Vārdu diena / Names’ day (11 / 6) — Leo, Leonards, Leonhards, Leons, Linards
Latvia, one of the three Baltic states, bounded by Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, and the Baltic Sea; domain of lush forests and river valleys, sandy coastlines, and medieval architecture. Steeped in ancient traditions. The Crusades, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Poland-Lithuania, France, and Russia have all swept over Latvia — a unique window into European history.
Explore:
- our timeline of Latvian history;
- contemporaneous historical accounts and images;
- cultural sources and artifacts.
Keep up-to-date on Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania with:
- the latest news from the Baltics;
- Tallinn, Rīga, and Vilnius weather forecasts;
- our Kremlin media watch.
Dig deeper into the Kremlin with our Soviet propaganda collection, even Stalin's own words.
Finally, journey with us as we explore our Latvian heritage:
- browse our photos, travelogues, and thoughts on our travels to Latvia.
- explore the post-WWII exile experience of Latvians, including our families.