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You are welcome to the Capital City of Latvia - Riga! In the city you will find many enticing sights that are worth seeing. Riga is so diverse in its character: some visitors will enjoy the Old Town - the most ancient part of the city that has been preserved from the 13th century, others might be interested in the Jugendstyle architecture and the boulevard ensembles that were formed at the end of the last century and have been nominated the world's architectural monuments by UNESCO experts.
Riga is also called the city of parks and gardens. The central part of the city is mostly occupied by commercial offices, banks, and other business building reflecting the hectic present day life and the tendencies of rapid city development.
The Baltic Sea is just over 12km (seven miles) away but Riga’s weather is not as harsh as many people imagine. Winter can indeed be long, dark and bitter but spring and summer days are often blessed with balmy daytime temperatures and long hours of daylight. When the sun shines, the city’s numerous parks fill up, tables spill out of cafés and revelers laze along the city canal in rowing boats, in a scene that is more Mediterranean than Eastern European.
City tour
The tour encompasses the most significant sights of Riga. During the driving part of the Riga travel, sitting comfortably in the coach, you will enjoy the view of the City Canal parks, the Bastion Hill, the Powder Tower, the Latvian National Theatre, the Fine Arts Museum, the Art Nouveau buildings of the beginning of the century, the Freedom Monument, the University of Latvia, the Opera House, the Daugava River and it’s bridges and Passenger Terminal. During the walking part of the tour you will enjoy the beauty of the ancient Hanseatic city, while strolling through the cobble-stone, icturesque streets of the Old Town. In Old Riga you will see the Dome Cathedral, the Church of St. Peter, the old Guild Houses, the architectural ensemble “Three Brothers”, St. Jacobs Church, the Parliament House, the Swedish Gate, Old Riga Castle, and view the many wonderfully restored buildings, now housing cosy restaurants, cafes, bars and souvenir shops.
St. John's Church
The church began its life as a chapel for a Dominican cloister that was established in 1234. It became a church in the late 13th century, and in 1582 it became the first Latvian church in Rīga. The architecture of the church features a step-type pediment and magnificent arches inside. Major works of sacral art can be seen inside the church.
St. Peter's Church
SOne of the most ancient examples of Medieval churches in the Baltic region, St. Peter’s was first built in the 13th century, although since then it has gone through a number of building periods. A Baroque wooden steeple was installed in 1690 - the highest in the world at the time. The church was burned down during World War II and restored only in 1973. The metal steeple is 123.25 metres high. The interior of the church contains ancient epitaphs and burial plaques.
Three Brothers
The “three brothers” are an example of Medieval residential structures in Rīga - three buildings that were put up on very narrow strips of land. The façades and interiors provide a textbook example of the development of architecture over the course of time.
Mazā Pils iela 17 is the oldest stone residential building in Rīga (late 15th, early 16th century), and its distinctive chimney has been preserved. The façade is accepted with a step-type pediment and a Gothic niche. Number 19 was put up in 1646, while Number 21 took on its appearance in the late 17th century. One of the walls in the interior yard of the structure contains the oldest known city emblem of Rīga, along with some stone portals.
Town Hall Square and the House of Blackheads
First mentioned in 1334, the building was owned by the Great Guild. In the 15th century the house was rented out to the Blackheads Merchant Guild and became their property in 1713. Blackheads was an organisation of unmarried foreign merchants, existing in several Baltic medieval towns. The beautiful Gothic building was destroyed in 1941, but it has now been rebuilt for the celebration of Riga`s 800th anniversary this summer.
National Opera House
The Riga Opera House was built 1863, by L. Bonschtet. It’s one of the most beautiful opera houses in the Europe. The visitor of the Opera House will be astonished by it’s luxurious interior and the high level of Latvian ballet
Riga Opera House is also known for it’s world famous annual summer International Opera Festival.
Monument of Freedom
The monument was designed by the famous Latvian architect Karlis Zale and constructed in 1935. The bronze casting of a woman (fondly nick-named "Milda" by the Latvian folk) holds up three golden stars in her hands. The stars symbolise three Latvian regions: Latgale, Kurzeme and Vidzeme. The guard of honour stands sentinel at the monument from 09.00 until 20.00, the hourly change of guard is very impressive!
Menzendorf's House
It’s an impeccably restored late-seventeenth-century merchant's house decorated in grand style and adorned with period furniture and artefacts. Menzendorf's House is a small, historical merchants' house containing eighteenth-century frescoes and restored furniture. The guide has some tales to tell.
Guild Halls
Big Guild Hall
The Large Guild, for its part, was established in 1354 by tradesmen in Rīga, and the guild monopolised trade in the city until the 19th century. The patron saint of the guild is St. Mary. Fragments of the building’s original, 14th-century interiors can still be seen in the form of an ancient column. The present-day structure was put up between 1854 and 1857. Today the building is the home of the Latvian Philharmonic Orchestra.
Small Guild Hall
The Small Guild was established in the mid-14th century, bringing together Rigensian craftsmen. It was during the same period that the building was put up. The guild issued regulations related to the work of artisans in Rīga. The patron saint of the guild is John the Baptist. The present-day building was built between 1864 and 1866 on the basis of a design from the distinguished architect Johan Daniel Felsko. It is an example of the British Neo-Gothic style. The beautiful interiors of the Small Guild building were restored in 2000.
Dome Cathedral
The largest cathedral in the Baltics was founded by Latvia`s Teutonic conquerors in the beginning of the 13th century under the bishop Albert. This well-known historical church has become an icon of the Old Town of Riga. In the past centuries it has been destroyed and rebuilt many times, so presently it is a composite of different architectural styles.
The cathedral`s last reconstruction took place in 1776 the tower was raised to the height of 90m. The famous organ of the Dome cathedral was made in 1884, it was the biggest organ in the world comprised of 6 718 pipes!
Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) area
Art Nouveau is one of the styles that dominates Riga`s architectural heritage. Spread throughout the city, but you will find the most expressive specimens concentrated on the above mentioned streets. Most of these buildings are constructed by the architect M. Eisenstein.
Swedish Gates
The Swedish Gate was built in 1698, due to conquering of the city by Swedes. It’s unique building of that type left in the Old Town and has a huge historical importance. The apartment above belonged to the city executioner.
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