Maskavas Forštate
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The Latgale neighbourhood of
Riga Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...
is situated on the right bank of the
Daugava River The Daugava ( ), also known as the Western Dvina or the Väina River, is a large river rising in the Valdai Hills of Russia that flows through Belarus and Latvia into the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea. The Daugava rises close to the source of ...
, located to the south of Old Riga. Until 2024, the neighbourhood was named Maskavas forštate (), and was also known as Maskavas priekšpilsēta and colloquially as ''Maskačka''—a name derived from the road historically connecting Riga to
Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
.


History

The history of Maskavas forštate, whose name in English literally means ''Moscow
Suburb A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area. They are oftentimes where most of a metropolitan areas jobs are located with some being predominantly residential. They can either be denser or less densely populated ...
,'' goes back to at least the 14th century, in some parts the medieval street network has been preserved. However, the area is first mentioned in 1348 by the name of Lastādija (). Architecturally, the neighborhood reflects its history as an area of
Russian Russian(s) may refer to: *Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *A citizen of Russia *Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages *''The Russians'', a b ...
, Belarusian and
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
migration, especially characteristic wooden homes. During the Nazi occupation of Riga, the neighborhood was turned into a
ghetto A ghetto is a part of a city in which members of a minority group are concentrated, especially as a result of political, social, legal, religious, environmental or economic pressure. Ghettos are often known for being more impoverished than other ...
for Jews. Today, there are memorials on the site of the Great Choral Synagogue and the Old Jewish Cemetery. Most of the prewar buildings remain standing. Prior to
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the area was referred to in official Latvian documents as the ''Statistical District Latgale'' and informally as ''Latgales apkaime'' (Latgale neighborhood) before becoming known as ''Maskavas forštate'' (Moscow Suburb). After independence from the
Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
, it reverted to its prewar name in 2024 as part of
derussification Derussification (or derussianization) is a process or public policy in different states of the former Russian Empire and the Soviet Union or certain parts of them, aimed at restoring national identity of indigenous peoples: their language, culture ...
efforts by the Latvian government.


Demographics

In the 1980s and 1990s the area developed a reputation for drug abuse and criminal activity. New buildings, offices, shops and the migration of local families have changed the district's economic profile in the 21st century. By 2008, Maskavas Forštate had an average level of criminality along with the
Centre Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentricity ...
and Old Riga. The Ministry of the Interior of Latvia divided Riga into 9 districts with the following levels of criminality:''Ministry of the Interior''
Statistic year 2008
* 2 - High (more than 2900 criminal offences): Located in the periphery of Riga. * 4 - Average (between 2100 and 2700 criminal offences):
Centre Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentricity ...
, Old Riga, Maskavas forštate. * 3 - Low (less than 1700 criminal offences): Purvciems, Mežaparks (One of the wealthier areas of Riga). Based on the number of criminal offences against foreigners, Maskavas forštate was the 3rd safest district in Riga according to the statistics.


Architecture

The area has a notable legacy of diverse religious buildings, reflecting its history as a destination for numerous migrants. *The
Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...
Jesus Church is the biggest wooden classical building in Latvia. * Grebenstchikov Old Believer House of Prayer is the largest in the world. The Central Market is located next to the
railway station Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...
in a series of former
Zeppelin A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship named after the German inventor Ferdinand von Zeppelin () who pioneered rigid airship development at the beginning of the 20th century. Zeppelin's notions were first formulated in 1874Eckener 1938, pp. 155 ...
hangars. Protected Heritage status for older wooden houses has prevented their demolition, and a process of
gentrification Gentrification is the process whereby the character of a neighborhood changes through the influx of more Wealth, affluent residents (the "gentry") and investment. There is no agreed-upon definition of gentrification. In public discourse, it has ...
is underway.


Higher Education

Lomonosova Street ( lv) is the location of a cluster of higher education institutions. * Baltic International Academy * Transport and Telecommunication Institute * ISMA University * College of Economics and Culture ( lv) The building of the
Latvian Academy of Sciences The Latvian Academy of Sciences (, ) is the official science academy of Latvia and is an association of the country's foremost scientists. The academy was founded as the ''Latvian SSR Academy of Sciences'' (). It is located in Riga. The curren ...
is located on Akadēmijas Square. Nearby is the Riga Building College. The Latvian Academy of Culture ( lv) is on Ludzas Street ( lv).


