Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 13, 2026

Irbene

Irbene is a ghost town in Ance parish, northwestern Latvia. In 1971, the Soviet Union established a secret radar center "Звезда" and built a settlement for military officers and their families, naming it Irbene because of nearby river Irbe. The town had a school, shop, sport and concert halls. However, the town was not marked on maps. Only the holders of a special permit were able to access Irbene. After the withdrawal of the Soviet Army in 1993 the town became abandoned.

Last revised
Jun 13, 2026
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Irbene
Ghost town
Abandoned houses in Irbene in 2014
Abandoned houses in Irbene in 2014
Irbene
Coordinates: 57°33′53″N 21°51′46″E / 57.56472°N 21.86278°E / 57.56472; 21.86278
Country Latvia
MunicipalityVentspils Municipality
ParishAnce parish
Established1971
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Irbene is a ghost town in Ance parish, northwestern Latvia. In 1971, the Soviet Union established a secret radar center "Звезда" ("Star" in Russian; later acquired by Ventspils Starptautiskais Radioastronomijas Centrs in 1990s) and built a settlement for military officers and their families, naming it Irbene because of nearby river Irbe. The town had a school, shop, sport and concert halls. However, the town was not marked on maps.1 Only the holders of a special permit were able to access Irbene. After the withdrawal of the Soviet Army in 1993 the town became abandoned.2

References

References

  1. Rasmussen, Johannes (2010). Travel guide : traces of the Cold War period : the countries around the Baltic Sea. Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers. ISBN 9789289321211.
  2. "Vaiduoklių miestas Irbene" (in Lithuanian). niekonaujo.lt. 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2015-07-21.