The first acquaintance with Riga or the ten main sights of the city with a map and photographs. What is interesting in Riga and its sights
The historical center of Riga is the oldest and most beautiful part of the city, and it is from here that you should start your acquaintance with the Latvian capital. There are many sightseeing routes. Old Riga: someone recommends starting a tour of the city from St. Peter's Cathedral, and someone from the Riga Castle. No matter which route you take to explore the streets of the Old Town, in any case, you will get great pleasure, because Riga is considered the most beautiful capital of the Baltic States. Although one can argue with this statement - or Tallinn is in no way inferior in beauty to Riga. In our opinion, each of these cities is beautiful in its own way, each has its own unique charm, but today's article is about Riga, or rather, about its old city.
There are several alternative versions of where the construction of Old Riga began. According to one of them, it all started at the main temple of the city - St. Peter's Cathedral, according to another, the center of ancient Riga was located not far from the Dome Cathedral. For tourists, it does not matter at all where exactly the history of this beautiful city, so let historians argue about this, and we will just walk around the center and enjoy its sights.
Street of Old Riga
We did not make any routes around Old Riga - the center is so small that it is difficult to get lost here, but only prepared iconic sights that were definitely worth seeing, and we moved between them quite chaotically. At the end of the article, as usual, you will find a map with the sights of Riga, with which you can create your own unique route around the Latvian capital.
Dome Cathedral in Riga (Rīgas Doms)
We started our acquaintance with Riga from the Dome Cathedral. The Dome Cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in Riga, and in addition, one of the largest medieval churches in the Baltics. According to historical documents, the Dome Cathedral was founded in the summer of 1211, on the day of St. Jacob. The construction of the temple was led by the Bishop of Riga Albrecht von Buxgevden himself, who carefully controlled the process and invested huge funds in it. The most experienced craftsmen, mostly Germans, were chosen to build the cathedral. Construction lasted more than half a century and was completed only in 1270.
The Dome Cathedral
Over the next 500 years, numerous reconstructions were carried out, which led to the fact that in the modern building of the Dome Cathedral we can see the interweaving of various architectural styles. The main decoration of the temple is the organ, which appeared in the cathedral in 1883-1884. In terms of its size (more than 25 meters high), the Riga organ in the Dome Cathedral is the largest in the territory of the former USSR. The cathedral regularly hosts organ music concerts, the schedule of which can be viewed at official website Dome Cathedral.
The Dome Cathedral
Dome Square
The square in front of the Dome Cathedral is called Doma laukums (Dome Square), it is here that the main New Year tree of Riga is set up, and the UNESCO memorial plate is also located here. As is often the case in ancient cities, almost all the buildings on Domskaya Square are of great historical importance. One of the architectural monuments is the building of the Riga stock exchange.
This red brick building, which is hard to miss, was built in 1852-1855 and is unlike other houses in Riga. Inside there is a unique exposition of the art museum. The museum is open every day except Monday, from 10:00 to 18:00, and on Friday - until 20:00. The ticket price is about €3.
Riga Stock Exchange
Next to the building of the Riga Stock Exchange, you can see a beautiful building with towers - this is the Profitable House of the Riga Insurance Company, built in 1905. Next to it is another historical facade of the building of the Latvian Radio.
The building of the Riga Insurance Company and the facade of the Latvian Radio
Houses "Three brothers" (Trīs brāļi)
On Malaya Zamkova Street (Maza Pils) there are three old houses, which have gained great popularity among the residents of Riga and tourists. They have become so popular that they can rightly be considered one of the most popular attractions in Riga. It is believed that the houses were built in the Middle Ages and represent a typical Riga street of that time. The "White Brother" is not only the eldest, but also the oldest residential building in Riga, presumably it was erected in 1490.
White brother in Riga
The middle brother or "Yellow Brother" appears to be older by almost 150 years: the number "1646" flaunts on its facade. But here it is worth considering one point: since the 12th century, mainly stone buildings were built in the center of Riga, and before the middle brother took his place, other houses stood here - perhaps the older house was simply rebuilt. The youngest brother has a green facade; its construction is attributed to the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century.
Three brothers in Riga
swedish gate
One more calling card Riga is the Swedish Gate - the only one of the eight gates of Old Riga, built in the 17th century and preserved to this day in its original form. The gates were cut in the area of present-day Tornya Street (Tower Street) to connect the inner city with the Yakovlevsky barracks and houses located outside the city walls. The history of the Swedish Gate is entangled in secrets and legends, and one is more entertaining than the other. One of them says that the gate was cut through by a wealthy merchant in 1689 in his own house to save money. The fact is that a tax was charged for entering the city and transporting goods, and a rather big one, and by making his own gate, the merchant not only saved money, but was also able to earn money by letting people into the city for a smaller fee. But this is just a beautiful legend, because even in the 17th century, any redevelopment had to be approved by the city authorities.
Swedish Gate in Riga
There is also a rather romantic legend about the origin of unusual name gate. According to the legends, one young woman from Riga fell head over heels in love with a Swedish soldier and in the evening secretly ran away from her parents to meet him, which took place at these very gates. One evening, the girl was caught and punished for forbidden love by immuring her alive in this gate. If you believe the legend, then every day at midnight at the gate you can hear the whisper of a girl, but only those who truly love can do this. These are just two of the most popular stories about the Swedish Gate - tour guides say that they can easily tell a dozen more.
Yakovlevsky barracks - Jēkaba kazarmas
Another bright attraction of Riga is the Ekaba barracks or the Yakovlevsky barracks. They were built for Swedish soldiers at the very end of the 17th century. According to the research of historians, the first barracks were built in Riga in 1595 and were made of wood. And this despite the fact that, starting from the XII century, almost all the buildings inside the city wall were made of stone. Only at the end of the 17th century the barracks of the Swedish soldiers were rebuilt in stone. By order of Peter the Great in 1710, the old barracks were demolished and new ones were built. The length of the Yakovlevsky barracks is 237 meters, and this is the longest building in Old Riga.
