Ropai
Ropai is a rural district of Latvia, situated in the eastern part of the Riga region in Vidzeme. The center of Ropai is 36 km from Riga, the capital of Latvia. Through the territory of Ropai rural district go Riga Ergli railway, the international motorway VIA Baltica, highways Riga Lubana and Ogre Incukalns.
Territory: 326,4 km².
Population: 6,125 inhabitants.
As of January 1, 2002 the largest villages are:
- Ropai 1900 inhabitants,
- Zakumuia 1221 inhabitants,
- Silakrogs 779 inhabitants,
- Mucenieki 689 inhabitants,
- Tumupe 633 inhabitants,
- Kakciems 513 inhabitants,
- Augciems 372 inhabitants.
History of Ropai
The territory of Ropai district has been inhabited since the Stone Age Neolithic era, 3 thousand years B.C. 4 ancient cemeteries and stone objects found there give proof of that.
The first written evidences about Ropai and its inhabitants go back to 1205, when Henricus mentioned Ropai in Indrikis chronicles. A. Beilenstein considered the inhabitants of the district as Liivs of the Daugava. In about 1320 the Livonian Order built a stone castle at Ropai which served as a centre of the district administration. The castle was destroyed in the Livonian War, in the 17th century. In 1320 the Lutheran Parish was mentioned.
In the 16th century one of the most important routes of Vidzeme led through Ropai.
In the 18th century the baron Bergi family obtained Ropai manor, they carried out large construction works. The gardener Daniel Ebel formed one the first garden parks of Latvia. In the area of 93,000 square metres 29 species of trees and bushes were planted.
In the reports of 1736 we can find information about education of children. In 1766 the Parish school Parupes was established. Two famous Latvians an adherent to The New Current, the writer and translator Augusts Kaoks and the poet Doku Atis worked there.
On 18th August, 1804 clergyman C. fon Valter described professors Robertsons flight from Riga to Ropai in a hot – air balloon.
In 1855 Ropai manor became the property of baron Victor fon Volf. At the beginning of the 19th century the Ropai manor was burned down.
Ropai was seriously affected by World War I and World War II. In year 1949 over 150 inhabitants suffered repressions
In 1936 Ropai 7 grade Primary School was build; in 1960 it was changed to a secondary school.
In Ropai you can visit many cultural and nature objects, like:
- Kangari Hills point 65 m above sea level restricted nature area 6.72 km²
- Lielkangari Marsh 8.32 km²
- Ancient cemetery stone age etc.
Categories: Latvian towns and villages