Karosta, Liepāja
Karosta is a wondrous, paradoxical and unique place not only in the context of Latvia, but also in the historical and architectural context of the world. Karosta is the largest historical military garrison in the Baltics and constitutes almost a third of Liepāja’s territory.
By order of the Tsar of Russia Alexander III, construction of an extensive fortress and military city began in 1890. It was originally named the Port of Emperor Alexander III. It acquired the name Kara Osta (War Port) and later Karosta only during the Latvian independence years.
It was planned as a completely autonomous area with its own infrastructure, electric power station, water supply system, church and schools. Under the Soviet occupation regime it was a closed territory, not even accessible to local civilians. The last soldiers of the Soviet army left Liepāja only in 1994.
The modern Karosta has a peculiar blend of military brutality and ornate end-of-19th century architecture that is at the same time suitable for a civil and modern life as well as for business.
liepaja.travel
Karosta is a former Russian and Soviet naval base on the Baltic sea, which today is a neighbourhood in Liepāja, Latvia.
History
The naval base was originally constructed in 1890-1906 for Tsar Alexander III of Russia, and named Порт Императора Александра III. Built on the bare coast it consisted of a large man-made harbour including a large breakwater and inland submarine warren.
During Lavian independence after World War I, the base was called Kara osta (War Port in Latvian), later shortened to Karaosta and Karosta (Кароста in Russian).
It was a closed military area and army town during the Soviet period, serving as a base for the Soviet Baltic Fleet. It was inaccessible to the civilians of neighbouring Liepāja.
When the Soviet Union army left Latvia in 1994 after Latvian independence, Karosta became largely uninhabited and most structures fell to ruin. In late 1990s, the area was troubled by high unemployment, street crime and drug problems. It is today a neighbourhood in the northern outskirts of Liepāja in Latvia, occupying a third of the area of the city.
Today
Now it is a very popular place for tourists and artists, since there are unique sights and interesting places, such as the scenic seascapes with partially blasted fortresses on the Baltic shore. The K@2 Artists` center was established in 2000 and acts as a frame for many cultural activities by local and foreign artists who come to Karosta to make their projects and get inspiration from the unique feeling that only Karosta has - nature, buildings, ruins, people.
The army headquarters include czar-era mansions used by admirals, a palace for the czar (reportedly only used once), an impressive Russian Orthodox Naval Cathedral, as well as underground bunkers and abandoned storehouses. Soviet-era buildings include many rows of block housing. At its height Karosta was home to over 20,000 people.
Karosta military prison has now been converted into a museum (open May - September) and it is possible to spend the night in the guardhouse processed as a prisoner would have been.
en.wikipedia.org