Yellow facade of the Jekaba barracks
Today, soldiers no longer live here, but inside the barracks there are many useful establishments: cafes, restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, diplomatic missions of Latvian cities, the American Chamber of Commerce, and there is even a hotel, and at a great price. In a hotel Jacob's Inn Riga You can stay from 4000 rubles per day. Great option - when else will you have the opportunity to live in the sights?! 🙂
Fragment of the city wall
Directly opposite the Yakovlevsky barracks, you can see a fragment of the city wall reconstructed in 1987 and the Ramer tower. The Ramer Tower was built in the 13th century and, like the other towers of the Riga citadel, was part of the city's fortifications. Later, houses appeared around it, and it lost its former significance, in fact, the same thing happened with the rest of the towers. For example, the tower located at the Swedish Gate was built into the house that appeared in its place. The modern wall and tower are, of course, a reconstruction made on the basis of archaeological excavations.
Fragment of the city wall in Riga and urban development
Ramer Tower
17th century cannon near the city walls
powder tower
But perhaps the most striking sight of this part of Riga is the Powder Tower. The first mention of this tower dates back to 1330, and then it was called Peschanaya. It is known that its modern look Powder Tower acquired not immediately. Initially, it was semicircular and had a so-called "open" appearance, but later it was completed and acquired a cylindrical shape. The tower is almost 20 meters in diameter, 26 meters high, and the walls are up to 3 meters thick. As we have already said, the tower was originally called Peschanaya, and only in the 17th century it received the name "Powder Tower". As it is not difficult to guess, a powder warehouse was organized in it, although there is another version, according to which, due to the constant exercises conducted nearby, there were always clouds of powder smoke above it.
Powder Tower in Riga
During its long history, the Powder Tower in Riga had to endure a lot of shelling: during the Russian-Swedish war, and during the Swedish-Polish war, and according to legend, Peter the Great himself fired at it at the beginning of the 18th century. There are still embedded cores in the walls of the tower, which allegedly confirm this version. In the XVIII and XIX centuries the tower was empty, but then they decided to put it in order, and within its walls there was a student club with a fencing hall, a dance hall and even a student cafe. Today, the Powder Tower houses one of the expositions of the Latvian Military Museum.
big guild
Let's move on from the military sights of Riga to the architectural ones. In 1354, a large merchant organization or simply the Great Guild was founded in Riga. Such a well-known and rich organization, of course, had its own building, which at the same time served as a gathering place, a warehouse, and a place where important receptions were held. The building of that time has not survived to this day, but if desired, its fragment can be seen in the basement - it was partially possible to save the wall of the very first building of the Great Guild. The modern guild building was built in the middle of the 19th century according to the design of Carl Binet, and later the building was partially rebuilt and modified. Today, the main hall of the Latvian Philharmonic is located here.
The building of the Great Guild in 1918 (postcard)
small guild
The Great Guild, as a rule, accepted wealthy merchants, priests, city officials, as well as artisans who dealt in gold. Everyone else had no choice but to join the Small Guild. Surprisingly, the Little Guild appeared more than 100 years earlier - in 1226. The residence of this organization is located right there, in the center of Riga, directly opposite the building of the Great Guild.
Its construction began at the very beginning of the 13th century, and subsequently it was rebuilt quite often. Outwardly, the Small Guild resembles a small Livonian castle and, for our taste, architecturally looks much more interesting. Nowadays, the Craft School is located within the walls of the Small Guild. But to tell the truth, the guilds were of little interest to us, and we came to this part of the Old Town to see the house with black cats - another famous landmark of Riga.
house with black cats
It is believed that the House with Black Cats in Old Riga is one of the most interesting buildings, and around which great amount legends. One of the most famous, of course, is associated with cats, or rather, with their appearance on the roof of an apartment building.
House with black cats in Riga
According to one of the legends, Blumer, a wealthy landlord and merchant, was refused admission to the Big Guild, but he was a man with humor and decided to use a psychological attack against the leadership of the organization. He ordered two black sculptures of cats and placed them on the roof of his house in such a way that they were unfolded directly into the windows of the elder of the Great Guild. The latter's pride was wounded, he even started a lawsuit against Blumer, but lost, because the owner of the house was a good friend of the judge and gave him generous gifts. After some time (what exactly - history is silent) the cats were nevertheless deployed and no longer embarrassed the elder - apparently the merchant and the guild managed to come to an agreement.
St. Peter's Church
St. Peter's Church in Riga is one of the most visited sights, there are always a lot of people here, and a decent queue forms at the observation deck. Like the Swedish Gate, Peter's Cathedral is very often found on many souvenirs. The first mention of the temple dates back to the beginning of the 13th century, when it was assumed that it would become the main cathedral of Riga. Unlike the Dome Cathedral, the main funds for the construction of the Church of St. Peter did not come from the bishop, but from ordinary people: artisans, merchants and ordinary residents of the city.
St. Peter's Cathedral in Riga
IN XIV-XV centuries periodic reconstructions of the church were carried out, and as a result of one of them, in 1473, the construction of the bell tower was completed. The bell tower of St. Peter's Church can be seen from almost anywhere in the Old Town.
Steeple of Saint Peter's Church
During the defense of Riga in June 1941, St. Peter's Church was badly damaged, and the famous spire was completely destroyed. The walls of the temple were also badly damaged, and the interior decoration was not preserved. Almost until the mid-60s, one of the most beautiful churches in Riga was in ruins, and only in 1966 the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia decided to restore it. The exterior of St. Peter's Church was repaired rather quickly - already in 1973 the spire was completed, but the internal restoration dragged on for another 10 years, until 1983.
Photo-article about what to see in Riga in summer and winter over the weekend (one, two or three days).
My personal TOP-15 sights of Riga (capital of Latvia): center, streets, architecture.
