Jelgava

The town of Jelgava , in Latvia, (in German Mittau , Russian Митава ), is located in the district of Jelgava of which it is the chief town. Principal industries are the sugar (whose factory was recently closed then reopened) and ceramics. Jelgava is the second coed city of the country.

History

The foundation of the city is located at the 11th century, it is a defensive point of the Chevaliers carry-sword against the attacks Sémigaliennes and Lithuaniennes, pagan people, aiming at pushing back the actors of the Baltic crusades. In 1264, Konrad Von Mander orders the construction of the fortress of Mitau on an island with the junction between the Lielupe and the Driska. The city thrives as a point of defense against the invasions of the south until the plundering of the Lithuanians under the command of Aļģirda in 1345.

Following the wars of Livonie and the fall of the Knights carry-sword, Jelgava becomes a city of the duchy of Courlande in 1561. It receives the rights of city and its blazon in 1573 before becoming the capital of the duchy of Courlande and Sémigalie in 1578. Following the death of Gotthard Kettler, its sons divides the duchy and Jelgava becomes the capital of the western part. Follows the Scandinavian wars from there, opposing Polish (whose Friedrich Kettler is vassal) to Swedish. In 1617, the city becomes again capital joined together duchy. But the kingdom of Sweden is victorious and the city after an alternation of occupation becomes Swedish in 1621. Polish will try, in vain, to recover the city which in spite of the wars continues to thrive.

Little by little, the city falls under the Russian influence and the duchess of 1711 with 1730, is not other than Anna Ivanovna which will become Anne Iere of Russia. She leaves the duchy to Ernst Johann von Biron which will be suspended death of the empress with 1766. Under its government, the city makes cultural great strides without precedent. It is him which orders the construction of the palate whose he entrusts the plans to Rastrelli, in parallel of that of Rundale. It also founds the academy and encourages the stage performances at its court.

Following the French revolution, the inhabitants of the city claim more rights. But it will not obtain any really.

It is interesting to note that the king Louis XVIII, in exile, remains with the palate of Mitau of 1798 with 1801 and of 1804 with 1807, in the capacity as duke of Provence whereas the city was annexed in 1795 by the Russian empire. The city loses of its radiation and is used as a basis for the Prussia during the Napoleonean Guerres.

It is in 1868 with the arrival of the rail that Jelgava knows a new phase of expansion due in particular on arrival the rural ones coming to settle as merchant, craftsmen or teachers. In 1914, the city counts 45000 inhabitants. During the First World War, it is occupied by German. At the end of the war, the city becomes a ground of confrontation for the German militia, Soviet and the freedom fighters Latvian. In 1919, when Latvia obtains its independence, the city becomes an important point of the new state.

Following the Pact germano-Soviet, Jelgava, with the image of all Latvia, is left in Russia. However, Hitler will not hold its promises and the city is again occupied by German who is used itself about it as a basis air of 1941 with 1944 before the Red Army does not take again the city. The city is destroyed with more than 90% at the time of the Second world war.

The rebuilding is started under the Soviet socialist République of Latvia whose architectural style is strongly impresses. After independence, the city undergoes a strong economic crisis which will not really finish in 2000.

Demography (2004)

  • strong rate of femininity: 54/46
  • active population: 61% younger
    • : 16%
      • older
    • : 23%
  • ethnic distribution:
    • Latvian: 54,2% Russian
    • : 30,4% Belorusse
    • : 5,8%
    • Ukrainian: 4%
      • Polish, Lithuanian and different
    • : 5,6%

Economy (2004)

The city counts 1096 companies including 41% in the commercial branch and 70% in the tertiary sector and unemployment rate bordered the 5,4% at the end of 2005.

Transport

Jelgava is the center of the railway network for Zemgale and it is thus easy to go in any point of this area like to Rīga (every half-hour) by train.

In the bus, it is possible to join any city of the country like Rīga. A connection towards the Estonia and the Lithuania is also assured.

In microbus, it is possible to go towards Rīga all the fifteen minutes.

The center town is made up mainly of avenues which make circulation easy even at rush hours.

To see

Culture

  • the castle of Mitau
  • the Protestant church of the Trinity (1574-1625)
  • Academia Petrina (18th)
  • the Protestant church co. Anne (1567)
  • the catholic cathedral St Georges and co. Marie (1630-1635)
  • the orthodoxe cathedral St Siméon and co. Anna
  • the church St Jean
  • the church Baptist (1870)
  • the alley of in love (19th century) the
  • Villa Medem (1818)
  • the castle with Valdeka (17th century)
  • the old city
  • the station (1870)

Museums

  • the museum of art and history G. Eliass
  • the museum of the palate where are buried the dukes of Courlande
  • the museum of Adolf Ulmans
  • the subsidiary company of the museum of the Latvian railroads
  • the museum of the electrical communication of the south of the country
  • the republican hospital for nevrotic
  • the hydrant
  • the museum of the firemen

Others

  • the various parks
  • remarkable Trees
  • the statues
  • the cemeteries

Twinnings

  • Parnu (1957)
  • Šiauliai (1960)
  • Vejle (1992)
  • Shinjinga (2000)
  • Alcamo (2002)
  • Baranovici (2003)
  • administrative Zone of the south of Moscow (2003)
  • Berlin Germany (2003)
  • Hällefors Sweden (2004)
  • Nacka Sweden (2004)
  • Molodechno (-)

External bond

  • Site of the city

Be-X-old: Елґава

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