Saldus

File:Saldus4800a.JPG in Saldus]]

According to archeological research, the whole territory that is now Saldus was inhabited by the Baltic tribe Couronians in the 20th century BC. The centre of defence at the time, Saldus Castle, was located by Lake Saldus until the 13th century,

1856 is considered the year Saldus was founded, when the Board of Domens decided to establish a trade center. Although there was an active economy by the end of the 19th century, and Saldus was the cultural center of the region, it was not officially recognized as a town until 1917.

One of the oldest buildings in the town is Saldus St.John's church. Documents from 1461 mention a wooden church. It has been reconstructed several times. The tower, bombed in 1944, was rebuilt in 1981–82.

Prior to invasion by the Nazis, Saldus had a large Jewish population.{{Cite book |last=Levin |first=Dov |url=https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/pinkas_latvia/pinkas_latvia.html |title=Pinkas ha-kehilot; entsiklopediya shel ha-yishuvim le-min hivasdam ve-ad le-aher shoat milhemet ha-olam ha-sheniya: Latvia and Estonia |publisher=Yad Vashem |year=1988 |location=Jerusalem |pages=196 |language=he |trans-title=Encyclopaedia of Jewish Communities - Latvia and Estonia}} Nazi troops entered the city on 29 June 1941, and subsequently arrested around 100 Jewish men from the population, who were later shot and killed in the Veide forest, around 1 km from Saldus. Following the initial arrests, around 200 more were imprisoned in the local synagogue and prison, where they were transported to Baltezers Lake (4 km from Saldus) and shot by Sicherheitsdienst, helped by local non-Jewish residents.{{Cite web |title=Saldus Municipality, Zirņi Parish, the Jewish Cemetery : Holocaust Memorial Places in Latvia |url=http://memorialplaces.lu.lv/memorial-places/kurzeme/saldus-municipality-zirni-parish-the-jewish-cemetery/#:~:text=In%20the%201960s%20the%20Jews,fascist%20henchmen%20in%20July%201941%E2%80%9D. |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=memorialplaces.lu.lv}}

Saldus has developed itself as an important cultural, educational, business and trade center. There are about 500 approved companies operating in Saldus, with main branches in building construction, wood processing, and food processing.

These days Saldus also boasts a very active cultural life, featuring local musicians, poets, painters, and artists.

The official hymn of the city, written by Ēriks Ķiģelis and Māris Čaklais, is ‘’Saldus saule’’ (English: Saldus Sun).

On November 18, 2018, 32 years since its release in 1986, the song was finally publicly acknowledged as the official hymn.

File:Ciecere primary school - panoramio.jpg

The city boasts an active cultural and social life. In the center of it has always been Education. Home to schools of the future and the past. All educational institutions are coed.

Since 1946 Saldus has been home to the Saldus School of Music. In 1984 Saldus Art School was founded.

On March 22, 2013 the Saldus Art School moved to the newly built building.

Up until 2016, there were 2 high schools in the city: Saldus Gymnasium (ex 1.st High School) and Saldus Secondary High School. Saldus Gymnasium was terminated and never started the school year in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/saldus-pilseta-likvides-abas-vidusskolas-un-veidos-vienu-macibu-iestadi.a167905/|title=Saldus pilsētā likvidēs abas vidusskolas un veidos vienu mācību iestādi|work=www.lsm.lv|language=lv|access-date=2019-05-03}} Saldus Secondary High School was re-named Saldus High School.

• 6 Pre-school educational institutions
• 3 Primary Schools
• Saldus High School
• Vocational High School
• Saldus Art and Music School

Yearly Rock festival 'Saldus Saule' makes Saldus a well known city in and around Latvia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.saldussaule.lv/?p=21|title=Par Festivālu|website=Saldus Saule|publisher=SIA Festivāls Saldus Saule.|access-date=May 31, 2019}} The first "Saldus saule" took place in 1987. But the idea and concept were conceived earlier.

October 3, 1985, saw the death of a beloved musician - Ēriks Ķiģelis. The twenty-somethings of that time wanted to keep his memory alive and so the festival was born. Due to the USSR regime, the festival could not be named after Ēriks Ķiģelis.

The first festival was first organized by famous music sociologist Juris Vilcāns and Ēriks Niedra.

Saldus is geographically located in the ‘Austrumkursas’ Highlands. It is the biggest city in the Highlands. The city was built on both shores of the river ‘Ciecere’ and on the east side of the city lies ‘Saldus lake’. The city is considered to be one of the greenest cities in Latvia, due to being characterized with parks, squares and bountiful greenery.{{Cite book|title=Cieceres, Ventas un Vadakstes krastos|last=Valdemārs|first=Ancītis|publisher=Saldus tipogrāfija|year=1992|location=Saldus|pages=13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 57, 58, 108, 109}}

File:Saldus ezers.JPG

There are many tiny rivers, that flowing through Saldus, but only one important one. Interestingly other rivers are also named.

