Since the mayor of the capital led the gay parade last Sunday, it seemed reasonable to leave the confines of Riga and pay tribute to a small town less than 20 km from home – where the anniversary was beautifully and traditionally celebrated.
This is one of the oldest settlements in Latvia. In the 10th to 15th centuries, the region was inhabited by Livonian and Baltic tribes. In 1186, the Bishop of Riga, Meinard, built the Kirchholm Castle on Martinholm Island in the middle of the Daugava River.
On Martinholm Island (now Martinšala) is a section of the oldest Catholic cemetery in Latvia, dated 1197. A memorial stone stands at the site of the battle of Kirchholm in 1605 – surprisingly, fought between Poland and Sweden – now NATO allies! The Poles won.
Many people at the celebration. Photo by the author.
In 1710, during the Great Northern War, Kirchholm, which was part of Swedish Livonia, was occupied by Russian troops. In 1721, under the terms of the Treaty of Nystad, it was incorporated into Russia (in the Russian Empire, Kirchholm belonged to the Livonian Governorate). In 1753, a school was established, and in 1786, a horse post station was opened. This is how the city began, where over 17 thousand people now live!
Folk crafts were working on site. Photo by the author.
There was a noticeable influx of those wishing to celebrate. After some effort parking nearby at the corner of Rīgas and Pionieru (yes, the wonderful name has been preserved), we entered a fairy tale of flowers, shrubs, and trees.
The origins of the botanical garden date back to 1836, when Christian Wilhelm Schock, a gardener from Dessau, Germany, invited by Anna Gertrude Vermann, founded a horticultural firm in Riga, with a nursery located on its outskirts (now Ganibu dambis street).
As the nursery grew, it was decided in 1898 to move it to Kirchholm. In 1944, a State Nursery of Fruit Trees and Berries was established in Salaspils.
The total area of the garden currently covers 129 hectares. It features more than 14,000 species and varieties of plants, including about 5,000 species of trees and around 1,400 species of greenhouse plants.
The rows of colorful peonies looked magnificent – it is now their blooming season, the hyacinths had already faded, but still delighted the eye. Gardeners were presented with all sorts of high-quality materials to decorate their plots. Those interested went on tours with professional greenhouse experts – while the general public was treated to a festive concert, a vintage car show, and children's entertainment.
By the way, the population of the Salaspils region increased by more than 100 people over the year – a joy for Latvia.
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