Daugavpils Skrošu rūpnīca

Imagine a place where time seems to have stood still, yet work never stops for a moment. The Daugavpils Shot Factory is the oldest in Northern Europe and the only functioning lead shot production plant in the Baltics that is open to travelers. It is a unique industrial heritage monument located in the city of Daugavpils, Latvia.

Daugavpils Lead Shot Factory. Иллюстрация. Источник: Kupi.com AI

The main symbol of the factory is its 28-meter red-brick tower, erected more than a century ago. It was built on the highest point in the city, which is crucial for the technological process: this is where lead is transformed into perfect shot pellets. Today, the factory is not just an industrial site but a living museum where 19th-century traditions meet modern hunting ammunition production technologies.

Visitors value this site for its authentic atmosphere and the rare opportunity to peek behind the scenes of a real production line. The factory produces nine types of bullets for smoothbore weapons and exports its products to many European countries while remaining a welcoming hub for history buffs and fans of unusual tours.

To plan your visit and check for available tours, it is recommended to contact the administration in advance. The Daugavpils Shot Factory is a working enterprise, so prior booking may be mandatory.

A visit to this site is, first and foremost, an immersion into the world of industrial aesthetics. The main reason tourists come here is for a tour of the historical production workshop. You can see with your own eyes how molten lead passes through special sieves and falls from a height of 28 meters directly into a deep well, gaining a perfectly round shape during its flight. This spectacle is mesmerizing and provides insight into how ammunition was created decades ago.

The factory museum features a rich exhibition dedicated to the history of the enterprise and the evolution of hunting equipment. Here, you can examine unique historical machinery and devices that are still in working order. Factory specialists proudly demonstrate modern developments, such as polymer-coated bullets and innovative stabilizers, while explaining the nuances of ballistics and the secrets of casting.

Don't miss the chance to climb to the top of the famous tower. From there, an impressive panorama of Daugavpils unfolds: you will see the city in the palm of your hand, including the railway station building and the surrounding neighborhoods. The factory is extremely popular not only with professional hunters but also with families with children and photography enthusiasts looking for unique shots against the backdrop of ancient brickwork and industrial landscapes.

The Daugavpils Shot Factory is located in the city of Daugavpils at Varšavas iela 28. It is easy to find: the factory's red-brick tower is visible from a distance and serves as an excellent landmark for tourists and navigation systems. The enterprise is situated on a hill in an area with good transport links.

If you prefer public transport, you can reach Varšavas Street from the city center via local buses or minibuses. From the railway station, the walk takes about 20–30 minutes, with the factory tower constantly in sight. You can also use a taxi service; the trip from the center takes no more than 5–10 minutes.

For those traveling by car, parking is available at the factory. The city is well-connected to the country's main highways, including the A13 (Riga — Daugavpils). It is recommended to use the GPS coordinates 55.8748339, 26.5349224 for the most accurate route directly to the gates of this historical enterprise.

The history of this unique industrial site began in 1884–1886 when the Minsk merchant M. Relser received permission to produce lead shot in the city then known as Dinaburg. The location was not chosen by chance: the highest point in the city was ideal for constructing a shot tower. Initially, it was a small production facility with a wooden tower where just a few workers manufactured shot, seals, and lead sheets.

In 1911, the wooden structure was destroyed by fire, and a 28-meter stone tower was built in its place, which has been preserved to this day. By the start of World War I, the factory had become one of the largest in the Russian Empire, producing up to 70 tons of shot per year. During the interwar period, the enterprise changed hands several times and eventually came under the management of a bank and then the Turība cooperative.

The Soviet period was a time of significant expansion: by the 1950s, the factory was producing 500 tons of products annually, operating in three shifts. Later, the focus shifted to the production of metal meshes and grates. However, the traditions of shot casting were never lost, and even the introduction of electric boilers in the 1980s only modernized the historical process without changing its essence.

A new chapter in the factory's life opened in 2012 when a museum was established, and the historical workshop became accessible to visitors. Today, the Daugavpils Shot Factory successfully combines its status as a working industrial enterprise and a unique tourist attraction, exporting modern bullets to European countries, including Germany, Greece, and Poland.

To explore the Daugavpils Shot Factory, view the museum exhibits, and see the production process, the average tourist will need about 1.5–2 hours. This time is sufficient for a leisurely walk through the workshops and climbing the tower.

If you are planning a visit as part of a large group or are a true connoisseur of industrial architecture and technical history, your stay may be slightly longer. It is also worth factoring in time for purchasing souvenirs and enjoying the panoramic view of the city from the upper platform of the tower.

The Daugavpils Shot Factory is primarily a working enterprise, so the tour schedule may depend on the production cycle. Official opening hours can vary, and the administration strongly recommends checking the current schedule before your visit.

The best way to organize a visit is to call the contact number or check the information on the factory's official website. Since tours are often conducted by prior appointment, this approach ensures that you will be able to get inside and see the shot-casting process with your own eyes.

After visiting the factory, it is worth taking some time to explore the surrounding attractions, which provide a deeper look into the industrial and cultural heritage of this region of Latvia. A walk through the neighborhood will reveal interesting monuments and entertainment centers.