Old Town Riga
Old Town Riga is a popular entertainment district in the historical and geographical center of the Latvian capital, featuring cobble-stone streets and an abundance of architectural gems.
Riga – a member of the Hanseatic League
In the Middle Ages, Riga had a mighty port and was a full-fledged member of the Hanseatic League, which was a confederation of merchant cities on the Baltic Sea in the Baltic region and Northern Germany. The prosperity of this era can be seen by visiting the Small and Great Guild halls, as well as the House of the Blackheads with the statue of Rolands in front of it.
Old Town Riga architecture
Old Town Riga, with its narrow cobble-stone streets, not only features goregeous Medieval-era buildings, but unique sacral structures as well.
Craftsmen and artist houses
Buildings in the growing city were constructed by guilds of craftsmen and artists. Old Town is a striking example of how cities were built back in the day.
The buildings in Old Town are varied and constructed during different periods of history. It features over 500 buildings built in various architectural styles – Romanticism, Gothic, Mannerism, Baroque, Eclectic, Modernism, etc.
Visit the Dannenstern building featuring an exhibition on how prosperous Riga residents once lived , the trio of historical buildings known by locals as the Three Brothers, as well as Riga Castle, the Powder Tower and the many other architecturally and historically important edifices.
Old Town churches
In a relatively confined territory, five religious denominations were able to live peacefully with one another – each of them having its own church.
Old Town Riga’s most well-known churches:
Riga Dome Cathedral – the seat of the Latvian Lutheran Church’s archbishop, its foundation stone was laid in the 13th century and features a magnificent organ with outstanding sound
St Peter’s Church – features the highest church tower in the city with a viewing platform;
St Jacob’s Church is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church’s cardinal in Latvia.