The lake lies north-east of the city, on the edge of the city. The lake’s north-west and south-east shores are incredibly steep. The lake has an estuary – Vēršāda (a tributary from river, and a tributary – Kaļķupīte. The deepest point is 5 m. On the south-west shore there is an artificial beach.

River Ciecere is a 51 km long right-bank tributary to river Venta. The river itself has 52 tributaries. It flows out from Lake Ciecere and for 6 km flows through Saldus, creating a very rich green-zone in the city center. The river has 14 crossing bridges. In Saldus there are a few artificial waterfalls. There are nature-walks along the river bank. In the 17th century, the river was navigable by ship and boat.

Saldus has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb).

{{Weather box

|location = Saldus (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1945–present)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|Jan high C = -0.5

|Feb high C = -0.1

|Mar high C = 4.1

|Apr high C = 11.5

|May high C = 17.1

|Jun high C = 20.3

|Jul high C = 22.9

|Aug high C = 22.0

|Sep high C = 16.9

|Oct high C = 10.2

|Nov high C = 4.5

|Dec high C = 1.0

|year high C =

|Jan mean C = -2.6

|Feb mean C = -2.7

|Mar mean C = 0.4

|Apr mean C = 6.2

|May mean C = 11.5

|Jun mean C = 15.0

|Jul mean C = 17.6

|Aug mean C = 16.7

|Sep mean C = 12.1

|Oct mean C = 6.8

|Nov mean C = 2.4

|Dec mean C = -1.0

|year mean C =

|Jan low C = -5.2

|Feb low C = -5.5

|Mar low C = -3.3

|Apr low C = 1.3

|May low C = 5.5

|Jun low C = 9.5

|Jul low C = 12.2

|Aug low C = 11.7

|Sep low C = 7.9

|Oct low C = 3.6

|Nov low C = 0.3

|Dec low C = -3.1

|year low C =

|Jan record high C = 9.4

|Feb record high C = 12.2

|Mar record high C = 18.8

|Apr record high C = 27.1

|May record high C = 29.6

|Jun record high C = 32.4

|Jul record high C = 34.3

|Aug record high C = 33.1

|Sep record high C = 29.4

|Oct record high C = 23.8

|Nov record high C = 16.8

|Dec record high C = 11.6

|year record high C =

|Jan record low C = -34.2

|Feb record low C = -36.2

|Mar record low C = -26.9

|Apr record low C = -12.6

|May record low C = -4.0

|Jun record low C = -1.4

|Jul record low C = 3.8

|Aug record low C = 1.8

|Sep record low C = -4.2

|Oct record low C = -9.4

|Nov record low C = -22.5

|Dec record low C = -30.5

|year record low C =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 48.9

|Feb precipitation mm = 37.7

|Mar precipitation mm = 36.8

|Apr precipitation mm = 35.4

|May precipitation mm = 46.8

|Jun precipitation mm = 62.0

|Jul precipitation mm = 83.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 76.9

|Sep precipitation mm = 59.4

|Oct precipitation mm = 68.7

|Nov precipitation mm = 53.3

|Dec precipitation mm = 53.2

|year precipitation mm =

|unit precipitation days = 1 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 11

|Feb precipitation days = 9

|Mar precipitation days = 8

|Apr precipitation days = 8

|May precipitation days = 8

|Jun precipitation days = 9

|Jul precipitation days = 10

|Aug precipitation days = 10

|Sep precipitation days = 9

|Oct precipitation days = 11

|Nov precipitation days = 12

|Dec precipitation days = 12

|Jan humidity=89.4

|Feb humidity=86.8

|Mar humidity=80.1

|Apr humidity=71.9

|May humidity=69.6

|Jun humidity=73.8

|Jul humidity=76.2

|Aug humidity=78.4

|Sep humidity=83.3

|Oct humidity=86.9

|Nov humidity=90.8

|Dec humidity=91.4

|year humidity=81.6

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|source 1 = LVĢMC{{cite web

| url = https://data.gov.lv/dati/dataset/klimatisko-normu-dati/resource/4ef4a2ac-b439-478a-83b3-cdd39b1eff77

| title = Klimatisko normu dati

| publisher = Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

| accessdate = March 25, 2023

}}{{cite web

| url = https://klimats.meteo.lv/klimats/rekordi/

| title = Gaisa temperatūras rekordi

| publisher = Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

| accessdate = March 25, 2023

}}

|source 2 = NOAA (precipitation days, humidity 1991-2020){{cite web

| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/4.4/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Latvia/CSV/Saldus_26416.csv

| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = March 30, 2023

}}

}}

The population of Saldus has been decreasing since the first recorded census. It declined more rapidly when moving to United Kingdom became a valid choice for the people of Latvia.{{Cite web|url=https://data1.csb.gov.lv/pxweb/lv/iedz/iedz__iedzskaits__ikgad/ISG020.px|title=Iedzīvotāju skaits un tā izmaiņas statistiskajos reģionos, republikas pilsētās, novadu pilsētās un novados|date=May 28, 2019|website=Centrālā statistikas pārvalde|publisher=Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia|access-date=May 31, 2019}}

