The fishing village of Līva was granted town rights by Duke Friedrich of Kettler in 1625. Renamed Liepāja, “the city of linden trees,” it grew from a modest settlement into a fortified port, its harbors tied to Baltic trade and its fate bound to the ambitions of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia.
Liepāja, Latvia’s “City of Wind” stands where the Baltic meets white sand beaches and the echo of centuries. Once a ducal port and later a secret Soviet naval base, it now thrives as a vibrant seaside city of music, art, and industry. Its Art Nouveau streets, roaring sea breezes, and the haunting ruins of Karosta Fortress make Liepāja a living blend of history and modern Baltic spirit.