Now I am on the threshold of global changes for the better. I feel it. I know this, as well as the fact that in order for dreams to come true, it is not at all necessary to rub the nose of a rooster on the monument to the Bremen Town Musicians in the center of Riga, but we will return to this later.
And now about what to see in Riga in one or two days. I’ll clarify right away that Riga, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful cities Europe. No wonder it is included in the list of objects cultural heritage UNESCO as a city with one of the largest collections of Art Nouveau buildings in the world.
The photo below mainly shows Riga in summer, but there are also a few left from a trip to Riga in winter.
My TOP 15 attractions in Riga
In Riga, we lived in these apartments, rented at a discount for 50 € per day.
1. Architecture of Riga
You can spend hours looking at the buildings of one of the most beautiful cities in the Baltics. 40% of houses in Riga are built in Art Nouveau
Riga houses of the 17th century (mainly warehouses and residential houses of wealthy merchants):
The cat's house is one of the most legendary buildings in old Riga.
2. Viewpoint of St. Peter's Church
Address: Old Riga, st. Skarnu, 19
The height of the observation deck is 72 meters.
Paid entrance. Adults - 9 euro
From a height overlooking the Daugava River and the city center
3. Monument to the Bremen Town Musicians.
Excursions in Riga
Riga guides tell such intricate stories related to this monument that every tourist considers it his duty to rub the nose of one of the animals.
It's funny to watch how, through imperceptible verbal manipulations, guides make fat uncles jump half a meter above the ground in an attempt to reach the rooster's nose, because tactile contact with a bronze bird will give a 200% guarantee of the fulfillment of the most cherished desire.
Video with the guide's story about the percentage probability of wish fulfillment:
You can book a tour of Riga on the Internet, so as not to wander aimlessly around the city, but to learn a lot of facts in a relatively short period of time and see all the most interesting
4. Center of Riga
My Riga is cozy cafes with outdoor terraces where you can drink beer from large glasses and coffee from tiny cups, wrapping yourself in a warm blanket.
These are the streets of Riga, where you can easily meet a beautiful car
So is the wooden cow
These are cobbled streets where you can wander endlessly, now and then bumping into shops with antique trinkets, designer decorations, strange clothes and ridiculous toys.
The memory still keeps fragments of memories of how she walked in a man's jacket along the pavement lit by lanterns, tightly squeezing between her fingers a rooster smelling of childhood. I really wanted to believe that this would always be the case.
5. Riga Castle
A majestic building on the banks of the Daugava River:
6. Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ
Another name is the Nativity of Christ Cathedral, one of the most impressive Orthodox churches Riga
7. Cathedral of St. James
The main Catholic church of the country, built in the Gothic style in 1225.
8. House of the Blackheads
It was completely wiped off the face of the earth during the Second World War and restored recently.
Riga is even more beautiful at night
9. Red barns
Barn area near Riga Central market. This is a typical warehouse shopping district for merchants. The architects of most of the buildings in the Krasnye granaries area were Baltic Germans.
10. Stalinka, Academy of Sciences
On the 17th floor there is observation deck, from where from 8 am to 10 pm for only 2Ls you can admire the panorama of Riga from a height of 65 meters
11. Three brothers.
Three brothers - this is how lovingly they call three cute houses, comfortably settled in the very heart of old Riga. The building is so dense that each house is a continuation of the adjacent one.
12. Bridges and beaches of Riga
Bridges across the Daugava River and city beaches, where here and there you can stumble upon idle townspeople sunbathing behind the bushes.
13. Back streets, parks, backyards of Riga
It is in the backyards and secluded streets that you can see a different life in any city, hidden from the eyes of uninitiated tourists. The capital of Latvia is no exception
small and proud capital Latvia is the center of the heritage of Northern Europe and an important cultural center of the entire Baltic region. People come here not so much to taste the Riga Balsam or taste the Baltic sprats, but rather for interesting excursions and educational pastime. There are many museums, galleries, historical monuments and architectural monuments in Riga.
Old city filled with interesting cultural sights, elegant cathedrals of various religious denominations decorate the squares, and hospitable cozy taverns await tourists in the depths of the medieval streets. Riga is a glorious city of ancient merchant guilds, whose traditions date back several hundred years and remain alive to this day.
The best hotels and hostels at affordable prices.
from 500 rubles/day
What to see and where to go in Riga?
The most interesting and Beautiful places for walks. Photos and a short description.
History Center the Latvian capital where the most interesting sights are located. In the depths of the winding streets of the Old Town, you can still feel the indescribable atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Traditional northern European architecture can be seen here in every structure and in every bend of the paved stone pavement.
A 14th century castle on the banks of the Daugava (Dvina) River. It was built for the masters of the Livonian Order. As a result of numerous battles waged by the warlike brothers, the castle was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. From the second half of the 16th century, the building was alternately owned by Polish, Swedish and Russian crowned persons. Since 1922, the castle has been the residence of the Latvian president.
The historical building of the Riga City Hall appeared in the 13th century, but it was destroyed as a result of shelling and fire in 1941. From the town hall there were only ruins with surviving fragments of the facade. Restoration began only in the late 1990s. XX century. The new building was completed by 2003. It is an almost complete copy of the historic town hall.
The building is a remake built in the late 1990s. in a manner typical of northern European cities. Earlier, from the 14th century until 1941, a historical building with the same name was located in its place. It belonged to the merchant brotherhood of the Blackheads, who adapted it for trade and entertainment. For many centuries, the House of the Blackheads was considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Riga.
The house is located within the Old Town, it is one of the popular attractions of the Latvian capital. The building was erected at the beginning of the 20th century according to the project of F. Schefel. It is believed that the figures of cats on the towers appeared thanks to the idea of the merchant Blumer, the former owner of the house. The animals were turned with their backs to the windows of the merchant guild, where Blumer was refused to be received. Thus, the cunning one took revenge on the leadership of the guild.