{{Historical populations

|source = Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia

|align=none|cols=2

| graph-pos = right

|1989 |12330

|1990 |12113

|1991 |12469

|1992 |12452

|1993 |12452

|1994 |12472

|1995 |12540

|1996 |12597

|1997 |12576

|1998 |12658

|1999 |12660

|2000 |12557

|2001 |12483

|2002 |12413

|2003 |12365

|2004 |12289

|2005 |12234

|2006 |12138

|2007 |12016

|2008 |11987

|2009 |11919

|2010 |11735

|2011 |11413

|2012 |11217

|2013 |11022

|2014 |10895

|2015 |10771

|2016 |10627

|2017 |10311

|2018 |10053

|2019 (est.)|9937}}

• Johann von Besser (1654–1729) – German writer
• Janis Rozentāls (1866–1917) – painter
• Oskars Kalpaks (6 January 1882 – 6 March 1919) - Battalion Commander{{Cite journal |last=Mugrēvičš |first=Ēvalds |date=1989 |title=Leģenda un vēsturiskā īstenība: Pulkveža Oskara Kalpaka (1882.-1919.) dzīves ceļš un cīņu gaitas |url=http://old.historia.lv/alfabets/K/ka/kalpaks/raksti/mugurevic.htm |journal=Dzimtenes Balss |pages=Nr.19, page 6.; Nr.20, page 6.; Nr.21, page 6}}
• Lea Davidova-Medene (1921–1986) – sculptor
• Ursula Donath (born 1931) – German athlete
• Māris Čaklais (1940–2003) – poet
• Ēriks Ķiģelis (1955–1985) – musician
• Jānis Blūms (born 1982) – basketball player
• Dons (born 1984) – singer
• Uģis Žaļims (born 1986) – bobsledder
• Ieva Laguna (born 1990) – top model
• Gunārs Skvorcovs (born 1990), ice hockey player

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Latvia}}

Saldus is twinned with:

{{colbegin|colwidth=20em}}

• {{flagicon|EST}} Paide, Estonia
• {{flagicon|LTU}} Mažeikiai, Lithuania
• {{flagicon|LTU}} Šilutė, Lithuania
• {{flagicon|GER}} Liederbach am Taunus, Germany
• {{flagicon|SWE}} Lidingö, Sweden
• {{flagicon|POL}} Stargard, Poland
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Sergiyev Posad, Russia
• {{flagicon|FRA}} Villebon-sur-Yvette, France
• {{flagicon|AUT}} Sankt Andrä, Austria
• {{Flagicon|ESP}} Las Rozas Del Madrid, Spain
• {{Flagicon|NOR}} Volda, Norway
• {{Flagicon|GEO}} Tsqaltubo, Georgia
• {{Flagicon|MLD}} Florești, Moldova

{{colend}}Source{{Cite book|title=Saldus; Kurzemes mazpilsēta gadu ritumā; 1254-1856-1996|publisher=Saldus Pilsētas Dome|year=1996|isbn=9984-581-00-4|location=Saldus|pages=140}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.saldus.lv/novada-informacija/starptautiska-sadarbiba/sadraudzibas-pasvaldibas0/|title=Sadraudzības pašvaldības|date=2017|work=Saldus|access-date=3 May 2019}}

• List of cities in Latvia
• Janis Rozentāls

File:Monument of Janis Rozentāls. Saldus.jpg|Monument of Janis Rozentāls

File:Old saldus city sign.jpg|Saldus Sign

File:Old saldus gymnazium.jpg|The Old City Gymnasium

File:House of Fire Insurance Association - panoramio.jpg|House of Fire Insurance Association

File:Saldus elementary school - panoramio.jpg|Saldus Elementary School

File:Saldus Mūzikas un Mākslas skola - panoramio.jpg|Saldus School of Music and Art

File:Saldus post office.jpg|Saldus Post Office

File:Sladus dome.jpg|Saldus city historical center

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Saldus Municipality}}

{{Latvian regional cities}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities and towns in Courland

Category:1917 establishments in Latvia

Category:Populated places established in 1917

Category:Populated places in Saldus Municipality

Category:Historic Jewish communities in Latvia