Crazy trip. Riga. New Year in Riga: the experience of organizing a trip on your own Where to go with friends in Riga

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Of course, Riga did not begin with Town Hall Square and we were not the first to admire its architectural ensemble. So I'll limit myself to a couple of pictures.

Noticed this building

which does not flaunt its modernity, does not shout about it, but tactfully complements the ensemble of Town Hall Square.Between this building and the Blackheads' house there is another building - the Blue Guard Warehouse.

The city contained various kinds of armed detachments already from the middle of the 13th century, which from the 14th century received the name guard. The Blue Guard was founded in the 1st quarter of the 18th century by clerks of Riga merchants and was named after the color of their uniforms. The Blue Guard had a glorious military history and participated in all significant military campaigns. The Blue Guard existed until the end of the 19th century, but its Warehouse still occupies a worthy place even with such masters of Riga as the House of the Blackheads. Here is another photo of this house, which at one time housed the Riga Fire Society.

The public building acquired this modern look in 1999.
Tirgonu street, the merchants' street, departs from the Town Hall Square and adjoins the Town Hall Square, the shopping square. Traders settled there and there were merchant shops.

On the corner of Maza Monetu and Maza Jaunielu - Flower House. At the beginning of the 20th century, there was a pharmacy in it, probably a homeopathic one, judging by the coloring.

The former pharmacy is located on the corner of an ordinary street, the kind that is a dime a dozen in old European cities.

And isn’t it about Maza Moneta (Malaya Monetnaya) V. Klopotovsky, a journalist, wrote - LIKE A CUT IN A PIGGY BANK A ALLEY, CROVEY AND NARROW - OLD!…
And this street was listed in my Riga program as No. 1 - Jauniela.

She is Flower, she is Baker Street, the heroine of Soviet cinema.

Almost everything abroad was then filmed in Riga. Tallinn too, although they got the roles. There was a pet store in this house, where Professor Pleischner came.

The one that is one-story, covered with snow.
And he jumped out of the window of this house.

Although the house is not only remarkable for this - it is another example of a combination of eclecticism and modernity.

The decoration of the portal is a charming mascaron against the backdrop of the sun. The entire building is completely asymmetrical, although somewhat heavy, especially compared to the surrounding buildings.

Like the rest of the city, there is an endless stream of visitors on Jaunielu-Flower-Baker Street. Despite the winter, non-tourist time

Riga guides work hard. They have something to tell and show. For example, this house where Peter I stayed.

Or this building. Charming! Wasn’t the chimney sweep sitting down to rest on the ridge of the roof?

Of course, it is inappropriate to attach Moscow names to foreign streets, but Kalkyu Street reminded Arbat. Pedestrian. Noisy. Ludna. Beautiful.

The Kalei-Kuznechnaya branch departs from it; the fire-hazardous forges were moved here in the 17th century. Essentially Kaleju is the Ridzene embankment.

And it repeats the path of its flow through Old Riga. Unfortunately, the river no longer exists; its bed was filled up long ago.

The building of the Russian theater was built for the Third Riga Mutual Credit Society. A careful look in the previous photo will notice the corner of this building with the inscription in the medallion. This is the most outstanding building on this street. Heavily rebuilt during Soviet times, it blocked the neighboring Kaleya-Kuznechnaya street. That glass gallery connecting the two buildings and hanging over Kaleju Street is just the remnant of the extension.

The recent renovation cleared up the street and gave the theater such a respectable appearance.

There is a horseshoe attached to the window of the 2nd floor. She was lost while galloping, either by the horse of Peter I, or

Charles XII. It’s interesting that the Latvian guidebook about Petreni, not even in spirit, tells a legend about Karl. In the book “Russian Riga” (a wonderful publication, easy, pleasant and interesting to read), Ilya Dimenstein says that it was the Russian emperor’s horse that lost a horseshoe and is indignant that modern guides have transferred the emphasis to the Swedish Charles. They probably owe more to Karl than to Peter! Here is the horseshoe itself (I confess, the photo is not great.)

Perpendicular to Kalki, it goes to Meistar (Masters) - this is a continuation of Kaley, which was once the embankment of the Ridzene River

Medieval buildings have been preserved on it. Probably, the cow brought considerable income to the owners if they erected its sculpture above the entrance.

There is no way to pass by the Small Guild building! The Union of Riga Craftsmen erected such a palace. Now within the walls of the Small Guild there is a museum and at the gate there is a barker dressed in the costume of a medieval artisan.

The building acquired a modern façade at the end of the 19th century. designed by I.D. Felsko in the style of eclectic English Gothic.
Amatu Street separates the Small and Large Guilds, hiding from the eyes of the curious another wonderful house, which has a turret

trying to imitate his famous brothers. Or compete with them!
There is no shortage of turrets!

