Latgale Culture and History Museum
Address: Atbrīvošanas aleja 102, Rēzekne, LV 4601, LATVIA
Phone: +371 64622464;
Fax +371 64622778
E-mail muzejs@rezekne.lv, latgmuzejs@tvnet.lv
www.rezekne.lv/culture
COME AND GET TO KNOW LATGALE CULTURE AND HISTORY MUSEUM!
A museum in the middle of Rēzekne is the meeting place for different generations where one can get positive emotions.
Museum is open since 1959, at the beginning as a branch of Ludza Local History Museum, since 1961 as Rēzekne Local History Museum, and since 1990 as Latgale Culture and History Museum. After the renovation in 2010, there are new exhibition halls in the museum and an elevator that gives a possibility for everyone, also for people with special needs to see the intersection of past and present.
The museum offers:
· to get acquaint with history of the city and personalities of the region in the exposition “Rēzekne at the turn of ages”;
· to see and hear about the development of pottery from Late Stone Age till nowadays in the exposition “The wonder created by clay and fire”;
· art exhibitions (painting, sculpture, textile art, etc.) every month;
· attractive pedagogical activities for children and pupils ;
· thematic lectures for students and adults;
· Materials in museum’s reading-room for researchers.
The exposition of city history "Rēzekne at the turn of ages"
Exposition of Rēzekne city history tells about the city that is the heart of Latgale and its history during seven centuries – since 9th century when Latgalian wooden castle was built until contemporary Rēzekne.
Rositten, Rzežyca, Režica, Rēzekne – these are historical names of the city.
The nowadays name exists since 1920.
All the time Rēzekne was a crossroad for different folks – the Germans, the Swedes, the Russians, the Poles, the Jews and the Gypsies who were conquerors, merchants, pilgrims and tourists.
Exposition of Latgale ceramics "The wonder created by clay and fire" -
European Destinations of Excellence - EDEN 2008!
It is the unique constant exposition of Latgale ceramics in Latvia that reflects Latgale ceramics in historical aspect from Neolithic Period that was a beginning of pottery craft until the achievements of present-day Latgale ceramics masters and modern development tendencies. Exposition tour is accompanied with a sound background but audio-guide gives a possibility to get acquainted particularly with exhibits of the exposition.
The roots of Latgale pottery come from late neolith epoch (2nd millennia BC), when the earthenware was made by putting clay plates one on another and smoothing, and then burning them on open fire. The period of changes in the development of Latgale ceramics is noticeable in 10th century AD, when the potter’s wheel started to be used. At this time the different shapes of dishes became stable and they have not been changed until nowadays.
In 15th century the glazing was started to be used in Latgale ceramics. The glazing became brighter in 19th century, when white clay was started to be used and the graphical ornaments were used to decorate the dishes. The potters used local clay and sand, transparent dry glazing. The items were burned in open kilns.
Historically formed kinds of dishes are characteristic to the styles of Latgale ceramics – the geometric ornament and expressive figural decorative plastic, the glazing colouring of lead as well as the differences of style traditions that brightly reveal in the folk pottery centres: Silajāņi, Puša, Ludza and Viļaka.
Because of generation change and urbanisation process in 20th century 80s, the pottery centers were moved to the cities – Rezekne, Daugavpils and Preiļi.
Now the potters have organisationally united into the Folk Studio of Applied Art of Andrejs Paulāns “Rēzeknes apriņķa pūdnīki”, the Group of Culture Foundation “Pūdnīku skūla”, Daugavpils Folk Studio of Applied Art “Latgale”.
The exposition “Latgalian painting”
(in the Art House of Rēzekne Art Secondary School at 18. Novembra Street 26, Rezekne)
Latgale painting collection is the reflection of Latgale Culture and HistoryMuseum’s wide fine arts collection that includes arts expressions in Latgale from 30s of the 20th century until nowadays. Renewed Art House that is a private house with interior of the 19th -20th centuries has 9 rooms where you can view the works of Latgale painting old masters, their followers and artists of new generation.
Museum activities
- The Museum organizes exhibitions of painting, graphics, sculpture, photography, literature and applied arts of local and guest artists, and also international exhibitions;
- The Museum offers thematic excursions – to visit the Museum permanent and art expositions, to listen to the lections or to watch the video films.