The building of the XVII century, which houses the oldest pharmacy in the city. In addition to medicines, ink, gunpowder and cosmetics were sold here for two centuries. It is generally accepted that the recipe for the famous Riga Balsam was invented in this pharmacy. The tincture contains several hundred herbs, oils, berries and fruits as ingredients. It was used as an anesthetic.
A complex of residential buildings in the historical center of Riga, preserved from the 15th century. It is an example of medieval town planning. The buildings are located so close to each other that it seems as if it is one building. Presumably, the "Three Brothers" were built by artisans from the same family. People still live in the houses.
Buildings that once belonged to the most influential Riga craft and trade guilds - Big and Small. In the middle of the XIV century, these two associations left the Guild of the Holy Cross. The premises were built in the 19th century in the English Neo-Gothic style. The interiors are decorated with original chandeliers, beautiful stained-glass windows and decorative wall paintings.
The barracks of the 17th century, built for the Swedish military by the inhabitants of Riga. After the city was conquered by Sweden, the townspeople were obliged to maintain a military garrison on their territory. Under Peter I, the barracks were demolished and rebuilt in the style of Dutch classicism. Since the 19th century, administrative services, a school, and a labor exchange have been located here. The complex is currently owned by the American Chamber of Commerce.
An architectural monument of the XIV-XVIII centuries, where the residence of the Order of the Sword was previously located. It is located in one of the oldest quarters of Riga. A few centuries ago there was an order castle, which was subsequently destroyed. In connection with the relocation of the monk brothers to another place, a convention was opened on the territory of the complex (in other words, a shelter).
A small street built in an interesting architectural style called Jugendstil (the German name for Art Nouveau). Most of the structures were erected in just two years according to the designs of M. Eisenstein. Here is the Riga Art Nouveau Museum, embassies, offices, administrative buildings. Albert Street is called the "Pearl of Art Nouveau".
Part of the ancient city fortifications of Riga, which has survived to this day in a fairly good condition. The tower appeared even before the conquest of the city by the Livonian Order, but the building was destroyed in the 17th century (but it was soon restored). During the reign Russian Empire it was decided to destroy the entire fortification system of Riga, and leave the powder tower as a memory.
The gate created at the beginning of the 18th century during the Swedish occupation of Riga. Now this building is recognized architectural monument Latvia and all of Europe, as it has come down to our days almost in its original form. The Swedish garrison was stationed not far from the gate, so the passage was used mainly by the military.
Medieval temple, famous for its high bell tower. The height of the tower is 123.5 meters, the spire is 64.5 meters. The facade of the bell tower is decorated with an old clock, and the top is crowned with a weather vane - a golden cockerel. The tower of St. Peter's Church dominates the buildings of the historical center of Riga, stands out against the background of lower buildings. Near the temple there is a monument to the Bremen Town Musicians.
Cathedral Rigi XIII century, one of the largest temples in the entire Baltic. The cathedral belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia. The building is an example of the transition from medieval Romanesque to Northern European Gothic. Separate fragments of the interior decoration are made in the Renaissance style. One of the main attractions of the temple is a grandiose organ 25 meters high, consisting of almost 7 thousand pipes.
Cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Latvia. Funds for its construction were allocated by the Russian Emperor Alexander II, and the autocrat also donated 12 bells to the future temple. In the 60s. In the 20th century, the interior decoration was almost completely destroyed; a cafe, a planetarium and other institutions were placed on the territory of the cathedral. Restoration began in the 90s. after the collapse of the USSR.
The main Catholic church in Riga, first mentioned in documents from the beginning of the 13th century. The building is made of brick, it is an example of the transition from the Romanesque style to the Gothic architectural style. During the Church Reformation, the cathedral survived many pogroms and arson, as a result of which many cultural values were lost.
The most famous and eminent musical theater of the country, where leading soloists perform and world masterpieces of ballet and opera art are staged. The stage opened in 1919 with a production of The Flying Dutchman by R. Wagner. Every year, the opera hosts up to 200 performances, of which five to seven are premieres. Both classical productions and modern interpretations of operas created by young authors are equally successful.
An architectural monument of the early 20th century in the historical center of the Latvian capital. First, a German gymnasium was located here, then a commercial school, only by the middle of the 20th century the Latvian Academy of Arts was opened. The construction project was developed by W. Boxlaff. According to the architectural idea, the complex should symbolize the strong connection of Riga with the Hanseatic League (trade and political union of the cities of North-Western Europe).
The museum is located on the territory architectural ensemble Dome Cathedral. This is one of the oldest expositions in Latvia, founded in the 18th century. Collections collected by various historical and archaeological communities of the Baltics are exhibited here. The museum funds contain more than half a million exhibits. They are located in the halls according to themes and chronology.
Art Gallery of Latvia, which contains the most impressive exposition, from ancient Egyptian art to the latest modern period. The canvases of representatives of German romanticism, the Belgian and Dutch schools are stored and exhibited here. It will also be interesting to look at artifacts ancient world, and objects of art of Medieval Europe.
The official name of the gallery is the Latvian National Museum of Art. More than 52 thousand exhibits are exhibited here: extensive collections of Latvian masters, paintings by European and Russian artists. Among the famous paintings are works by N. Roerich, J. Rosenthal, I. Aivazovsky, V. Purvitis. Temporary exhibitions of famous masters of the brush are constantly organized on the territory of the gallery.
Museum dedicated to the period of Latvian history from 1940 to 1991 The main part of the exposition is devoted specifically to the Soviet period of Latvian history, the period of 1941-1944. - German occupation. The exposition of the museum puts the personality of Stalin and Hitler on the same level, and actually equates Nazi Germany and its destructive activities with the USSR. Because of this, some visitors evaluate the collections of the Museum of the Occupation very ambiguously.
One of the best car museums in Europe. The basis of the exposition is the collection of the Latvian Antique Car Club. The museum was created thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts who were passionate about the restoration of old cars and dreamed of a separate building where the results of their work could be placed. The first models of Moskvich, Fiat, Mercedes, BMW and many other well-known and not so famous brands are exhibited here.
