Population of Liepaja city: nearly 100 000 Main industries: metal processing, textile, food, paper production, ship building Main advantages: low-tax environment, ice-free port, easy access to Western and Eastern countries Main attractions: Karosta – former military base from Tsarist Russia and Soviet time, World’s largest historically unreconstructed organ at Holy Trinity Church, world’s longest amber neckless (more than 70 m) and amber clock, the whitest sand beach Events: Classical and Rock music festivals like International Piano Stars Festival, Caines Beach Party, Amber of
Liepaja, Organ Music festival, etc.; International rally Kurzeme and other sports events Liepaja lies on the western coast of Latvia in the central part of the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. It is situated 219 km from the capital Riga, about 70 km from Palanga, the major Lithuanian tourism destination and 300 km from Kaliningrad – a fast growing remote Russian business centre. Liepaja is the third largest city in Latvia with the population nearly 100,000. In addition to its ice free port, international airport and diverse economy Liepaja is a newly discovered spot today for international tourism. It is well known as the city of culture and entertainment life. Liepaja is the home of the oldest professional theatre in Latvia, an internationally recognized Liepaja Symphony Orchestra (among other international concerts played in Royal Albert Hall in 2001), a cradle of Latvian rock music, each year hosting various annual international rock and classical music festivals. An annual European rally championship Kurzeme is one of the latest international
traditions set in sports. It could be proud of being as an architectural monument of nationwide importance with buildings from several centuries and of various architectural styles. Though different and unique they supplement each other and create
atmosphere characteristic just for Liepaja only. One of the oldest buildings - the Holy Trinity church is noteworthy for it’s organ which is currently the biggest not rebuilt mechanic organ in the world (it was largest among all organs in the world until 1912) and will celebrate its 120 anniversary this autumn. The city has the largest number of wooden buildings than any other town or city of Latvia; also many streets are still paved with cobble stones,
and the first tram line in Tsarist Russia is still in operation. Liepaja has an internationally unique heritage for adventurous tourism – former Tsarist Russia and Soviet military
base Karosta. It was the largest and the most westward naval port in the Baltic Sea area built in the end of the 19th century - a unique disclosure of interaction between the military elegance of the Tsar's Russia and the Soviet style. Rarely in the world you will find a beach equal to Liepaja - fine, white sand stretching for miles within the city and outside. The pristine nature surrounding Liepaja and the undiscovered coast of the Baltic Sea is a special treasure of Liepaja region with vast possibilities for a romantic walk in the park or along the bleu flag beach, looking for small amber peaces, fishing, hunting, hiking, horse riding, birds and animals watching etc. Historically Liepaja also has been a place for rest and restoration of health. Russian Tsars have come to Liepaja to enjoy the balneological resources and natural sources of mineral and thermal waters. Today Liepaja work hard to regain its spacity reputation in future. Welcome to Liepaja, a city that sounds!
www.liepaja.lv airBaltic thanks the Liepaja City Council for this information. | 
