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Gulbene (Gulbene, Latvia)

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by Arnaud Leroy, 27 February 2005

Overview

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Overview

The city of Gulbene is located in the north-east of Latvia, some 50 km from the borders with Estonia and Russia. Gulbene is the capital city of the district of Gulbene (1,876 sq. km; 29,797 inhabitants in 1995). The flag of Gulbene is horizontally divided white-blue with a black shield charged with a white swan in the middle (most probably the municipal coat of arms). The image was made by Arnaud Leroy, after a colour picture of a real flag found by himself on <www.geocities.com/gulbenerkb/atteli.html>
Ivan Sache, 27 February 2005

There is info from town official home page at <www.gulbenesdome.lv>: On 4 July 2002, Latvian State Comitee for Heraldics was accepted sketch of flag of Gulbene - author is teacher of Gulbene Art school Sandra Dikmane. In centre of flag is Coat of Arms of Gulbene - silver swan on black field. Flag is divided in two parts - upper is silver light gray [again unheraldic concept!], lower part - blue-grayish-violet [sic!]. Proportions 1:2. Citizens of gulbene first time were introduced with flag at Town Fest 2002, when flag was consecrated. Now flag is keept in Town hall and is used in all important town activities.
Gvido Petersons, 28 February 2005

António Martins asked: Meaning that there is only one copy of the flag?!
Probably yes but maybe it means an consecrated and specially sewn flag with fringe (You can see it on photo) In Latvia flag is widely used only in couple municipalities: Riga, Ventspils and may be in some others. In small towns flag often is used like Standard - sewn in one exemplar and used with high caution.
Gvido Petersons, 1 March 2005