Karosta Prison Travel Guide

Karosta Prison, located in Liepāja, Latvia, is a historical landmark with a haunting past. Constructed around 1900, it served as a military prison under various regimes, including Tsarist Russia, the Soviet Union, and for a short time, independent Latvia until 1997. Originally intended as a military hospital, it was quickly converted into a detention center, a function it maintained throughout its history.Throughout its years of operation, Karosta Prison housed a variety of inmates, including revolutionaries, sailors, non-commissioned officers, German deserters, and those deemed 'enemies of the state'. The prison became known for its harsh conditions and brutal treatment of prisoners. It is the only military prison in Europe open to tourists. No prisoner was ever able to escape from it.Today, Karosta Prison offers several ways for visitors to experience its grim history. Guided tours take you through the prison cells, solitary confinement, and museum exhibitions, detailing the prison's history and the lives of its inmates. For a more immersive experience, you can participate in the reality show 'Behind Bars,' attempt to escape from the 'Escape Room,' or even spend a night in a prison cell.Karosta Prison is also known as one of the most unusual hotels in the world. It has also gained a reputation as one of the most haunted places in the world, with visitors reporting unexplained phenomena such as loud steps, opening cells, and apparitions.