“TheCeļotājs” –
"Karosta" Former Soviet Union Naval Base
Karosta Canal looking East
Submarine Covered Dock
Remains of Soviet Union Sergeants' Mess
Remains of Soviet Union Naval Barracks'
Guardhouse "Karosta Naval Port Prison"
Revised: 12-27-2012 - 19:05:45
Introduction to Karosta and the Soviet Union Naval Base
If you're in the area of Liepāja and Karosta you can't possibly expect to get away with out visiting Karosta. For Karosta, does have many historical buildings of value to see even though some of these buildings are in disarray while others are historical buildings that are in use today. One has to approach Karosta with an open mind and take the bad with the good. For a lot of good can be found in Karosta. 
Karosta “War Port” is a neighborhood in the north of Liepāja in western Latvia by the Baltic sea. 
Karosta is a town slightly north of Liepāja and it was originally constructed as a naval port for the Tsar’s of Russia during Emperor Tsar Alexander III and Emperor Tsar Nicholas II Reign being over 100 years ago. Later, after World War II and the absorption of Latvia into the Soviet Union, Karosta became the major Soviet Union Naval base in the Baltic region. Liepāja in general was a closed city during Soviet Union times, especially Karosta. Even Latvians needed special permission to enter. 
At its peak, there were as many as 30,000 Soviet Union Military personnel in Karosta. Once Latvia gained its independence in 1991, the Soviet Union military personnel and their families were forced to leave. The last of the Soviet Union military forces were gone by May 1994. 
Due to the fact that Karosta Naval Port and Base was a closed and secret Soviet Union Naval Base there is very little information on it. Other then what is past on from visiting there today. During the Soviet Union period Karosta military personnel, both conscript and officers brought there wife’s and families to Karosta to live bringing the need for more housing. Simple precast concrete block row apartment buildings were rapidly built. These Soviet era block apartment buildings are present today. Some have been renovated while others are in poor shape with others are abandoned or now being demolished to make room for other buildings or business. The Russian Tsar’s era red brick buildings are now in disarray abandoned and many are boarded up to keep people out of them. Once the Soviet Union military left, the buildings be came pray to scavengers who stripped everything of value or could be either sold or used was removed leaving nothing but a shell. Windows, window frames were removed. Doors and their frames were removed. Plumbing and their fixtures were even removed. The buildings were completely stripped. Even the electrical wiring, switches and their fixtures have been stripped from the buildings. What couldn’t be removed was destroyed. Even some of the buildings and areas around the buildings became trash dumps. 
Karosta has fallen into neglect. The red-brick military barracks, warehouses, and administrative buildings are decaying. It's pretty interesting to see. There are also remnants of fortifications that were built during Tsar’s times and some of them have fallen into the sea over time. Karosta Guardhouse “Naval Prison” has now been converted into a museum and is open from May to September and it is possible to spend the night in the Guardhouse processed as a prisoner. The Guardhouse was in use until 1997. This is one of Karosta main attractions in Karosta today.

Monument to the Soviet Union Submarine Sailors that
were lost at sea during World War II.
Sadly this monument is no longer accessible to the general publicly, since it now sets on private property and is behind a chain link fence with no access. 

Karosta Inter and Small Dry Docks and Ship Yards 
Entrance to Karosta Canal and Inter Breakwaters
Karosta Northern Breakwater and Outer Breakwaters
Remains of Soviet Union Naval Battery Warehouse
Navy Officers’ Conventions'