Transport

The suburb is defined by the Riga–Daugavpils Railway which borders it on the north and east along with marshaling yards. If the
Rail Baltica Rail Baltica is an under-construction rail infrastructure project that is intended to integrate the Baltic states in the European rail network. Its purpose is to provide passenger and freight service between participating countries and improve ra ...
project is competed as planned in Riga, part of the railway embankment separating the suburb from the city centre will be replaced by an overpass bridge, greatly restoring access to the suburb. Central and Vagonu Parks stations are accessible from the area. Rigas Satiksme operates a tramline down Latgales street and bus services throughout.


In popular culture

Some scenes in the television adaptation of the Robert Harris novel ''
Archangel Archangels () are the second lowest rank of angel in the Catholic hierarchy of angels, based on and put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in the 5th or 6th century in his book ''De Coelesti Hierarchia'' (''On the Celestial Hierarchy'') ...
'', starring
Daniel Craig Daniel Wroughton Craig (born 2 March 1968) is an English actor. His accolades include two National Board of Review Awards, in addition to nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards. ...
, were filmed on Latgales (formerly Maskavas) iela and Katoļu iela. The 1995 adaption of '' The Dogs of Riga'' featured scenes set at
Riga Central Market Riga Central Market () is Europe's largest market and bazaar in Riga, Latvia. It is one of the most notable structures from 20th century in Latvia and has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list together with Vecrīga, Old Riga in 1998. ...
. In the 2012 adaptation, in the ''Wallander'' TV series featuring
Kenneth Branagh Sir Kenneth Charles Branagh ( ; born 10 December 1960) is a British actor and filmmaker. Born in Belfast and raised primarily in Reading, Berkshire, Branagh trained at RADA in London and served as its president from 2015 to 2024. List of award ...
, the main character visits Latgale Market (''Latgales tirgus'') on Firsa Sadovņikova street.


Gallery

File:Рига, 2012 Riga - panoramio.jpg, Lutheran Church of Jesus File:Wooden house (window shutters), Riga.jpg, Architectural detail of Elias Street 1 (1813) File:Sv.Franciska katoļu baznīca, Rīga, 2017.jpg, St. Francis Catholic Church and school File:Grebenščikova vecticībnieku baznīca Rīgā 04.JPG, Old Believer's House of Prayer File:Rīgas Visu Svēto pareizticīgo baznīca (1880 J.Baumanis), Katoļu iela 10a, Rīga, Latvia - panoramio (1).jpg, All Saints Orthodox Church File:Rīgas Vissvētās Dievmātes Pasludināšanas pareizticīgo baznīca.jpg, Orthodox Church of the Annunciation from the spire of the Academy of Sciences File:Rīga, pareizticīgo baznīca Maskavas ielā 2004-04-12.jpg, Holy Archangel Mikhail Orthodox Church File:Rīga, Jāņa Priekšteča pareizticīgo baznīca 2002-11-03.jpg, St. John the Forerunner Orthodox Church File:Chapel in Riga (8228905325).jpg, Orthodox Church of Our Lady of Kazan File:Saint Gregory the Illuminator church in Riga.JPG, St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church File:Memorial.Choral Synagogue (Riga) 02.jpg, Ruins of the Great Choral Synagogue File:16-08-31-View from Latvian Academy of Sciences building-RR2 4257.jpg, Central Market and railway tracks File:Spīķeru apbūves ansamblis,Maskavas iela, Rīga 24.JPG, Quarter of ''Sarkanie Spīķeri'' old warehouses now reconstructed as offices and exhibition halls (Latgales 24). File:Maskavas01.jpg, Hay Market


References


External links


Riga historical encyclopaediaLatgale suburb area history
in Latvian

History of the Riga ghetto {{DEFAULTSORT:Maskavas Forstate Neighbourhoods in Riga Russians in Latvia Holocaust locations in Latvia