Dobele is a
townA town is a type of settlement ranging from a few hundred to several thousand inhabitants, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas; the precise meaning varies between countries and is not always a matter of legal definition...
in
LatviaLatvia , officially the Republic of Latvia is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , and to the southeast by Belarus . Across the Baltic Sea to the west lies Sweden...
which, located in Zemgale, lies in the near center of Latvia on the banks of the river Bērze. It received city status in 1917 while a part of the German occupied
Courland GovernorateThe Governorate of Courland, also known as the Province of Courland, Governorate of Kurland , and Government of Courland , was one of the Baltic provinces or governorates of the Russian Empire, now part of the Republic of Latvia....
during the First World War.
. In 2006, its population numbered 10,827 people.
History
Dobele is first mentioned in historical sources in 1254; however, at that time it was only a wooden fortress which was destroyed during the Semigallian War of Independence (1279-1290), the final phase of the
Northern CrusadesThe Northern Crusades or Baltic Crusades were crusades undertaken by the Christian kings of Denmark and Sweden, the German Livonian and Teutonic military orders, and their allies against the pagan peoples of Northern Europe around the southern and eastern shores of the Baltic Sea...
in Latvia. On its spot, a new stone castle was erected in 1335 and a small settlement grew up around it. The ruins of this fortress are still visible and are in the process of being restored. The original church was constructed in 1495, and eventually the fortress developed into a trading post. In the 17th century, a watermill, sawmill, and cardiganmill as well as a vinegar-works were constructed during the reign of duke
Jacob KettlerJacob Kettler was a Baltic German Duke of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia . Under his rule, the duchy was brought to its greatest peak in wealth and engaged in colonization.- Life :...
. In 1927, the
JelgavaJelgava is a city in central Latvia about 41 km southwest of Riga with 66,087 inhabitants . It is the largest town in Semigallia. Jelgava is known as the former capital of the Duchy of Courland, and was the capital of the Courland region until 1919.Jelgava is situated on a fertile plain...
-
LiepājaLiepāja , historical variant: Libau, is a city in western Latvia on the Baltic sea and the administrative center of Liepāja district. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
railway connected the city to other important towns and a period of development resulted.
Industry
Dobele is the home of many large enterprises, such as mills, the "Spodrība" chemical plant, and the "Baltic Candles" candle factory. A complete list of major corporations is viewable
here.
Education
In Dobele, as in other Latvian towns, there are several educational establishments: five comprehensive schools, including the Dobele State Grammar School, four kindergartens, Music and Art schools, a Vocational school and Adult Education Center, as well as Children and Youth Centres.
Culture
The town of Dobele has a Cultural Centre as well as a museum. The town is also the location of 8 nationally protected monuments, such as the old castle, church, and town hall.
There are several annual festivals and holidays celebrated (see
this) including the
Ielīgosim Jāņus, the Midsummer celebration, and the
jubilejai, or festival, which changes yearly.
Demographics
LatviaLatvia , officially the Republic of Latvia is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , and to the southeast by Belarus . Across the Baltic Sea to the west lies Sweden...
ns make up 75.5% of the population while
RussiaRussia , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia . It is a semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
ns, at 14%, are a significant minority. Other groups include
ByelorussiansBelarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the north and east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the north. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel , Mahilyow and Vitebsk...
- 3.3%,
LithuaniaLithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the southernmost of the three Baltic states. Situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, it shares borders with Latvia to the north, Belarus to the southeast, Poland, and the Russian exclave of...
ns - 2.3%,
UkrainiansUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east; Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south. The city of Kiev is both the capital and the largest city of...
-1.8%,
PolesPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe . Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
- 1.5%, and 1.6% are of other nationalities.
Notable people
- Viktors Ščerbatihs
Viktors Ščerbatihs is a Latvian weightlifter and politician and a three-time Olympian for his native country. He is 181cm tall....
, an Olympic gold-medalist.
- Lauris Reiniks
Lauris Reiniks, born in Dobele, Latvia, is award-winning Latvian pop music singer, songwriter, Television host and actor. He has released 5 solo albums. One of them “ Lidot Savadak” has certified Gold in Latvia. Many of Lauris’s songs have become hits in Latvia...
, a musician.
See also
- List of cities in Latvia
- Dobele crater
Dobele crater is an impact crater in central Latvia. The town of Dobele is built over the site of the crater.It is 4.5 km in diameter and the age is estimated to be 290 ± 35 million years . The impact structure is buried and is not visible.-External links:*, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, v. 34,...