Durbe (; , , , ''Durbe''/Дурбен ''Durben'') is a town in South Kurzeme unicipality, in the

Courland Courland is one of the Historical Latvian Lands in western Latvia. Courland's largest city is Liepāja, which is the third largest city in Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland as they were ...

region of

Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...

. Durbe was first noted in 1260, when the

Battle of Durbe The Battle of Durbe (, , ) was a medieval battle fought near Durbe, east of Liepāja, in present-day Latvia during the Livonian Crusade. On 13 July 1260, the Samogitians soundly defeated the joint forces of the Teutonic Knights from Prussia (r ...

occurred near Lake Durbe. As of 2020, the population was 492. Town rights were granted to Durbe in 1893 and confirmed in 1917.

Durbe manor Durbe Manor (, ) is a Neoclassical manor house located in Tukums, in Tukums Municipality, in the Courland region of Latvia. One of the most interesting classical manor houses in Latvia. Today it houses part of the Tukums Museum collection. Histo ...

served as the headquarters of a German brigade in 1917. The town's

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...

was granted in 1925: a silver apple tree with seven apples, one for each day of the week. The tree represents the Durbe Apple Orchards, created in the early 20th century by the mayor and city gardener Sīmanis Klēvers. In Latvian folklore, an apple tree is also considered a magical source of youth and sympathy. The city flag was adopted in 2016. Durbe church

Notable people

Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics (, Durbe – 22 August 1925, near Tukums) was a Latvian politician and diplomat who served as the first Foreign Minister of Latvia from its independence until 1924 and again from December of the same year until his dea ...

(1887–1925),

prime minister of Latvia The prime minister of Latvia () is the most powerful member of the Government of Latvia, who presides over the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers. The officeholder is nominated by the president of Latvia, but must be able to obtain the support of a p ...

and minister of foreign affairs of Latvia

References

External links

Durbe town
in Latvian Cities and towns in Courland Populated places established in 1893 Populated places in South Kurzeme Municipality Grobiņa county {{Courland-geo-stub

Notable people

See also

References

External links