Former Latvian prison reopens as guided tour attraction

Jelgava Prison, a 150-year-old facility in Latvia, closed this summer and has reopened as a tourist attraction offering guided tours. The former prison ceased operations on June 30 when its inmates were transferred to a new facility in Liepāja. The tours, titled "Jelgava Prison: Then and Now," are led by Guntis Rasa, a former employee of 20 years who shows visitors the cells and daily life areas. The prison housed around 700 inmates in 2005, but only about 320 in recent years. Tickets cost eight euros, with groups limited to 15 people. The Jelgava local authority took over the site from the Ministry of Justice. Tours are scheduled for September, with potential Saturday additions from October if interest remains strong.