Rēzekne is located at an international crossroads, with routes to Riga (242km), Moscow (685km), St Petersburg (450km), and Warsaw (860km). The River Rēzekne flows through the city for a total of ten kilometres, and Lake Kovšu (covering 22ha) lies at the centre of it. Rēzekne is known as the city of seven hills. The city’s footprint covers 17.48km2 (with green areas and water accounting for 16% of this). It has a population of 29,948 (2014).

Rēzekne has been inhabited since the ancient Latgalian wooden castle stood on a hill by the river from the ninth century until the thirteen century. The name Rēzekne was first documented in 1285 (in the German language as Rositten). However, the current version of the city’s name, Rēzekne, was approved in 1920.