- For the groups with their transport the sightseeing is offered around the city (by prior appointment).
- Every first Saturday of the month is Family Day when the big and the small ones can take part in different creative activities and workshops;
- Thematic and literary musical events retracing past events and anniversaries of Latvia and Latgale, celebrating jubilees of popular national people, book opening celebration, etc.;
- Annual events of International Night of Museum and International Museum Day;
- Service of Museum library for museum visitors;
- Educational Programs and workshops for children, just some of them offered to public audiences, during which participants can study and touch Museum items in that way becoming familiar with situations in different times: Adventure of Clay lump; Story of worsted; Joint work in Latgale farmstead; How bread is made?; All about milk; Ancient plays and games; Our own ABC book; 1991 – time of barricades; Latvia’s children in deportation; Latvian freedom fights; Latgale’s liberation monument - from idea till the heart; For the first time in exhibition; Human child; 24 hours in Latgalian life; In the wake of “Myužeigais kalinders” or Calligraphy with ink pen; Meeting in the city of Rose, etc.
Opening time
September 1 – May 31:
Tuesday – Friday 10:00-17:00
Saturday 10:00-16:00
Sunday, Monday – closed
June 1 - August 31:
Wednesday – Friday 11:00–18:00
Saturday 10:00–16:00
Sunday 10:00–15:00
Monday, Tuesday – closed
The Museum is closed on public holidays: on May 4; June 23, 24; November 18; December 24, 25, 26, 31; January 1
Museum administration: Monday-Friday 8:00–16:30
Collections of items are open to the public by prior appointment
Admission
Exhibition tickets:
Adults – Ls 0, 40;
Pupils and students – Ls 0,20;
Child under 7, disabled – free
Educational programs by prior appointment – Ls 0, 50 from person
Guided tours by prior appointment:
For groups till 30 persons – Ls 5,00 (Latvian, Russian), Ls 10,00 (English);
Digital guide in exposition of Latgale ceramics is available in English and Russian for 3 persons - Ls 1,00.
Facilities
- Parking is situated next to Museum on Pulkveža Brieža Street.
STOCK COLLECTIONS OF LATGALE CULTURE AND HISTORY MUSEUM
At the moment there are about 65 thousand units in the museum.
The most significant stock collections:
Collection of Latgalian literature
The books and newspapers published in Latgalian from the 18th century till nowadays
The first Latgalian newspaper „Gaisma”
The publications of typography „Dorbs un Zineiba”
The books of Latgale culture centre's publishing house
The books in Latgalian published by V.Lōča publishing house and other exile publishing houses
Archaeology collection
Singular finds of Neolithic and Bronze Age
Excavation materials from Piziču- Kaupra mountain's ancient burial field
Excavation materials from the Middle Age's Trūpu cemetery
Excavation materials from Ratinīku and Spriņģu castle mound
The Fine Arts collection
The works made by members of Latgale artists' group (30s of the 20th century) - Francisks Varslavāns, Arvīds Egle, Vitālijs Kalvāns, Leons Tomašickis, Arkādijs Naišloss, Nikolajs Breikšs, Alberts Filka, Jānis Gailis
The works made by present-day Rēzekne artists - J.Beketovs, O.Zvejsalnieks, J.Unda, P.Gleizdāns, H.Kuzmina- Svilāne, M.Kalniņa, J.Briedis, A.Rancāns, E.Paura, V.Paurs, A.Zelčs, A.Ritiņa, J.Plivda and others
The works made by local artists - S.Kreics, V.Svirskis, B.Buls, J.Pīgoznis, A.Stankevičs and others
Latgalian art in exile
Latgale ceramics collection
• Archaeological ceramics and expedition pickings
• Ādams Kāpostiņš' household dishes and toys
• The works of Silajāņu artists Andrejs Paulāns and Polikarps Vilcāns, who had got gold medals in World exhibition of Art and Technique in Paris in 1937
• The works of Latgale pottery old masters, ceramics of Polikarps Čerņavskis and Ušpeļu family
• Traditional and experimental ceramics of present-day Latgale masters
Numismatics collection
• Deposit of Livonia's coins
• Coins of Latvia, Russia and other states
Documentation and Photo collection
Museum stock collection is accessible in digital way - www.nmkk.lv | 
; "Photo of the day")