The centre of the Baltics

Since regaining its independence in 1990, the official state language of the Republic Latvia is Latvian and its official currency is the lat (LVL). Reuniting with Europe after years of Soviet occupation was the main goal set by the Latvian government for the turn of the century. In 2004, Latvia acceded to NATO and the European Union. Latvia is at the centre of the three Baltic States – it shares a border to the north with Estonia, to the south with Lithuania, and to the east with Russia and Belarus.

Latvian personalities and achievements

Different people have carried the name of Latvia beyond its borders. Opera singers Inese Galante and Elīna Garanča, theatre director Alvis Hermanis and the New Riga Theatre, conductor Mariss Jansons, composer Pēteris Vasks and pianist Vestards Šimkus have all gained wide recognition. Winter sports representatives can also boast success – Latvian ice-hockey players, bobsleigh crews, skeleton and sled riders. We can also be proud of our talented inventors. The miniature camera designed by Valters Caps at the beginning of the 20th century carried the name VEF Minox around the world. This tradition is today continued by the company JZ Microphones with its studio microphone Black Hole. Due to the specific production technology of these microphones, their high quality and comparatively low price, they have gained recognition among Hollywood’s sound engineers. At the closing ceremony of the 2006 Olympic Games, the Aerodium air acrobats from Latvia surprised millions of viewers around the world by flying at the top of an air current 25 m above the ground. In the 2007 Dakar Rally Raid, the attention of racing fans was attracted by the unique yellow OSCar race cars made by the Latvian company OSC, which successfully competed with teams from the world’s strongest car manufacturers.

Riga - the European capital of culture 2014

Riga, the capital of Latvia, attracts tourists from all over the world with its romantic old town, whose history stretches back more than 800 years delights with its Art Noveau architecture. Thanks to its wide offer of cultural life, Riga was chosen as one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2014. The opera, theatres, museums and art galleries can satisfy even the most demanding of culture gourmands. But for those who enjoy nature travels, Latvia offers a high level of comfort combined with untouched landscapes that are hard to find elsewhere in Europe.