Latvia is one of the three Baltic countries alongside Lithuania and Estonia. This small country of more than 2.2 million inhabitants experienced a difficult economic period after the separation in 1991 of the former USSR countries. But over the years, and especially since joining the European Union in 2004, the country has managed to put its economic situation in order.

Riga, its capital, is particularly off the beaten track: a veritable population melting pot, the city comprises an almost equal proportion of Russians and Latvians - about 42% while the rest of the inhabitants are Ukrainians, Belorussians, Poles and Lithuanians. By way of comparison, Latvia covers a total of some 59% of Latvians. The city also faces a major demographic problem: the fertility rate has not made it possible to replace the massive departures of many Russian speakers since 1991.

Riga attracts tourists from all over the world because of the strong impregnation of Art Nouveau in its city centre: although this art form reached Riga late enough at the end of the 19th century, architects had a field day to thoroughly renovate this space, left vacant after the city had literally removed the ramparts protecting its historic centre. In 1997, UNESCO listed some 475 hectares in the centre of Riga as World Heritage.

While you were in Latvia, you will also have to visit other cities: beach lovers will particularly enjoy visiting the seaside resort of Jurmala, which actually includes different beaches that follow each other for more than 40 kilometers along the Gulf of Riga. With its beautiful white sandy beaches bordering the Baltic Sea, Jurmala is nevertheless a jewel of the Riviera: its luxurious hotels and spas seduce tourists, many curists, and locals alike. During the winter period when temperatures can reach -20 degrees inland and -4 degrees on the coast, skiers will be able to visit the tourist resort of Sigulda, located on the Gauja, one of the longest rivers in Latvia.

In addition to winter sports, the historical interest of the city is also real: Sigulda Castle, Turaida Castle or Sigulda National Park are essential pillars. In the same vein, Bauska, located in the Latvian region of the Curonian Spit, some 60 kilometres from Riga, is full of historical treasures such as the ruins of its castle, one of the few buildings built to resist powder weapons. To the west of Latvia, Kuldiga will charm lovers of medieval history.

It is also known to shelter the Ventas Rumba, one of the deepest waterfalls in Europe with 249 meters depth. On your trip to Latvia, Several types of accommodation will be offered: if you like nature, you will be able to camp in some regional or national parks, using a good mosquito repellent. Otherwise, the country has youth hostels in the most tourist areas such as Riga or its seaside resorts, but this type of accommodation remains underdeveloped in other cities of the country. Apart from a few vestiges of the Soviet era, the Latvian hotel business remains generally of good quality. To get around, you can of course choose to rent a car in Latvia but traffic in the big cities is often very congested and accidents are frequent. The train is not very expensive but its comfort remains minimal and the number of its connections limited. However, you can opt for buses with regular departures and complete services. All for modest rates. In Latvia, the official language remains Latvian, although you will sometimes hear people speaking Russian. This language, with its Indo-European roots, seems at first glance incomprehensible and difficult to understand because of its variations and the presence of long and short vowels.

Art and culture in Latvia
Latvians are very fond of dainas, melodies that trace their daily life. There are 30,000 of these songs, which also trace the great moments of life, the rhythm of the seasons, pagan divinities, etc. They are so deeply rooted in the culture of the country that they are now an integral part of school books. Song festivals are Latvia's cultural events and there are more than 150 choirs.

What to visit in Latvia
The city of Riga is probably Latvia's nerve centre and it is here that you can find a wealth of places to go out at night. The city is also full of monuments of all kinds and confessions, Eglise Saint-Pierre; Eglise Saint-Jean.