FILM
Sweden Built it, Russians Took it, Latvia kept it.. (Riga Abandoned Fortress)
EDITORIAL SUMMARY
This instalment of Pedro Mota’s Netherlands-to-Baltics journey pauses in Riga for an exploration of the abandoned Daugavgrīvas fortress. Its military past gives the visit a historical thread, before the trip returns to the road toward Iecava.
About this film
Daugavgrīvas fortress stands on a riverbank in Riga, and the film visits its abandoned ruins. The account follows the changes in control described in the film’s title and introduction: the Swedes built the fortress, it later passed to Russian and Soviet hands, and it eventually became Latvian. The setting makes this more than a stop to look at old walls; it is also a way into the layered history of the Baltic region. The exploration takes an unexpected turn near its close, when local caretakers arrive. The film combines a place-based history stop with the onward movement of a motorcycle journey.
The journey
After spending a few days in Riga, Mota packs up and rides back to Iecava. The film’s travel frame is therefore a stay in the Latvian capital followed by a return ride, with the fortress visit as its central excursion. At Daugavgrīvas, the focus is on exploring the site and considering its Swedish, Russian, Soviet and Latvian associations. The caretakers’ visit provides a final change of pace before the journey leaves Riga behind. This is a compact episode in a larger route across Europe toward the Baltics, grounded in a specific historical site and the ride onward from the city.
What to expect
- An exploration of the abandoned Daugavgrīvas fortress in Riga
- A concise account of the fortress’s changing historical associations
- A return ride from Riga to Iecava after several days in the city
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