A real "gastronomic paradise" of the Latvian capital, where you can buy the freshest and most delicious products. The market is divided into five pavilions: meat, vegetable, fish, dairy and gastronomic. On the territory outside the pavilions, they sell flowers, clothes and everyday items. All kinds of smoked meats are in particular demand among tourists: poultry, an endless assortment of fish, sausages and other delicacies.
Monument erected in honor of the independence of Latvia in 1935. It is a sculpture of a woman standing on a high pedestal. In her hands, a woman holds three stars, symbolizing historical areas Latvia. At the foot of the pedestal there is a sculptural group consisting of historical characters from different periods. The monument is located on one of the central streets not far from Old Riga.
One of the most picturesque and popular landscape parks in Riga, founded on the territory of a private garden in the 19th century. Arcadia Park has gone through several reconstructions - at first it was an exotic garden with unusual plants and greenhouses where rare types of palms were grown, then it turned into an entertainment complex and eventually became a public city park for walking and relaxing.
The city park, equipped at the expense of the widow Anna Verman and bearing the name in her honor. At the beginning of the 19th century, this place was a swampy area, which brought a lot of anxiety and inconvenience to the inhabitants of Riga. Then the authorities had an idea to drain the swamp and lay out a public park, and a rich widow donated a large sum of money for this good event.
The TV and radio broadcasting tower with a height of 368.5 meters is the tallest building of its kind in the entire Baltic region and the third tallest in Europe. The tower is located on the island of Zakusala. Inside the structure, at a height of 99 meters, there is an observation deck from where you can admire the panorama of the Gulf of Riga and the views of the city itself. The Riga TV Tower was built in the period 1979-1986.
An elegant engineering structure, one of the symbols of dynamic modern Riga. The bridge was built in 1981. At that time, it was the longest hanging span over the river in the Soviet Union. The length of the main pontoon is more than 300 meters, the total width is more than 28 meters. The bridge carries vehicles and public transport, also laid trolleybus lines.
The task of any tourist is to have time to see as much as possible interesting places city, while having a limited supply of time (and, sometimes, money). The route we propose will allow you to visit the key sights of Old Riga on your own.
The length of the route is about 4 kilometers, taking into account the inevitable stops, as well as, if desired, visiting museums and the observation deck of St. Peter's Church, its total duration will be about 4-5 hours.
We would like to draw your attention to the fact that there are several tourist information centers, where you can get a variety of information publications for free, as well as a map of the city.
Riga Central Tourist Office Address:
Rātslaukums 6
+371 6703 7900
Town Hall Square is one of the most beautiful squares Riga, completely recreated in the last 15 years. Most of the buildings on this site were destroyed at the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War, later it was rebuilt, and only at the beginning of the 21st century the square was returned to its historical appearance.
The square became the center of medieval Riga after the building of the Town Hall was erected here in 1334. The market was also located here (therefore, before the construction of the Town Hall building, the square was called Novorynochnaya). With the construction of the city government, the square became the political center of Riga - from the balcony of the Town Hall, the orders of the city council were announced to the residents of Riga.
Rat - the magistrate of Riga - existed for more than 600 years. In 1878, its functions were transferred to the City Duma. Only judicial functions remained behind the council, and later, in 1889, it suffered the fate of complete liquidation.
For tourists, the house of the Blackheads, opened in 2001, and the new building of the Town Hall opposite are of the greatest interest. In the center of the square there is a monument to Roland, the protector and patron of Riga, a traditional figure for many Hanseatic cities.
The statue is a copy, the original can be seen in the premises of St. Peter's Church, which we will visit ahead of us.
House of the Blackheads in Riga
Town Hall Square Address
Kalku iela
information phone
+37167037900
Dome Cathedral and Dome Square in Riga
Continuing the walk, we are approaching the very center of the capital of Latvia - Dome Square.
Located in the very center of the old town, Dome Square is often called the heart of Riga, and the majestic building of the Dome Cathedral is one of the main attractions of the Latvian capital.
The construction of the Dome Cathedral began 10 years after the founding of the city - in 1211. By this time, the townspeople had founded St. Peter's Cathedral, and Bishop Albert, the father of Riga, decided to erect an even more grandiose building. The construction lasted more than 50 years and Albert was never destined to see his offspring completed - his remains lie inside the cathedral.
The main attraction of the cathedral is the orin of the largest musical organs in the world with a nine-story building height - 25 meters!
Video essay "10 interesting facts about the Riga Dome Cathedral"
Address of the Dome Cathedral in Riga
Doma Laukums 1, Riga
Phone: +371 67227573
Please note that you will approach the Dome Cathedral along Jauniela street:
Doesn't it remind you of anything? Yes, this is the most - our Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson lived here - there was a house at 221b Baker Street, and in "Seventeen Moments of Spring" Professor Pleischner fell into the trap of the Gestapo!
You can read more about Domskaya Square in the following articles:
Having made a small detour, we return almost to the starting point of our excursion.
If the Dome Cathedral is the main attraction of Riga, then St. Peter's Church is its symbol. And do not take us at our word - just the most tall building medieval Riga is visible and dominates almost any panoramic image of the city.
For a long time, the spire of Peter's Church was considered the tallest wooden structure in Europe. The church was first mentioned in the city chronicles in 1209, so without exaggeration the building can be called the same age as Riga.
Roland's original statue
If you have time and the weather permits, go up to the observation deck on the second tier of the tower. The entrance is paid, but it's worth it, you will see the classic perspective of the old city!
Panorama of Riga from the tower of St. Peter's Church
Video essay "10 key facts about St. Peter's Church in Riga"
Address of St. Peter's Church
Skarnu 19, Riga
Phone: 26888078
Conventa Seta (Courtyard of the Convent)
Ahead of us is a meeting with the most picturesque medieval streets of Riga. Next in line is the Convent courtyard, which, without exaggeration, can be said to be one of the most atmospheric corners of the old city.