And these cats on spiers are famous for the fact that the customer of the house turned them either with their muzzle or with their tail

to the Great Guild building. He was not accepted into its membership - and the cat turned its tail towards the Guild, they changed their decision - and the cat nobly turned its muzzle towards the building. It doesn’t take much intelligence to guess that the house is called that, the Cat’s House.

From this perspective, it is noticeable that there are two cats, on both turrets. We missed the dog, there is a dog somewhere nearby on the ridge of the building, right opposite the cats. But we paid attention to the decoration of the building’s portal.

The mascaron above the entrance is a personal monogram of that short era, 1907-1914. The clever book says that such masks express the significance of work in the life of every person.
And here is the Great Guild - the building of the union of traders and merchants. Rebuilt after the fire in 1963. its interior hall was refurbished

to the concert hall of the Riga Philharmonic.

It seems that the houses on Kenya Street simply parted, moved away for a while to clear the passage

and give an inquisitive eye the opportunity to examine all the details of the big puzzle called Riga.

We stopped at a simple house on the street. Smilsha 8, not included in any guidebook.

And how can it compete with the brilliance of its neighbors? Of course, it is inferior to the decoration and surroundings of No. 12 on Valnyu Street - a street of shops and institutions.

The opera was both a German and a Russian theater. Is it really a matter of nationality?

The main thing is art, and let it be eternal!
Riga doesn't give you any time to rest. Like pictures in a kaleidoscope - one brighter than the other!

Was it not about these Atlanteans that the poet wrote that WITHOUT DRINK AND BREAD, FORGOTTEN FOR CENTURIES, THE ATLANTEANS HOLD THE SKY ON STONE SHOULDERS.

The globe at the top is made of glass and zinc and is illuminated very effectively at night.

Did the occupation of its owner, an antiques dealer, influence the choice of decor? The balcony is supported by statues of Athena and Hermes, trying to help the Atlanteans support the weight of the structure.
Valnu street - 21. Probably, of all the best things in the architecture of the turn of the century, Riga has collected a dazzling collection,

putting bright exhibits on public display, boasting and being proud of them.
For connoisseurs, she saved her treasures in narrow and cramped streets.

And, as in a real museum, it does not always allow you to remove artifacts. But even from this perspective, the originality of the house can be discerned. The Lantern of Happiness is installed on it, and it is signed under it, so that it would not be interpreted otherwise. Gleznotaju street.

Probably, under Bishop Albert, the same crows circled over St. John's Cathedral, although it looked completely different then.

Of course, as often happens, people noticed the birds when they were looking through the pictures. The temple acquired its famous star-shaped vaults at the turn of the 15th-16th centuries.

But once you enter the cathedral, it is no longer possible to take your eyes off this vault. At first the temple was Catholic. Belonged to the Dominican monks, cat. in 1523 a large religious procession was organized throughout Riga and its suburbs. If only they knew what a rash step they were taking! The townspeople, who were very hostile towards Catholics, locked the city gates and did not let the monks back. For many decades the cathedral became Lutheran. It was returned to the Catholics by Stefan Batory when Poland took possession of the city. We were lucky enough to listen to a magnificent organ concert in the cathedral. There were so many listeners there that there was nowhere for an apple to fall. Before the concert, the pastor delivered a short sermon... in Russian!
The cathedral vault was so mesmerizing that I wanted to photograph it again and again.

The winter day is short. Dusk was already falling on Riga, enveloping the city in its mysterious light. It seems that if you stand on Skarnu Street a little longer, the front door and the hostess, dressed in a casual suit, will creak. the dress will let the cat out and rattle the bolt, closing the doors more tightly.

And in St. Peter's Cathedral the evening service will begin and God-fearing townspeople will flow in a stream to its carved portals, fearing to be late for the start of the mass:

And from around the corner of house 4 on Marstal Street a horseman will jump out and spur his horse. You never know what else can happen on New Year's Eve!

It was not planned to be a festive lunch at all, it was a gift from Riga!

In the cozy Province cafe on Kungu Street we were the last admitted visitors and the meal turned out to be truly festive!

Are you in Riga for the first time or just here for one day? With our tip, you will know exactly where to go and what to see (especially if you don’t have much time).

The capital of Latvia has a rich ancient history. Located on the shores of the Gulf of Riga and at the mouth of the Daugava River, Riga has long been a commercial and multicultural city. This means that there is something to see here today. Of particular interest to travelers is the Old Town. Let's walk through it.

1. St. Peter's Church

This is one of the significant and impressive buildings in the historical center of the city. The spire of St. Peter's Church rises above the houses, representing a kind of landmark and symbol of old Riga. The building is truly unique, because it is the oldest in the Latvian capital. The construction of the church was completed in 1209. After that, it burned more than once, was restored and rebuilt. The time of progress has also left its mark: today the church has an elevator that takes everyone to two observation platforms. It is unforgivable to visit Riga and not climb the tower, because from the height there is an amazing view of the city. By the way, the total height of the tower of St. Peter's Church is 123.5 m, with the spire accounting for 64.5 m.

Viewpoint of St. Peter's Church

View of Riga from the spire of St. Peter's Church

2. Town Hall Square

The most important square of the Old Town in Riga - Town Hall - is located directly opposite the Stone Bridge. Knowing this, it is very easy to find it. In the Middle Ages, this place was a trading platform with an extensive market. In addition, Town Hall Square was the administrative center of medieval Riga. Unfortunately, to this day it has not retained its original appearance, since the Second World War left no stone unturned from this place. And yet, thanks to the miracles of reconstruction, we can now see the Town Hall building, the House of the Blackheads, the statue of the knight Roland on the square and imagine exactly what Riga looked like in those distant times.

Town Hall building in Riga

Knight Roland Statue

3. House of the Blackheads

This beautiful building, which is without a doubt the main decoration of Town Hall Square, was completely destroyed in 1941 and restored from scratch in 1999. Initially, the building had a different name - New House. It was built in the 30s of the 14th century for various societies. In the next century, the house was completely used by the Blackheads Society (brotherhood of merchants). But the name “House of the Blackheads” did not catch on immediately - it began to be used only in 1687. The blackheads became full owners of the house even later - in 1713.

4. Dome Cathedral

In the heart of the Old Town is Dome Square, home to the best cafes and bars in the city. All of them, oddly enough, very peacefully coexist with the Dome Cathedral, which is famous for its famous organ. Since its foundation (in 1211), the cathedral has been rebuilt many times, and now is an architectural object that combines late Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles. Today, the Dome Cathedral houses a huge amount of historical and artistic treasures collected from all over Latvia.

5. Three brothers

Not far from the Dome Cathedral you can find a unique complex of buildings for Riga, consisting of three houses from different eras. The white building was built at the end of the 15th century, the yellow one in the mid-17th century, and the green building in the mid-18th century. People called them the “Three Brothers.” In the old days, buildings in Riga were very dense, and usually representatives of the same profession lived on the same street. Since it is known that one of the houses was once a bakery, historians speculate that bakers once lived in the sister buildings. The interior of the houses is as unusual as the exterior: they are distinguished by very high ceilings, narrow corridors, steep staircases and brick floors.

One of the most significant buildings in Latvia is located right here - in Riga, right on the banks of the Daugava (Western Dvina). After the country gained independence, Riga Castle became the Presidential Palace, and before that it was the seat of Soviet power for many years. Riga Castle is a classic architectural element of old Riga. It was built by Livonian knights in 1330, when they were forced out of the then city.

7. Powder Tower

Riga, like many ancient cities, was once surrounded by a fortress wall. The only tower remaining from it reminds of this. Previously, it was called the Sand Tower and, according to historical data, was built in 1330. It received its current name – Porokhovaya – in the 17th century, when small arms powder began to be stored in it. In 1919, a Military Museum opened here, which is still open today.

8. Livov Square

This place is considered relatively new in the Old Town. Livov Square was formed only in the middle of the 20th century, but it harmoniously fits into the general style of old Riga, since houses from different eras have been preserved here. Livov Square is especially lively in the summer: tent cafes open here, mobile sales operate, and street musicians perform. In short, if you stay in Riga for several days, you know where to relax in the evening after a walk around the city.

The spire of St. Peter's Church is also visible from Livov Square

9. Cat's house

No matter how familiar the name of this building may sound, it has nothing to do with a fairy tale. But the story about the Cat's House is no less interesting. It was built in 1910 by a wealthy merchant who was not accepted into the Merchants Guild. In retaliation for this, the owner of the building placed two cats on its roof, with their backs facing directly towards the Guild. Everyone understood the hint, and things escalated into a scandal. The merchant still had to turn the cats in the other direction. But, as they say, a sediment remains. You can find the Cat's House on Livov Square, directly opposite the Great Guild building.

10. Large and small guilds

Not far from Livov Square you can find two more architectural monuments - the buildings of the Great and Small Guilds. The first was a merchant organization, and the second was an association of Riga artisans. Today the Great Guild is considered one of the oldest public buildings in the entire Baltic region (it was erected back in the 14th century). After restoration it turned into a philharmonic society. The Small Guild is much younger - it was built in 1866, and its octagonal donjon tower “hints” at the English Neo-Gothic style. Today the Small Guild houses the Center for Folk Art and Culture.

11. Freedom Monument

One of the significant attractions of Riga is the Freedom Monument, which is a symbol of the independence of the Republic of Latvia. It is located on the main street of the city of Brivibas (or Freedom Street) and is visible from afar. Of course, is it possible not to notice the nine-meter figure of a woman holding three gold stars above her head? And not far from the monument there is a green area in which the Bastion Hill is located - an artificial embankment structure along the city canal. A nice place.

12. Riga Cathedral

This Orthodox church is considered the largest in the city. At the time of its opening, which took place on October 28, 1884, the majestic cathedral with dark blue domes was considered the most expensive building in Riga. Under the Soviets, it housed a planetarium and a restaurant. After the country gained independence, the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ was restored and “gilded”, and now its doors are again open to believers.

Route around Old Riga

The walk starts from St Peter's Church as it is located closest to the city's train station.

1. Buying tickets There are at least three ways to get from Moscow to Riga: by plane, by train, by bus.
A direct flight from Moscow to Riga (for example, with the Latvian company Air Baltic) takes about 1.5 hours + time at the airport. Tickets can be booked online several months in advance. This is convenient if you plan your trip in advance.
Sales of train or bus tickets open 45 days before departure.
The Moscow-Riga train departs from Rizhsky Station once a day - in the evening, around 20.00. And arrives in Riga around 10.00 am. The schedule is convenient: you have time to drink tea and sleep; At about 6.00 am you go through Russian customs, then Latvian. The return train Riga-Moscow leaves at about 16.00 (local time), you go to customs at 23.00 and 0.00, respectively. And the train arrives in Moscow around 11.00. Tickets cannot be called cheap. The price of a compartment is comparable to air tickets.
We booked tickets on the Russian Railways website. To do this, it is enough to have a valid passport and bank card (Visa, MasterCard, etc.). It is better to register on the site in advance. The sale opens at 10.00 Moscow time (since the rules may change, it is better to check on the website before purchasing). We bought Moscow-Riga tickets for December 27, 2011 without any problems. But with tickets Riga-Moscow on January 4, 2012 it turned out to be more difficult. Having started issuing tickets at 10.00, by the time we selected our seats, we were able to grab one of the last compartment seats. Apparently there was great demand for this day from travel agencies.
When purchasing tickets, you can register electronically. In this case, you do not need to go to the ticket office and get a paper copy of the ticket. It is enough to present your passport to the conductor upon boarding. But be careful when purchasing tickets! Last name, first name and passport number must be entered without errors, otherwise there will be problems with boarding.
Bus transportation to Riga is provided by Ecolines. The journey takes about 18 hours. This is the cheapest travel option and probably the least comfortable. We didn’t even consider it for ourselves, because... in November the company had not yet provided information about tickets for the New Year holidays.

2. Booking a hotel Once the tickets have been purchased and the exact travel dates are known, you can start booking the hotel. This is also easy to do via the Internet.
I started my search on booking sites and was horrified to discover that the last rooms in most desirable hotels had been sold out just a few hours ago. Since it was the New Year holidays, there was great demand for hotels. Then I started writing by e-mail directly to the hotels themselves. Sent letters to 10-12 hotels in Russian and English. And to my joy, I received positive responses from 7-8 hotels. Moreover, many answered in Russian. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that there were vacancies in those hotels that, according to booking and similar sites, no longer had vacancies. So I advise you to immediately contact the hotels directly. Writing a standard request text takes a couple of minutes and sending it out a few more minutes. And then you calmly wait for the answers and choose the best one from the proposed options.
As for the location, in my opinion, hotels in the Old Riga (Vecriga) area will be optimal for tourists. Here you can find accommodation for every taste: from cheap hostels to luxurious 5-star hotels. We chose the Forums Hotel. Many positive reviews have been written about it on the turbine and other sites, I will not repeat it. Location, service, room condition - everything is good. The only thing: next to Forums there is a fenced-off construction site, so it may be noisy there in the coming months.
When booking a hotel, you need to pay for the first night (this is a standard condition, but some hotels require immediate full payment for the entire period). Next, you will receive confirmation by e-mail from the hotel about your room reservation, which you will need when applying for a visa.

3. Applying for health insurance The next step is to obtain health insurance. There is a list of accredited insurance companies on the website of the Latvian Embassy. Taking out insurance takes a little time and money.

4. Obtaining a visa A list of documents required to obtain a visa has been published on the website of the Latvian Embassy. This is a form (filled out in Russian), confirmation of hotel and ticket reservations, confirmation of funds (work certificate, bank card statement, sponsorship letter, etc.), medical insurance, photographs. In any case, you need to clarify this information before registration, because the rules change periodically.
You must apply for a visa no later than 7-10 days before the start of your trip.
At the beginning of December, when we collected all the documents, the queues at the Latvian Embassy were about 300 people a day.
There is another legal option for applying for a visa to Latvia - through the company Pony Express. The difference is that you do not go early in the morning to queue at the embassy, but arrive at one of the offices of this campaign at a convenient time and submit documents there. When accepting documents, Pony Express employees look through your papers and tell you if something is missing or something is superfluous. The visa fee is also paid there (by card or in cash in rubles). Plus you will have to pay for Pony Express services (about 30 euros). The courier will deliver the passport with the completed visa to the specified address - home or office.
Before the New Year, there are also queues at Pony Express, but not as big as at the embassy.
You can apply for a visa not only for yourself, but also for close relatives (if you are traveling together). In this case, you need to take with you a document confirming your relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.) and, of course, your relative’s Russian passport.

5. Information preparation After all the hassle with paperwork is completed, the visa is safely stamped in the passport, we get ready for a pleasant vacation and collect information about Riga and Latvia.
I recommend these sites: http://www.liveriga.com, http://www.latvia.travel/ru/.
And of course my favorite turbine :)
As for currency exchange, we used the advice given on the turbine forum and went with a bank card. We used the card to pay in hotels, shops, and restaurants. Cash was withdrawn from ATMs. Very comfortably! But you can also take euros, dollars or rubles in cash and change them at exchange offices.
From Riga we ourselves went to Jurmala and Sigulda by public transport. To Jurmala - half an hour by train. To Sigulda - an hour by bus. Such trips are 15-20 times (!!) cheaper than organized excursions. True, in this case you lose the opportunity to listen to the guide, hang out in a group, wait for late tourists, etc. But as you know, everyone has their own taste.

The small and proud capital of 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 Riga balsam or taste Baltic sprats, but rather for interesting excursions and educational pastime. Riga has many museums, galleries, historical monuments and architectural monuments.

The old town is filled with interesting cultural attractions, 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 trade guilds, whose traditions date back several hundred years and remain alive to this day.

What to see in Riga?

The most beautiful places and main attractions

The historical center of the Latvian capital, where the most interesting sights are located. Deep in 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 curve of the cobbled 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 become 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. All that remains of the town hall are ruins with surviving fragments of the facade. Recovery began only in the late 90s. XX century. The new building was completed by 2003. It is an almost complete copy of the historical town hall.

New building, built in the late 90s. in a typical manner for Northern European cities. Previously, 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 design of F. Shefela. 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 towards the windows of the merchant guild, where they refused to admit Blumer. Thus, the cunning man took revenge on the guild leadership.

A 17th-century building housing 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 includes several hundred herbs, oils, berries and fruits as ingredients. It was used as a pain reliever.

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 they are 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 – the Big and the Small. In the middle of the 14th 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.

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 were 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 Swordsmen was previously located. It is located in one of the oldest quarters of Riga. Several centuries ago there was an order castle here, which was subsequently destroyed. In connection with the move of the brother monks to another place, a convention (in other words, a shelter) was opened on the territory of the complex.

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 M. Eisenstein’s designs. The Riga Art Nouveau Museum, embassies, offices, and administrative buildings are located here. Albert Street is called the “pearl of Art Nouveau”.

Part of the ancient city fortifications of Riga, which has survived to this day in fairly good condition. The tower appeared even before the conquest of the city by the Livonian Order, but the structure was destroyed in the 17th century (but was soon restored). During the reign of the Russian Empire, it was decided to destroy the entire fortification system of Riga, and leave the gunpowder tower as a memory.

Gate created at the beginning of the 18th century during the Swedish occupation of Riga. Now this building is a recognized architectural monument in Latvia and throughout Europe, as it has survived to this day almost in its original form. The Swedish garrison was stationed not far from the gate, so the passage was used mainly by the military.

A 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 ancient 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, standing out favorably against the background of lower buildings. Near the temple there is a monument to the Bremen Town Musicians.

Riga Cathedral of the 13th century, one of the largest churches in the entire Baltic region. The cathedral belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia. The building is an example of the transition from medieval Romanesque style to Northern European Gothic. Some fragments of the interior decoration are made in the Renaissance style. One of the main attractions of the temple is a grand organ 25 meters high, consisting of almost 7 thousand pipes.

Cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Latvia. Funds for its construction were allocated by 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, 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 of Riga, first mentioned in documents from the beginning of the 13th century. The building is made of brick and represents an example of the transition from the Romanesque style to the Gothic architectural style. During the Church Reformation, the cathedral experienced many pogroms and arson, as a result of which many cultural values were lost.

The most famous and eminent musical theater in the country, where leading soloists perform and world masterpieces of ballet and opera are staged. The stage opened in 1919 with R. Wagner's production of The Flying Dutchman. 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 perform with equal success.

An architectural monument of the early 20th century in the historical center of the Latvian capital. At first there was a German gymnasium here, then a commercial school, and only by the middle of the 20th century did the Latvian Academy of Arts open. The construction project was developed by V. Boxlaff. According to the architectural design, the complex should symbolize the strong connection between Riga and the Hanseatic League (a trade and political association of cities in North-Western Europe).

The museum is located on the territory of the architectural ensemble of the Dome Cathedral. This is one of the oldest exhibitions in Latvia, founded in the 18th century. Collections collected by various historical and archaeological communities of the Baltic states are exhibited here. The museum collections contain more than half a million exhibits. They are located in the halls according to theme and chronology.

Art gallery of Latvia, where the most impressive exhibition is collected, from ancient Egyptian art to the latest modern period. Paintings by representatives of German romanticism, the Belgian and Dutch schools are stored and exhibited here. It will also be interesting to look at artifacts of the Ancient World and art objects from 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 exhibition is devoted specifically to the Soviet period of Latvian history, the period 1941-1944. - German occupation. The museum's exposition puts the personalities of Stalin and Hitler on the same level, and also actually equates Nazi Germany and its destructive activities with the USSR. Because of this, some visitors evaluate the collections of the Museum of Occupation very ambiguously.

One of the best automobile museums in Europe. The basis of the exhibition is the collection of the Latvian Antique Car Club. The museum was created thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts who were passionate about restoring old cars and dreamed of a separate building where the results of their work could be housed. The first models of Moskvich, Fiat, Mercedes, BMW and many other famous 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, clothing and everyday items. All kinds of smoked meats are in particular demand among tourists: poultry, a countless assortment of fish, sausages and other delicacies.

A monument erected in honor of Latvian independence in 1935. It is a sculpture of a woman standing on a high pedestal. In her hands the woman holds three stars, symbolizing the historical regions of Latvia. At the foot of the pedestal there is a sculptural group consisting of historical characters from various periods. The monument is located on one of the central streets near 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 undergone several reconstructions - at first it was an exotic garden with unusual plants and greenhouses where rare species of palm trees were grown, then it turned into an entertainment complex and eventually became a public city park for walks and recreation.

A city park equipped with funds from the widow Anna Verman and named in her honor. At the beginning of the 19th century, this place was a swampy area, which caused a lot of concern and inconvenience to the residents of Riga. Then the authorities came up with the idea of draining the swamp and setting up a public park, and a wealthy widow donated a large sum of money for this good event.

The television and radio broadcasting tower is 368.5 meters high, the tallest structure of its kind in the entire Baltics 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. Riga TV Tower was built in the period 1979-1986.

Riga is an ideal option for a weekend trip. In a couple of days you can leisurely get around the main attractions of the city, and you won’t be bored at all. The first note, of course, will be about Vetsriga - the historical and geographical center of Riga.

There is a fairly comfortable train from Moscow to Riga. The reserved seat is quite decent, costs about 3500 one way. Arrives in Riga at 10 am and back around 5 pm. So that turns out to be almost two full days in the city.

I’ll say right away about Latvian Russophobia; I personally was pretty embarrassed by this moment before the trip. So, as, for example, in Poland, it does not apply to tourists. All residents of Riga speak Russian normally and readily. Yes, at the same station or in shops the inscriptions are exclusively in Latvian, but all the residents of Riga kindly helped with the translation. Cafes and restaurants always had menus in Russian.

And most importantly, the city itself is quite decent. I expected much less from Riga. Well, there are a couple of beautiful streets there, plus a small Old Town, which you can get around in half an hour, just like in Warsaw. But nothing like that, only in the back streets and cathedrals of Old Riga you can hang out for half a day, or even a day, and there will still be very, very much left to see. So we definitely didn’t have to be bored; the trip turned out to be quite eventful.

1. We started our walk through the old city from the Powder Tower. “The only surviving tower of the Riga fortress wall. Built in the 13th century, it was called Pesochnaya, it was the largest and until the 17th century it protected the main land entrance to the city (Sand Road). It began to be called the Powder Tower in the 17th century, when gunpowder began to be stored in it. In Soviet times, until 1957, it housed the Nakhimov Military School, and after 1957, it housed the Museum of the October Revolution. Now the Military Museum is located here.

2. Tornu (Tower) Street branches off from the Powder Tower. “The length of the street is 470 m. The longest buildings of the Old Riga are located on it: the Arsenal, 135 meters long, at the beginning of the street and the Jacob Barracks, 200 meters long, at the end.”

3. A little further we turned onto the picturesque Trokshnya (Noisy) street. Now it does not live up to its name; it is a very beautiful and quiet corner of the city. And before there were forges and supposedly the executioner’s house. “The house faced Trokshnya as a blank wall and therefore everything that was happening behind this wall remained a secret. And hence the assumption that this very wall hid the dirty work of the executioner, and since blacksmiths lived nearby (hence the name of the street “noisy”, because from the work blacksmiths made a lot of noise), then no one could hear the screams of the executioner’s victims. A little to the left of the corner, on Aldaru Street, on the facade of this house, there is a small window. According to legend, the messenger of the Riga army put a black glove in it if there was work for the executioner.”

4. Intersection of Trokshnu and Aldaru (Beer) streets. Here somewhere, according to legend, there was an executioner’s house. By the way, it is doubtful that in medieval Riga there was such a position at all. The city was small and there was not enough budget for this vacancy; according to surviving documents, the duties of the executioner were performed by a foreman from the weavers' workshop.

5. Here tourists will find another attraction, the Swedish Gate. “The Swedish gate was cut into the Riga fortress wall in 1689. Legend has it that the building where the gate is now located belonged to a wealthy Riga merchant. In order not to constantly pay taxes when importing goods into the city, he cut through this passage. These are the only ones the city gates of Riga, preserved in their original form."

6. On Saturday, lavish wedding parties gathered at every church. In the photo, the Mercedes is waiting for the newlyweds at the Cathedral of St. Jacob.

7. "The Cathedral of St. James was built around 1225, in sources it was first mentioned in 1226, when it was located outside the city wall. A brick building, characteristic of the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic period. The church tower acquired its current appearance in 1756, when in Its lower part was built with a baroque curve. A clock was placed at the base of the spire, and in the upper part, near the console, there was once an alarm bell. It was also called the bell of sinners; its sounds invited Riga residents to watch the execution of the sentence on Town Hall Square."

8. The cathedral offers a view of the “Three Brothers”. The White Brother is the oldest, dating back to 1490. Very cool place.

9. It is clear that the younger brothers brazenly drove onto the sidewalk. The real estate tax was taken not on the area, but on the number of windows. Therefore, the owners tried to lengthen the building as much as possible.

10. My Soviet stereotypes about the Baltic states were completely confirmed. In the center everything is clean and well maintained, almost European. I didn’t make it to Moskachka, so the stereotype successfully persisted until the end of the trip.

11. The main square of the Old Town is Dome Square.

12. The pretentious building of the Latvian radio on Dome Square.

13. Returning to the Europeanness of Riga. Another marker is the presence of such lights.

14. Pils (Castle) Street departs from the square, at the end of which there is the elegant Church of Our Lady of Sorrows.

15. Neo-Gothic Anglican Church of the Holy Redeemer. “As for the principles of material supply, the sandstone, the characteristic “colorful” bright red brick, and even the soil for the foundation were brought by the parishioners themselves from their native Great Britain, or rather, from all regions of the British Kingdom. This broad gesture of patriotism was intended to emphasize that the church is located on British soil forever and ever."

16. The facade of the church overlooks the Daugava embankment, where we soon got out. The embankment didn't seem like much of a party place. Apparently due to the constant piercing wind even in the summer heat.

17. “Once upon a time, in ancient times, when Riga did not yet exist, a huge man - Big Kristaps - carried people ford across the Daugava in the place where the city is now located. On the right bank of the Daugava he built himself a house. One night Kristaps woke up because he heard a child crying on the left bank, he immediately went after the baby to carry him across the river. In the middle of the river, the child became so heavy that the giant had difficulty carrying him to the right bank and put him to sleep next to him.
In the morning, when he woke up, in the place where the child lay, there was a large chest with money. Kristaps kept this money until his death, and when he died, it was used to build the city. The first houses in Riga were built where Big Kristaps' house once stood. Now on the embankment there is a glass booth with a statue of a huge man with a small child on his shoulder."

18. View from the embankment of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows and Riga Castle.

19. Castle has one name. It can be seen that it was rebuilt by all the numerous owners of Riga.

20. Three crowns - three stars. Gateways of the castle.

21. Now the castle is the residence of the President of Latvia. The Latvian uniform is very funny.

22. Opposite the castle is a modest monument to the children of Latvia deported to Siberia. In general, there are not so many politicized monuments in Riga. In Warsaw, for example, at every step there is some kind of cross or plaque in memory of the victims of communism, etc.

23. Exhibition of stone heads on Tornu Street.

24. Flora of Vecriga. We sat under these bushes on Dome Square and drank beer. Prices are almost Moscow, i.e. approximately 200 rub. for a glass of draft.

25. Cool graffiti on Dome Square.

26. A colorful street with the funny name Sarainaya (Shtyunyu).

27. Saraynaya leads to Skarnya, where there are several attractions. Because of the tourists swirling around the street, this is the epicenter of the souvenir trade, in particular amber crafts.

28. The monument to the Bremen Town Musicians, worn to a shine. Interestingly, there is exactly the same one in Bremen itself.

29. Entrance to the Convention Courtyard.

30. “Since 1202, next to this place stood the castle of the Order of the Sword. The houses and courtyards adjacent to it were named the courtyard of the convention after the name of the type of building. Citizens of Riga, trying to free themselves from the power of the Order at the end of the 13th century, destroyed the castle and the buildings adjacent to it But in 1330 the city was defeated and was forced to build a new castle on the banks of the Daugava, and the hospital courtyard of the old castle became known as the Convent of the Holy Spirit. Nowadays, the monastery of the tertiaries was built here in the center of the Old Town. , which includes a hotel, a porcelain museum, antique shops and numerous cafes. There are only two entrances to the Convention courtyard, which are locked at night."

31. The courtyard is essentially a mini city inside Old Riga. There are entire streets, cafes and even old barns with a winch for lifting loads.

32. Streets of the Convention Yard.

35. The giant spire of St. Cathedral sticks out from everywhere. Petra. We will talk about him in the second part of the walk.

36. Even a piece of the wall has been preserved.

37. All the shops and shops are pleasantly and tastefully decorated.

38. From the Convent we go out onto Kaleya Street. Once upon a time the Riga River flowed here, but then it suffered the fate of our Neglinnaya. On this street there is a striking example of the Riga art noovo architect Mandelstam (1903).

39. Even municipal parking lots, somehow with the spirit of antiquity.

40. And once again a photo of the beautiful house No. 23 on Kaleya.

42. Kaleju Street opens onto another beautiful square of the Old Town - Livov Square.

43. Small guild. "Guilds - unions of citizens and associations by occupation, began to be created in Riga in 1221. The small guild was formed in the 13th century. The first building was built in the 14th century and was rebuilt several times. The current building was built in 1864-1866 and was last restored in 2000. The interior of the building is richly decorated: the windows are decorated with stained glass with shop coats of arms, portraits of the elders of the crafts and guilds, chandeliers are hung in the rooms, wall paintings with views of the city."

44. West Riga is extremely photogenic, so I took a lot of pictures. I don’t want to compress everything into one post, so I’ll end the first part here. Next time I will continue from this very Livov Square.

The main attractions of the first part of the walk on the map:

1. Riga: Old Town beginning
2. Riga: outside the Old Town
3. Riga: Old Town ending
4. Walk around Jurmala

PS clever text in quotes is taken from Wikipedia.

Last summer, my wife and grandson traveled by car to 9 countries, not counting Russia: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland again, Belarus. 26 days, 6500 km.

It's not far from Pskov to Riga. Road across the border with Estonia. We don't drive fast. We like to stop, drink coffee, and stop in some town along the way. This time we stopped by Sigulda. I’ve known this name for a long time, I often fall for the names. Sigulda turned out to be such a big village. Quite nice, but somehow unstructured. We reached Riga in the evening.

We quickly checked into a hostel near the station and went for a walk in the old town. There was an hour and a half left before darkness. The weather was not good, it was going to rain all the time. Moreover, I was unfairly fined for illegal parking. True, I later managed to challenge the fine (all via the Internet) and by the end of the trip I received a letter that the commission recognized that I was right. In general, the mood was no better than the weather. I took pictures and thought that with such a mood nothing would work out at all. But something happened.

1. The Riga tram impressed my grandson very much.

2. Old Riga, as always, is lovely. I've been here several times under Soviet rule.

3. What is Riga without the Dome Cathedral

4. Absolutely awesome House of Blackheads. I haven’t seen it before, the house was restored in 1996-2000. The black parallelepiped on the right was built and is familiar to me as the Latvian Riflemen Museum, now it is the Museum of Occupation.

5. For some reason, the Bremen Town Musicians appeared in Riga. The monument in Bremen is somehow more organic.

5.1 As explained in the comments, Riga is Bremen’s sister city. And this is a gift from Africa to Germany.
Well, then the Bremen Town Musicians:

7. Very cute

8. It seemed that there was somehow too much tourist tinsel in the old city - these verandas, often occupying entire streets, idle crowds... Now I understand that this impression arose, perhaps, out of habit - the effect of the first old European city on the way . It will get worse :)

9. At first we had some tension, provoked by the popular opinion that Russians were treated poorly in the Baltics. Nothing like this! Didn't notice this. On the contrary, everyone answers in Russian very kindly and helps you get your bearings. Young people and not so young. This guitarist was singing, and three couples were dancing in front of the stage. Apparently it was a folk dance. The music ended and the guitarist greeted the audience in the purest Russian.

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The program was used when processing photographs

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