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Jelgava is a city in central Latvia about 41 kilometres southwest of Riga. It is the largest town in the region of Zemgale(Semigalia). Jelgava was the capital of the united Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1578–1795) and the administrative center of the Courland Governorate (1795–1918). After centuries of Swedish, Polish-Lithuanian and Russian rule, a rule mainly executed by the Baltic German aristocracy, the Republic of Latvia was established on 18 November 1918 when it broke away and declared independence in the aftermath of World War I. However, by the 1930s the country became increasingly autocratic after the coup in 1934 establishing an authoritarian regime under Kārlis Ulmanis. The country's 'de facto' independence was interrupted at the outset of World War II, beginning with Latvia's forced incorporation into the Soviet Union, followed by the invasion and occupation by Nazi Germany in 1941, and the re-occupation by the Soviets in 1944 (Courland Pocket in 1945) to form the Latvian SSR for the next 45 years. The peaceful Singing Revolution, starting in 1987, called for Baltic emancipation from Soviet rule and condemning the Communist regime's illegal takeover. It ended with the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia on 4 May 1990, and restoring 'de facto' independence on 21 August 1991. The Scotch Mist Gallery contains many photographs of historic buildings, monuments and memorials of Poland and countries that previously comprised the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Jelgava is a city in central Latvia about 41 kilometres southwest of Riga. It is the largest town in the region of Zemgale(Semigalia). Jelgava was the capital of the united Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1578–1795) and the administrative center of the Courland Governorate (1795–1918). After centuries of Swedish, Polish-Lithuanian and Russian rule, a rule mainly executed by the Baltic German aristocracy, the Republic of Latvia was established on 18 November 1918 when it broke away and declared independence in the aftermath of World War I. However, by the 1930s the country became increasingly autocratic after the coup in 1934 establishing an authoritarian regime under Kārlis Ulmanis. The country's 'de facto' independence was interrupted at the outset of World War II, beginning with Latvia's forced incorporation into the Soviet Union, followed by the invasion and occupation by Nazi Germany in 1941, and the re-occupation by the Soviets in 1944 (Courland Pocket in 1945) to form the Latvian SSR for the next 45 years. The peaceful Singing Revolution, starting in 1987, called for Baltic emancipation from Soviet rule and condemning the Communist regime's illegal takeover. It ended with the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia on 4 May 1990, and restoring 'de facto' independence on 21 August 1991. The Scotch Mist Gallery contains many photographs of historic buildings, monuments and memorials of Poland and countries that previously comprised the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Jelgava is a city in central Latvia about 41 kilometres southwest of Riga. It is the largest town in the region of Zemgale(Semigalia). Jelgava was the capital of the united Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1578–1795) and the administrative center of the Courland Governorate (1795–1918). After centuries of Swedish, Polish-Lithuanian and Russian rule, a rule mainly executed by the Baltic German aristocracy, the Republic of Latvia was established on 18 November 1918 when it broke away and declared independence in the aftermath of World War I. However, by the 1930s the country became increasingly autocratic after the coup in 1934 establishing an authoritarian regime under Kārlis Ulmanis. The country's 'de facto' independence was interrupted at the outset of World War II, beginning with Latvia's forced incorporation into the Soviet Union, followed by the invasion and occupation by Nazi Germany in 1941, and the re-occupation by the Soviets in 1944 (Courland Pocket in 1945) to form the Latvian SSR for the next 45 years. The peaceful Singing Revolution, starting in 1987, called for Baltic emancipation from Soviet rule and condemning the Communist regime's illegal takeover. It ended with the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia on 4 May 1990, and restoring 'de facto' independence on 21 August 1991. The Scotch Mist Gallery contains many photographs of historic buildings, monuments and memorials of Poland and countries that previously comprised the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Photo by Scotch Mist
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Jelgava

Jelgava, Latvia · Europe

About Jelgava

Jelgava sits on the route: 10 minutes from Ozolnieki, 33km from Ķemeri National Park.

