Tornakalns
Encyclopedia
Torņakalns is a neighbourhood of Riga
, Latvia
. Located on the westbank of the Daugava River (neighborhoods along this shore are collectively known as Pārdaugava
). The name Torņakalns (eng.
:Tower Hill) derives from a fortified tower built in the Middle Ages close to the Daugava River to alarm the city of Riga in case of emergency and unwelcomed intruders about to cross the river. The tower does not stand nowadays. Torņakalns was an early suburb to Riga, consisting largely of gardens and mansions. In contrast to the Soviet-built Zolitude
and Ziepniekkalns
suburbs, there are plenty of gardens, parks, and monuments. Mārupes parks (eng.
:Mary's Creek Park) encircles the Māras diķis (eng.
:Mary's Pond), which was once dammed by a mill. The Mārupe (eng.
:Mary's Creek) then continues into Arkādijas parks (eng.
:Arcadian
Park), where early 20th century landscaping provides an oasis from the city.
In 1940, the Soviet Union
annexed Latvia and began mass deportations of Latvians who were deemed to be political and social threats to the new communist government. Because Torņakalns contained a number of affluent residents, these deportations took place at the Torņakalns railway station. Many of the mansions were confiscated, with some being divided into smaller units, and others turned to public use, including kindergartens and clinics. During World War II
, the railway service between Riga and Torņakalns was suspended, following the destruction of the original railway trestle over the Daugava.
Following the war, the neighborhood experienced an influx of non-Latvian Soviet citizens, reducing the ethnic Latvian percentage of the population. In the postwar development, the railway was electrified, streetcar service was expanded, factories and a military arsenal provided jobs in the neighborhood.
Following the restoration of Latvian independence in 1991, many non-Latvians left the country, and Soviet-era street names were removed. A boxcar was installed at the Torņakalns station as a memorial to the Stalinist deportations. At the same time, a Soviet victory monument
on the neighborhood's northern edge remained. Today, it remains a focal symbol for the city's Russian community.
The main shopping venues for local residents include the Āgenskalns tirgus (eng.
:Agenskalns Market) and Vienibas Gatve. In spite of initial economic uncertainty following independence, the neighborhood has since regained its status as a garden suburb within minutes of Old Riga. Most Torņakalns residents commute to the central business district by the electric railway
, which contains a large station and railyard in the neighborhood.
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , 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 , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
. Located on the westbank of the Daugava River (neighborhoods along this shore are collectively known as Pārdaugava
Pardaugava
Pārdaugava is an area of Riga, composed of several neighbourhoods on the west bank of Daugava River. The name is literally translated as 'over Daugava'....
). The name Torņakalns (eng.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
:Tower Hill) derives from a fortified tower built in the Middle Ages close to the Daugava River to alarm the city of Riga in case of emergency and unwelcomed intruders about to cross the river. The tower does not stand nowadays. Torņakalns was an early suburb to Riga, consisting largely of gardens and mansions. In contrast to the Soviet-built Zolitude
Zolitude
Zolitūde is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia, located on the city's western edge. Zolitūde's Town plan consists mainly of prefabricated concrete block Soviet-built apartments. Construction began in 1984, and halted in 1991, when Latvia obtained its independence from the USSR...
and Ziepniekkalns
Ziepniekkalns
Ziepniekkalns is a neighborhood of Riga, Latvia. It is located in the Pārdaugava section of Riga close to the city's southern border. Ziepniekkalns is the latest out of all Riga's neighborhoods....
suburbs, there are plenty of gardens, parks, and monuments. Mārupes parks (eng.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
:Mary's Creek Park) encircles the Māras diķis (eng.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
:Mary's Pond), which was once dammed by a mill. The Mārupe (eng.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
:Mary's Creek) then continues into Arkādijas parks (eng.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
:Arcadian
Arcadia (utopia)
Arcadia refers to a vision of pastoralism and harmony with nature. The term is derived from the Greek province of the same name which dates to antiquity; the province's mountainous topography and sparse population of pastoralists later caused the word Arcadia to develop into a poetic byword for an...
Park), where early 20th century landscaping provides an oasis from the city.
In 1940, the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
annexed Latvia and began mass deportations of Latvians who were deemed to be political and social threats to the new communist government. Because Torņakalns contained a number of affluent residents, these deportations took place at the Torņakalns railway station. Many of the mansions were confiscated, with some being divided into smaller units, and others turned to public use, including kindergartens and clinics. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the railway service between Riga and Torņakalns was suspended, following the destruction of the original railway trestle over the Daugava.
Following the war, the neighborhood experienced an influx of non-Latvian Soviet citizens, reducing the ethnic Latvian percentage of the population. In the postwar development, the railway was electrified, streetcar service was expanded, factories and a military arsenal provided jobs in the neighborhood.
Following the restoration of Latvian independence in 1991, many non-Latvians left the country, and Soviet-era street names were removed. A boxcar was installed at the Torņakalns station as a memorial to the Stalinist deportations. At the same time, a Soviet victory monument
Victory Memorial to Soviet Army (Riga)
The Victory Memorial to Soviet Army in Riga, Latvia was erected in 1985 to commemorate the Soviet Army's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. It consists of a 79 meter tall obelisk and two groups of sculptures.-Literature:...
on the neighborhood's northern edge remained. Today, it remains a focal symbol for the city's Russian community.
The main shopping venues for local residents include the Āgenskalns tirgus (eng.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
:Agenskalns Market) and Vienibas Gatve. In spite of initial economic uncertainty following independence, the neighborhood has since regained its status as a garden suburb within minutes of Old Riga. Most Torņakalns residents commute to the central business district by the electric railway
Elektrichka
Elektrichka is an informal word for elektropoyezd , a Soviet or post-Soviet regional electrical multiple unit passenger train. Elektrichkas are widespread in Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the former Soviet Union....
, which contains a large station and railyard in the neighborhood.