Balvi
Balvi (
pronunciation (help·info)) is a toun in the Latgalie region o eastren Latvie. It is the admeenistrative seat o the region (Latvie: rajons) o the same name syne 1949; prior tae the occupation o Latvie it wis pairt o the Abrene destrict. The name derives frae the stream Bolupīte an the adjacent loch.
Balvi | |
|---|---|
Toun | |
.jpg) Bērzpils street in Balvi | |
 Banner  Coat airms | |
  Balvi Location in Latvie | |
| Coordinates: 57°8′N 27°15′E / 57.133°N 27.250°E | |
| Kintra |  Latvie |
| Municipality | Balvi Municipality |
| Toun richts | 1928 |
| Govrenment | |
| • Mayor | Jānis Trupovnieks |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.1 km2 (2.0 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 7,109 (2,016)[1] |
| • Density | 1399,4/km2 (36,240/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | LV-4501 |
| Cawin code | +371 645 |
| Nummer o municipal cooncil memmers | 15 |
| Website | http://www.balvi.lv |
The first mention o Balvi wis in 1224. A smaw firthen kirk an manor war biggit on the estate o a Pols noblewumman at the steid ca. 1765. When Latgale came unner Roushie rule in 1772, the estate wis grantit tae the Yelagin faimily bi Catherine the Great. In 1806 it passed tae the Horozhinsky faimily an in 1876 the estate wis purchased bi the Baltic German Transehe-Roseneck faimily. The veelage wis separatit frae the estate in 1915, an Balvi receivit toun richts in 1928.
Maist o the toun's Jews (aroond 21% o the population) perisht in the Stahlecker phase o the Holocaust in August 1941. The retreatin Germans set fire tae Balvi in Julie 1944, an the toun wis rebuilt accordin tae Soviet plans frae 1945. Balvi wis a centre o the Singin Revolution an is vital tae Latgalie cultur the day. The toun librar in pairticular is the focus o mony cultural events.