Jelgava is in Latvia, with about 55,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Ozolnieki, about 6 km away.

Jelgava (pronounced [ˈjælˠɡɐvˠɐ] ) is a state city in central Latvia. It is located about 41 kilometres (25 miles) southwest of Riga. With 54,408 people, it is the fourth most-populous city in Latvia. It is the largest town in the Semigallia region of Latvia. Jelgava was the capital of the united Duchy of Courland and

Read more Semigallia (1578–1795) and was the administrative center of the Courland Governorate (1795–1918). Jelgava is situated on a fertile plain rising only 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) above mean sea level on the right bank of the river Lielupe. At high water, the plain and sometimes the town as well can be flooded. It is a railway center, and is also a host to the Jelgava Air Base. Its importance as a railway centre can be seen by the fact that it lies at the junction of over 6 railway lines connecting Riga to Lithuania, eastern and western Latvia, and Lithuania to the Baltic Sea.

Read more on Wikipedia

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is there to see near Jelgava?

Within an hour or so of Jelgava: Rundāle Palace (32 km), Ķemeri National Park (33 km), Jūrmala (36 km), Bauska Castle (39 km).

Are there any good drives near Jelgava?

The nearest famous roads are Cape Kolka and the Livonian Coast Road.

Where is Jelgava?

Jelgava is in Jelgava, Latvia, about 6 km from Ozolnieki.

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Quick Information

Population
54,834
Continent
Europe
Country
Latvia
Region
Jelgava
Timezone
Europe/Riga
Coordinates
56.6500, 23.7128

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Latvia

Police
112
Ambulance
113
Fire
112
Driving side
right
Full driving guide for Latvia

Tags

EuropeLatviaJelgavaTown

Worth the detour from Jelgava

7 notable places within an hour's drive.

landmark

Rundāle Palace

Latvia's grandest baroque palace designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, featuring opulent interiors and one of the finest French-style gardens in the Baltics.

32 km · about 35 min drive

national park

Ķemeri National Park

A vast mosaic of raised bogs, sulphur springs and pine forest just west of Jūrmala. The Great Ķemeri Bog boardwalk winds past dark pools and dwarf pines to a viewing tower: magical at sunrise.

33 km · about 40 min drive

beach

Jūrmala

Latvia's premier seaside resort stretching along 33 kilometers of white sand beach, famous for its charming wooden Art Nouveau villas.

36 km · about 40 min drive

castle

Bauska Castle

Castle complex combining a ruined Livonian Order fortress and a later ducal residence on a ridge between two rivers, with parking.

39 km · about 45 min drive

landmark

Riga Old Town

A UNESCO-listed medieval old town with the finest collection of Art Nouveau architecture in the world, centered on charming cobblestone squares.

41 km · about 45 min drive

cathedral

Riga Cathedral

Medieval Lutheran cathedral in Riga's old town, the largest church in the Baltics, known for its large 19th-century pipe organ.

41 km · about 45 min drive

landmark

Riga Art Nouveau District

The world's greatest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings, with over 800 ornate facades featuring elaborate sculptures, faces, and floral motifs.

42 km · about 50 min drive

When to drive here

May to September

Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Jelgava.

Kalnciems

🇱🇻 Latvia

18 km awayPop. 2,548

Mārupe

🇱🇻 Latvia

35 km awayPop. 19,096

Baloži

🇱🇻 Latvia

35 km awayPop. 6,780

Jūrmala

🇱🇻 Latvia

36 km awayPop. 52,001

Ķekava

🇱🇻 Latvia

37 km awayPop. 5,446

Bauska

🇱🇻 Latvia

40 km awayPop. 9,709

Riga

🇱🇻 Latvia

41 km awayPop. 742,572

Dārzciems

🇱🇻 Latvia

43 km awayPop. 17,599

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence