Riga – Capital of Latvia
Fast becoming one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations
Riga, the lively capital of Latvia is just two and a half hours from London. The city looks set to join the growing list of Europe's most popular tourist destinations.
The Old City
The most ancient part of the town, the Old City, dates from the 13th century. An eclectic mix of Renaissance, baroque and Jugendstil architecture lines the narrow cobbled lanes, alleys and squares. The atmosphere is lively especially on spring and summer evenings when local musicians entertain visitors in the open air. The Old City is dominated by several major landmarks.
St. Mary’s Dome Cathedral
St. Mary's Dome Cathedral was founded in 1211 and during the past eight hundred years has been added to many times. Part of the cathedral used to be a monastery and now houses the Riga Museum of History and Navigation. The Cathedral also has the world's fourth-largest organ and if you're lucky you might hear an organ recital. In fact, you could just sit in a nearby pavement café and listen as haunting melodies waft across the square.
St. Peter’s Church
A few minutes walk from the Cathedral is St. Peter's Church with its slender three-tier steeple. First erected in the 17th century it has been rebuilt three times, the last time in 1973. The Spire of St. Peter's has an observation deck, reached by elevator, giving panoramic views of the entire city – a photographer's paradise!
Blackhead’s House
Not far from St. Peter's is the Blackhead's House on Town Hall Square. The original house was built in 1334 as a guild house but was destroyed during World War II. Blackhead's House was rebuilt in time for Riga's 800th birthday celebrations in 2001. Its architects have ensured that it looks much the same as it did in the 14th century. It houses a museum and concert hall.
The Three Brothers
The oldest house in Riga, at 19 Maza Pils iela, dates from the 15th century, and is now the Architectural Museum. Its neighbours, Nos.17 and 21, date from 1646 and 1718 respectively and together are known as the Three Brothers. Exhibits provide a good idea of how medieval people lived.
Riga’s Jewish History
For Jewish visitors there are many painful reminders of Riga's history. The Jewish Museum at 6 Skolas Street has recently been renovated. A short video tells about the Holocaust in Latvia and exhibits present Jewish life through historic documents and photographs. This same building houses the Jewish Community Centre and Café Lechaim, a kosher cafeteria down in the basement. Food is freshly cooked to order and the reasonably priced menu includes traditional Jewish fare such as roast vegetables, borsht (psychedelic beetroot soup), cholent (Jewish beef stew) falafel, fried fish, stuffed fish, fish balls, schnitzels, and cheese cake.
The only functioning synagogue is at Peitavas 6-8. During the war its scrolls were hidden away and the building was used as a warehouse. It's nearness to other buildings may have saved it from total destruction when other synagogues were burned to the ground by the nazi's.
Holocaust Memorial
The ruins of the Choral Synagogue of Riga can be found at Gogol Street. On 4th July 1941 some 300 Jews died when they were locked inside by the Nazis who set fire to the building. Close to the ruins a Holocaust memorial has been erected and Holocaust Memorial Day is commemorated every year on 4th July. All that remains now is the foundations and part of the cellar.
Useful Information
Although it's now part of Europe Latvia is still using the Latvian Lat (LVL). They have not adopted the Euro, Latvians are friendly. Food is cheap and psychedelic!
The Patricia Tourist Office is a good source of additional information about Riga.
