Daugavpils Fortress (Dünaburg, Dwinsk) is located on the banks of the Daugava River in southeastern Latvia. It was built in 1810-1878 and, as a fortified ideal city with an area of more than 2 square kilometres, is an impressive example of European military architecture. As early as 1812, during the Napoleonic Wars, the fortress, which had not yet been completed, successfully defended against attacks by the Napoleonic army. During the Second World War, the fortress was used by the German army as a ghetto and camp for Soviet prisoners of war. It is considered to be the last completed bastion-type fortress in the World!

Today, Daugavpils Fortress is home to 40 cultural monuments, museums and cultural institutions such as the Rothko Museum and Industrial Design Centre “Engineering Arsenal”, as well as venues for festivals and events. It is a popular destination for tourists and history buffs. The annual historical re-enactment festival “Dinaburg 1812” on the occasion of Napoleon’s military campaign is known far beyond the borders of Latvia and attracts numerous historical actors and spectators to Daugavpils.

In the FORTE CULTURA network, Daugavpils Fortress is represented by the municipal institution “Daugavpils Fortress & Museums Administration” an organisation that has been dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the fortress heritage in Daugavpils for many years.

Acting director Artjoms Mahlins signed FORTE CULTURA’s membership application in February 2025. With Daugavpils, FORTE CULTURA has gained an experienced partner who represents an ideal fortress city with a rich history and thus significantly strengthens our network.