Photo Exhibition “Beautiful Liepāja — 400” in Šiauliai

The opening of the photo exhibition “Beautiful Liepāja — 400” will take place on 14 May 2026 at 13:00 at the Information Centre of the Šiauliai Academy of Vilnius University Library (Vytauto g. 84, Šiauliai). The exhibition will be open to visitors free of charge from 14 to 29 May 2026.

The exhibition is dedicated to the 400th anniversary of Liepāja, Latvia’s third‑largest city, which was celebrated last year. Liepāja is known for its distinctive atmosphere, rich history and remarkable people whose legacy lives on in street names, cultural and historical publications, and various public events. The exhibition has been created in cooperation between the Embassy of Latvia in Lithuania and the association “Liepāja 400”.

A total of 56 historical photographs are on display, taken from the late 19th century up to the end of Latvia’s first period of independence. Until now, these images were mainly found in albums, nostalgic postcards and private collections. For this exhibition, they have been carefully selected, restored and enlarged. Visitors can also use the “Old Libau” mobile application to compare historical locations with their present‑day appearance or to view related archival video footage.

The exhibition highlights Liepāja’s beauty and dynamic development at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries — its everyday life, rapid growth and the architectural features that still shape the city’s character today.

We warmly invite you to explore the stories and spirit of Liepāja — both by visiting the exhibition in Šiauliai and by travelling to the city itself this year or in 2027, when Liepāja will become a European Capital of Culture.