Invitation to Prison

The Jelgava Prison, built in 1870, ceased operations on June 30 of this year. The last prisoners were transferred to the new Liepaja Prison, and the vacant complex came under the jurisdiction of the Jelgava municipality. The city authorities decided that such a colorful place should not remain idle, and already in September began to conduct tours there. There were so many interested parties that the first tours sold out quickly. Now visits are planned to be held regularly, not just as a one-time event. The tours are organized by the Jelgava Regional Tourist Center. One of the guides, Guntis Rasa, worked in this prison for 20 years. So he has plenty to share from his years of service. During the two-hour visit, guests are shown the grounds, historical buildings, cells, and other facilities. Groups consist of no more than 15 people. A regular ticket costs eight euros, while students, schoolchildren, and pensioners can purchase tickets for five euros. By the way, the history of the Jelgava Prison is rich. In the summer of 1908, Janis Cakste, the future first president of Latvia, spent three months here. In 1926, the famous Latvian bandit Ansis Kaupens was imprisoned within these walls, whose crimes caused quite a stir at the time. In the best times for prison statistics, hundreds of prisoners were held here. In 2005, there were about 700, while in recent years, there have been approximately 320. It is worth noting that the prisons in Jelgava are also famous for their impressive escapes. The largest escape, however, occurred not from this prison but from another one in Jelgava — the Parlielupa Prison, which was closed back in 2008. In July 1994, the largest prison break in the history of Latvia took place there: 88 prisoners escaped through a tunnel! The tunnel was dug from the bath-laundry complex, the keys to which were held by a prisoner who worked there. This created a practically free exit beyond the guarded territory. Moreover, a year prior, in 1993, nine members of a criminal gang escaped from the same prison through a tunnel. Most participants of the mass escape were subsequently caught. Some managed to commit new crimes. However, several fugitives hid from justice for years, and one (the leader of a brutal gang with the surname Geller) has not been caught to this day. But let's return to the tours at the Jelgava Prison. In addition to the regular ones, there will now be a special event. From October 30 to November 8, a private company, Zeltāres, will organize a ten-day program here. During the day, visitors will be offered to view the cells, corridors, and punishment isolation cells, while schoolchildren will also be informed about the age at which criminal responsibility begins and the consequences of thoughtless actions. In the evenings, educational discussions will give way to a real horror show. Visitors will be allowed in one by one or in small groups through the dark corridors. On the route, they will encounter actors in frightening costumes, light and sound special effects, as well as surprises that the organizers prefer not to disclose in advance. Unlike regular Halloween attractions, there is almost no need to build decorations here: real cells, heavy doors, and prison corridors are already available. Meanwhile, the municipality is looking for ways to utilize the vacated premises. A rental fee of 15 cents per square meter per day has been established. Thus, the former prison can host not only tourists but also film crews and organizers of various events.