The meticulously recreated buildings, narrow pedestrian streets, car-free beautiful view Church of St. Peter, towering directly overhead.
The court not only managed to act in films, but was also immortalized by Nicholas Roerich in one of his paintings.
Before you dive into the gates of the Convent of Set, look around - you will see the Church of St. George on the left - the oldest building in the city, and on the right is a majestic building.
Set Convention Address
Kalēju iela 9/11
Livu Square
The most broken place of the old city, and the equator of our trip. Nice place to take a breather and eat!
In the summer, Livu Square resembles a human anthill - open cafes in the center, restaurants around the perimeter, loud live music, the trend of recent years - cycle rickshaws, and people, people, people ..
Pay attention to the freshly restored building of the Riga Russian Theater - this is the oldest Russian foreign theater in the world. How many more of these "most" awaits us while exploring the city!
Kalku 16, Riga LV-1050, Latvia
Phone. +371 67224660
By the way, did you most likely decide that the theater was named after the outstanding Russian writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov? So no - and whose name is the Riga theater - read in our essay.
Architectural ensemble Three brothers
Continuing the walk, we pass once again the Dome Square and plunge into the narrow streets of old Riga. Ahead of us are the Three Brothers - the most famous medieval architectural complex of the old city.
Three stone houses crowding together form an ensemble known to all residents of Riga as "Three Brothers". The eldest of the brothers has already celebrated his 400th birthday: a respectable age, but he looks cheerful!
Did you know that in Tallinn, the Riga peasants have girlfriends - in the capital of Estonia, a similar complex is called the Three Sisters!
Address: Maza Pils 17
Information phone +37167037900
So we crossed the Old City.
Riga Castle, despite its proud name, can disappoint seasoned travelers with its appearance, so it does not look like the fairy-tale castles of France or Bavaria. Essentially, this medieval fortress, built by the river and able to withstand years of siege.
Looking around, not far away we see the Cable-stayed bridge and the modern multi-storey building of the Ministry of Agriculture.
swedish gate
We return to the old city and approach the Swedish Gate.
The Swedish Gate is the only gate of Old Riga that has survived to this day. There were eight such gates in the walls of the city, but time, wars and the development of the city did not preserve most of the fortifications of the medieval city.
We immediately examine the house of the last Riga executioner and try to hear.
You can read more about the sights of Riga in the following articles:
Bastion Hill
Despite such a heroic name, Bastion Hill is a relatively young building in Old Riga (excuse the somewhat awkward expression) and does not have a glorious military past.
It was erected in the middle of the 19th century, when the demolition of fortifications began in Riga. In total, the city was surrounded by a chain of 14 bastions; in memory of these buildings, the place was named Bastion Hill.
Freedom Monument
The Freedom Monument is one of the most significant, and perhaps the most significant, architectural and historical monument in Riga.
Here ends our trip to the main sights of Riga. Next in line is a walk around Riga of the last century -. See you!
Riga is the capital of Latvia and the most Big City in the Baltic. A significant part of its medieval Old Town was destroyed during the war and remained in ruins for a long time, was reconstructed only a few years ago and is now an important tourist attraction. If you came to Riga just for the weekend, then you should first of all explore the Old Town. If there is time left, then you should definitely take a walk around the Riga modern quarter, it is located outside the Old Riga, but still called the center, be sure to go to the Riga market, it also adjoins the center. All of the above can be explored on foot, the center of Riga is very compact, except that it will be most difficult to pack everything in one day.
Street in Old Riga or Old Riga
The center of Old Riga is adorned with many spiers, which belong mainly to church buildings, but the main dominants of the landscape are only two cathedrals - the Dome Cathedral and St. Peter's Cathedral. These two cathedrals began to be erected as early as the 13th century. The Dome Cathedral belonged to the bishopric, and St. Peter's Cathedral was built with merchant money. Therefore, if you simply set a goal to see these two cathedrals and Livov Square, you will see the main sights of the old city. This article will discuss the sights of Old Riga or Old Riga.
If you want to find excursions and travel with excursions around the area, read the article. There I mention another city, but this is of no fundamental importance, on the listed sites you can search for excursions in any city in the world and navigate the current prices for excursions.
So let's start with the Dome Square.
The Dome Cathedral was built and rebuilt from 1211 to the 18th century inclusive, so it consists of numerous outbuildings and incorporates the architectural features of many styles. Now there is a concert hall in the Dome Cathedral and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia conducts church services. Concert hall was a legacy of the Soviet era, and there was always a place of worship in the cathedral, with the exception of the Soviet period. You can visit the cathedral for free only during the service, which is usually held at 8 o'clock in the morning, if you consider yourself a supporter of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. For tourists, there are several opportunities for paid visits.
Just entering the cathedral for a viewing costs 3€, a 20-minute visit organ concert at 12 noon - 10 €. Concerts at 12 noon are held daily at any time of the year. There are more full-fledged and longer concerts at 19-00, but these are not held every day and can even be canceled during the low tourist season. It is best to check the schedule of concerts on the official website of the cathedral (available in Russian).
Dome Cathedral, Christmas market on Dome Square I was most surprised by the golden cockerels on the spiers of the Riga cathedrals, it is not visible in my photo, but in fact the spire of the Dome Cathedral and St. Peter's Cathedral is crowned with the image of a golden cockerel, and not the traditional Christian cross. It turns out that Pushkin was inspired in the Baltics?
The official church version explains these cockerels with quotes from the Gospel of Luke and Matthew, where it is said that the cock will not have time to crow three times, as one of you will deny me. Many probably remember that the apostle Peter really denied three times before the rooster crowed. In addition, the cockerel is an excellent weather vane, unlike the cross.
The non-church version sounds something like this: one side of the weather vane was painted black, the other in gold. When it blew tailwind the cockerel turned its golden side, the ships entered the harbor, trade flourished; when the wind changed direction, the cockerel turned black, the ships could not enter the harbor, trade was suspended.
