Zilupe, Border town in Ludza Municipality, Latvia
Zilupe is a border town in Ludza Municipality that sits at Latvia's far eastern edge next to Russia. The railway line cuts through the center, and wooden and brick houses line the few main streets leading to the station building.
The settlement arose around the turn of the century when the railway line from Ventspils to Moscow was built and required a stop in what was then uninhabited countryside. During the interwar period, the place grew into a trading hub where goods changed hands between different regions.
The name comes from the Zilupe River, which flows through the town and once marked boundaries between different estates. On market days, residents of different backgrounds gather in front of shops along the main street, where Russian and Latvian are heard equally.
The station forms the terminus for trains from Riga and sits at the northern edge of the town, from where you can easily walk to the main street. Border checks take place near the station, so visitors should carry valid travel documents when planning a visit.
During the thirties, this place had more shops than anywhere else in the region, showing how important the movement of goods across nearby borders was. Traders used the location to exchange products between neighboring countries, long before modern trade agreements existed.
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