Riga - Latvia

Town Hall Square is perhaps one of the main squares of the capital of Latvia.
It is on this square that the Ronald statue, the House of the Blackheads and the Town Hall building are located.

 Riga Town Hall Square, Riga is very fond of Christmas and New Year, so the Christmas tree is even in the hands of the statue of Roland.

The square itself with all its appearance shows all the originality and beauty of architecture. Travelers should definitely visit this amazing place. The center is played by musicians performing folk tunes. In the 3D cinema you can go on a virtual tour of the whole of Riga.

And you can just eat ice cream on the bench, enjoying the view of the house of the Blackheads and the unforgettable spiers of the cathedrals.

At the corner of the square are souvenir shops with a huge selection of products made of amber.

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St. Peter’s Church is not only one of the main attractions of the Latvian capital, but also a unique symbol of Riga.

Perhaps the most remarkable place in Riga is the observation deck under the dome of St. Peter’s Church. There are always a lot of people here, but it doesn’t bother much.

  
And the views of evening Riga from the observation platform are stunning. In the cathedral there is a magnificent acoustics, various concerts are held there. In this church, a stunning spirit - there is a very strong energy place.

The first mention of this temple goes back centuries, namely the beginning of the XII century. The church tower is 124 meters high, and half of this height is a spire. Basically this church is famous for this spire. At a height of 57 meters there is the first observation deck, and at a height of 71 meters - the second, to which tourists get an elevator. From these viewing platforms there is an amazing view not only of old Riga, but also of the whole city.

This temple is a state monument of architecture, church services are held here, exhibitions are organized and concerts are organized.

Learn more - the history of the church of St. Peter, the time, coordinates...

The Dome Cathedral is located in the central part of Old Riga, and to the Dome Square, located next to it, a lot of narrow streets of the old city flow down, in the summer street cafes and various events are held here.

 
The architectural ensemble includes not only the majestic cathedral where the organ sounds and services are held to this day, but also the monastery where the museum is located now - the History of Riga, which is perhaps the most interesting museum in the Latvian capital.

In the same building you can visit the museum of navigation. The courtyard of the cathedral has the form of an open vaulted gallery.

Tourists traveling in Riga should definitely look at the famous 14th century architectural monument - the House of Blackheads.

This monument is located in the heart of the Latvian capital.

For several centuries, this house was rebuilt several times, but during the 2nd World War it was almost completely destroyed, and only in modern times was this castle successfully reconstructed.

Being in the area of ​​old Riga and walking along Malaya Zamkovaya Street, the traveler should pay attention to the houses with numbers 17, 19 and 21, these buildings are a rather interesting architectural complex called “Three Brothers”, by analogy with the “Three Sisters”, that in Tallinn.

These structures, which are tightly pressed against each other, are an excellent example of medieval urban development. Such a building is typical for the bulk of European cities.

This ensemble is also interesting because houses are built in it at different times, therefore the presence of different architectural styles is noticeable - Dutch mannerism, baroque, renaissance and gothic.

Old Riga is a very compact city, but walking through it you can meet the masterpieces of the Middle Ages at every turn.

Among these magnificent monuments of architecture there are two main historical sites of the city, the Great Guild and the Small Guild.

In Old Riga, on the Tornja Street, there are the Swedish Gate known to all travelers, which is an invaluable historical and cultural monument of Latvian architecture.

Riga is different. Places you can see the once other people's buildings with their own features and styles.

However, today everything has taken root here, even the fact that they wanted to be torn down at different times. Approximately the same fate awaited the Swedish Gate.

But, the landmark was decided to leave and restore. In modern times, the gate is a reminder of the Swedish era in urban history, as well as a place fanned by urban legends.

Riga is the unique charm of the Old Town: narrow streets and ancient buildings with tiled roofs, leisurely walks, bridges over the Daugava River, and organ music in the famous Dome Cathedral.

There is another attraction here, which has become a kind of hallmark of this amazing place - the House with black cats (CatHouse), built at the beginning of the 20th century and attracting many tourists. With the appearance on the roof of the building of these animals is associated one of the famous urban legends.

Today, the Freedom Monument is the highest monument of this type in Europe. In 2001 it was completely reconstructed, and it again began to shine in the middle of the Latvian capital.

The square, with this landmark of the country and the city, retains its symbolic significance and along with it serves as a favorite place for friendly walks and dates among the local youth. Every day at the Monument of Freedom from 09.00 to 20.00 there is a guard. In the history of Latvia, the Monument of Freedom is set aside a separate place.

Going to the capital of Latvia, during the Christmas holidays, the traveler can not only see the local sights, but also become a witness of a unique festival, which takes place exclusively in Riga.

The festival "The Path of Christmas Trees" has become a new good tradition since 2010 and has already won many fans, both among the townspeople and among the many guests of the city.

The uniqueness of the festival is also in the fact that all the exhibits are not located in the museum premises, but under the open sky and anyone can look at these works of art.