Of The Holy Trinity
House Of Peter I
Orthodox Cathedral of St. Nicholas