Send Gift Baskets to Jekabspils, Latvia

A stone cross castle – Crucizeborch – was built in 1237 by the bishop of Rīga. Archaeological excavations on the nearby Asote mound indicate that this place was a busy trading center for the Latgalians, one of the Latvian tribes, and had been inhabited since 1000 BC. Settlement on a castle site needs to be fortified, and Krustpils Castle was built as such. As new settlements have grown around the castle, a new settlement has grown up around it. But, Krustpils Castle also stands on an outlying corner of the village which is currently difficult to defend.

In the early 18th century Jēkabpils fell into decline, which lasted until the loss of independence in 1816. Since that time the city of Riga has grown rapidly and established itself as a major trading center for Latvia.

A legend has it that a town was originally called “Klaive”. In the beginning, there used to be many people in the town, but then they all spread east and north so that only Klaive could remain.

In the summer of 1919, these Old inhabitants organized a local militia to protect the town from pogroms in Lublin and other towns nearby. Today a few factories such as the construction sector, tourism, etc remain and these in turn are making Jacobstad one of the most populated major cities in Europe.

The number of Russian soldiers swelled the town’s population and resulted in the town becoming occupied by the Russians. Research that was conducted over 17 years has demonstrated how this outcome can occur. A Swedish army under Adam Lewenhaupt defeated a much larger Russian army and thus stunned the Russian Empire and saved the Duchy of Minsk from further invasion.

After the war and an epidemic of plague, the town again prospered. Barges from Belarus imported grain, honey, tobacco, spirits, and textiles (non-illustrated). 9,000 cartloads of mail were sent by Friedrichstadt to Jacobstadt each year during the second half of the 18th century. Jacobstadt was also part of the postal road from Jelgava to Friedrichstadt and further to Ilūkste.

As of 1 January 2017, the city had a population of 23,750.

1. Open Air Exhibition of Jekabpils History Museum
2. Monastery of the Holy Ghost
3. Krustpils castle
4. Old Town Square
5. Daugava River