Daugavgriva fortress located in Riga, at the mouth of the Western Dvina (Daugava). The history of the fortress is over 4 centuries. During the Swedish-Polish war (early 17th century), the Swedes built the first fortifications here. Built in 1608, strengthening, according to its configuration resembled a star. Throughout the 17th century the Swedes were strengthened and rebuilt the fortifications.

In 1710 the strengthening consisted of six strengthening water ditches, stone escarpments and afflicted. In the fortress housed the barracks and powder magazine. After the great Northern war (1700-1721), the fortress was repeatedly extended and rebuilt. Near Daugavgriva fortress was founded a settlement. In those days, the fortress was used as a prison in the Russian Empire. So. For example, it was concluded that deposed Emperor Ivan the 4th and his parents.

During the reign of the Empress Catherine II was built a powerful fortress, specially adapted for military equipment of that time. In that period the Daugavgrīva fortress was one of the strongest Russian fortresses. Since 1860 the fortress became known as durumunda, and in 1893 it was renamed in Ust-Dvinsk. In the mid 19th century the fortress was connected to the Telegraph line, which was the first not only in Russia but in the whole of North-Eastern Europe.

Between the castle and the sea have built a great winter port, at the time, it "wintered" tens and even hundreds of sailing ships. Towards the end of the 18th century was built the breakwater. In 1863 he erected a cast-iron lighthouse, whose height was just over 30 meters. During the First World war, the lighthouse was blown up, the new one was built in 1921, its height was 33, 5 meters. In 1873, the fortress was the railroad connecting the Riga station and winter port.

In 1904, the castle was again rebuilt, in the period from 1914 to 1916 undertook a significant strengthening of the fortress, and, mostly, fortifications aimed at sea. In early September 1917, Russian troops left the fortress, which is then passed from hand to hand. In the period of independence of Latvia, in daugavgrīva fortress housed the army camp, in Soviet times here was a secret military facility. In the post-Soviet period, despite the fact that the fortress belonged to the Latvian army, it was under a commercial firm.