Not official version claims that there used to be roosters on churches in Russia. For example, in the illustrations for Nicholas Witsen's book "Northern and Eastern Tartaria" dated 1696, cockerels on Russian churches in Pskov, Torzhok and even Kazan are clearly visible, they disappeared only after Nikon's church reform. So Pushkin was most inspired not in the Baltics, but in Russia, the cockerels were gradually changed to crosses, perhaps he still saw them.
Cockerels on cathedrals are also common in Northern Germany, the Netherlands, and France.
Radio House on Domskaya Square, built in 1912 The cathedral is so ancient that it stands in a pit, the level of sidewalks has risen by 2-3 meters since the construction of the building. In order to reduce the damage caused to the center of Riga by the periodic floods of the Daugava, soil in the city center was poured almost constantly. The photo below just well illustrates the position of the cathedral relative to the level of modern city streets.
Playground near the walls of the Dome Cathedral The Dome Cathedral of Riga is the largest church building in the Baltics, but that's not all, the buildings of the former monastery attached to it adjoin the cathedral. Now one of them houses the expositions of the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation. An adult ticket costs 5€.
Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation Even if you don't have time to walk around the Eisenstein quarter, there are quite a few Art Nouveau houses in old Riga. Near beautiful house, in the photo below, there is the Lido euro canteen, where you can eat tasty and not expensive. In Old Riga, there are quite a few houses built in the Art Nouveau style and even in more modern styles, so Old Riga is not at all old in places.
One of the Art Nouveau buildings at Tirgoņu iela Another interesting task in the Art Nouveau style is located on the famous cinema street, filmed in the films "The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson" - this is the house in which
. Naturally, there are much more Art Nouveau houses in Riga than this article can accommodate, and Sherlock Holmes is so revered in the capital of Latvia that they even created his museum there and on January 6 they solemnly celebrate his birthday with a costumed procession. And in a small nook on Jauniela street there is a scenery for taking pictures in the form of heroes from your favorite movie.
Fragments of the building of the hotel Neiburgs 
Fragments of the building of the hotel Neiburgs, Jauniela 25/27 Not far from the Dome Cathedral is the famous architectural complex - "Three Brothers". The White Brother is the oldest stone residential building in Riga, built at the end of the 15th century. In ancient times, there was a large living room with a stove on the ground floor of this house, goods were stored on the upper floors, and in 1687 the first confectionery in Riga was opened in this house.
The Yellow Brother was built in the middle of the 17th century, now it houses the Museum of Latvian Architecture, in fact the entire museum is just one room, admission is free. The windows of the upper floors are made small, as there was a special tax on the light from the windows.
Green Brother, the youngest, it was built in the 18th century. The structure of the house is already significantly different from the White Brother. Craftsmen worked on the first two floors, and they lived on the third, the approach to building houses has changed significantly over the two centuries and the tax on light from windows was canceled by that time.
architectural complex Three Brothers at Mazā Pils iela It turns out that Peter I visited Riga nine times and even had his own palace, much larger than the house of Peter I in St. Petersburg and the Summer House of Peter in summer garden. Now the palace has little left of what it was at the beginning of the 18th century under Peter, too many owners have changed at the building since then. Only a memorial plaque fixed on the facade of the building in 2006 reminds of the first Russian emperor. Now the former palace of Peter I is just an ordinary residential building with 15 apartments. To live in the former palace of the first emperor of Russia, where else is this possible? Riga is a unique city in this sense.
Palace of Peter I in Riga Around St. Peter's Basilica
The Dome Cathedral is perhaps larger than the Church of St. Peter only due to its numerous outbuildings. The building of St. Peter's Cathedral is colossal in size. Unfortunately, St. Peter's Cathedral was not lucky, during the Second World War, it was significantly destroyed, the tower and the interior burned down completely, the restoration continued until 1983. Now you can visit the cathedral only for a fee, an adult ticket costs 9 € and includes a climb to the tower. This is the best observation deck in the city. You don’t have to climb on foot, there is an elevator inside, but you will most likely have to stand in line for tickets. The line for tickets snaked and occupied the entire front hall.
St. Peter's Cathedral in Riga Excursion groups usually gather in front of the cathedral, buses start from its walls city sightseeing. Near the cathedral there is a traditional Latvian cuisine restaurant Province, the interior is nice, the prices are above average, you can order a tasting set of 5 courses for 26€. The Province restaurant has a website in Russian, where the entire menu with prices and photos is presented.
St. Peter's Basilica - Entrance Portal Behind the cathedral stands the Bremen Town Musicians sculpture, the most rubbed sculpture in Riga. Naturally, your wishes will come true if you rub a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster by the nose, the guides clarify that as many wishes will come true as you rub your noses, and if you jump to the rooster, the most difficult desire will come true. The sculpture was erected in 1990 to commemorate the end of the Cold War. If you are interested, you can see what it looks like (opens in a new window). Opposite the Bremen Town Musicians, there is the entrance to the Convention courtyard, but it is so narrow and crowded that it was not possible to photograph it in a decent way, but this courtyard is the most beloved by Riga artists, paintings with its images are sold in all souvenir shops in the city.
The Bremen Town Musicians In the immediate vicinity of St. Peter's Cathedral is the Town Hall Square, razed to the ground in 1941 and rebuilt recently. In ancient times, there was a market on the Town Hall Square, and since Riga was part of the union of the Hanseatic cities and in the Middle Ages it was in fact German city, a statue of Roland was present in the square according to German tradition. The real statue was erected at the very end of the 19th century in continuation of ancient customs. There is nothing left of the medieval Riga Rolands, however, there is a mention of similar sculptures made of wood in the Riga annals. We saw another Roland in Bremen, Germany, they don't look alike at all. View . (picture will open in a new window)
Sculpture of Roland (copy), 1896 In the house of the Blackheads, a merchant guild used to be located, public events were held there, such as meetings, balls and ceremonial receptions, many Russian emperors attended these events - Peter I, Catherine II ... The proximity of Christian saints and pagan gods on the facade of the building is especially surprising. The entrance portal is decorated with images of the Holy Virgin Mary and St. Mauritius, and on the pediment there are sculptures of Neptune, Mercury, allegories of Unity and Peace, truly the gods must be honored, and all at once.
The story of the installation of the first Christmas tree in Riga in 1510 seemed curious to me. Below is a monument to this very first Christmas tree, installed on the town hall square. The tradition of setting up a Christmas tree at Christmas is associated with the name of the great reformer Martin Luther, but this is just a legend, there is no documentary evidence for this fact. They say that Tallinn and Riga argued among themselves in which city the first spruce was installed, by some miracle it was Riga who managed to win in this dispute. The rest of the world thinks that the first Christmas tree was planted in the Alsatian town of Celeste.
Monument to the first Christmas tree Around Livov Square
Livs are an ancient Baltic people, now almost dissolved in a friendly family of other Baltic peoples, one of the most beautiful squares in Old Riga is named after them. You can write a separate story about each house standing on this square. The most famous and popular among tourists is probably the house with cats. They say it was built by a merchant, who was not accepted into the merchant guild for a long time, so he turned the harmful cats that mark everything in their path with their rear facades towards the guild building. The guild leadership was even sued for insulting the obstinate merchant, but he turned his cats around only after he was accepted into the guild.
Riga house with cats In fact, the house is interesting not only for the cats, but also for its cute Art Nouveau details. As well as his role in the movie "Seventeen Moments of Spring". It was the cat's house that appeared before the audience as the Berlin hotel "At the New Gates", near which Stirlitz and Bormann met.
Decoration above the entrance of the house with cats Of course, Livov Square has also preserved the buildings of the Large and Small merchant guilds. As usual, only German merchants were admitted to the Great Merchant Guild and, accordingly, the guild defended only their interests. Craftsmen were admitted to the Small Guild, but the entry procedure was not easy. The applicant had to pass difficult tests - to make a masterpiece, visit different cities of the Hanseatic League, put up a workshop lunch, which in itself was a very expensive event. As in our times, artisans were poorer than merchants, and therefore the building of the Great Guild is much larger and prettier buildings Small guild.
The building of the Small Guild on Livov Square In Riga, as well as in Tallinn, there is a Russian theater, because according to official statistics, Russian-speaking residents in the capital of Latvia are about 50%, and even more in the center, as it seemed to me. The Russian Theater of Riga bears the name of Mikhail Chekhov, a great Russian-American actor, little known in Russia. However, Mikhail Chekhov was our famous writer's nephew.
The building of the Riga Russian Theatre. Mikhail Chekhov 
The building of the Russian Riga Theater On the one hand, Livov Square is framed by pretty houses under tiled roofs, worthy of some German town, of course, in every such house there is now a restaurant or cafe, and each owner of the establishment seeks to lure visitors to himself with beautiful signs.
Houses around Livov Square 
Decoration of the beer house on Livov Square Very close to Livov Square, another sculpture is hidden in the courtyard, reminiscent of the Baltic Germans, who previously lived in Riga in large numbers. The Golden Knight was originally installed by the German community of Riga near the water supply at the end of the 19th century, this copy of that sculpture, the original is now kept in the museum.
The Golden Knight in the covered courtyard near Livov Square As you exit the covered courtyard, you will immediately see the Powder Tower. This is the only completely preserved tower that was previously part of the complex of defensive structures of Riga, only its foundation dates back to the Middle Ages, the walls were built under the Swedes, and the roof is the fastest and even newer. Now the tower and the building attached to it houses the Latvian Military Museum, you can visit it absolutely free of charge, I gave several photos of its interior in my report on a trip to Riga. Along the Daugava embankment
Riga Castle is best seen from the embankment. The German knights began to build the Riga Castle almost from the very foundation of the city, but since then it has been destroyed and rebuilt so many times that nothing reminds of its medieval origin. Now the castle houses the Museum of the History of Latvia and the official residence of the President. Outwardly, it does not look very interesting, this world is full of much more impressive and respectful castles.
Riga castle The Church of Mary Magdalene stands at the very Riga Castle, it became famous for the fact that three of the largest movements of Christianity successively sent their services within its walls. Initially, a Catholic monastery stood in its place, after the Swedish conquest a Protestant church was built on it, after the victory of the Russians in the Northern War, a Russian Orthodox church was erected on the ruins, during the First World War German Catholic soldiers prayed in it, and since then the church has been a Catholic church.
Church of Mary Magdalene There is a sculpture of Big Kristaps on the embankment, in fact it is a copy, the original is kept in the museum. This is a semi-pagan, semi-Christian character of the local epic. The legend about the construction of Riga goes back to him. Allegedly, the giant Kristaps carried people from one coast to another, i.e. he worked as a ferryman, but once in the midst of bad weather he dreamed of a child crying, he got up, went to the other side, carried the child, put him to sleep in his house, and in the morning instead of the child he found a chest of gold, with this money Riga was built.
Big Kristaps (1692) It is believed that Kristaps brings healing in illnesses, is the patron saint of sailors and river carriers. The inhabitants of Riga so fanatically sought healing from the statue that the authorities were forced to close it with a case for greater safety. Christianity here clearly clung to local pagan beliefs, because it correlates Big Kristaps with Saint Christopher, thereby sometimes depicted with a dog's head.
In summer, pleasure boats start right from the Big Kristaps sculpture. In winter, the weather was so vile that we did not even dare to cross to the other side of the Daugava to take a classic shot with a view of Old Riga. From trips around the surroundings, we can recommend visiting Sigulda, Jurmala and Rundale Palace. Of course, in summer Riga will look much more cheerful than in the January rain, but in summer you want to go to the sea. In the next article I will tell you about the absolutely wonderful Riga market
