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Riga

Riga
The Historic Centre of Riga boasts the largest collection of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe. Between 1896 and 1913, the city expanded and a housing boom followed. The style which developed in Riga was influenced mainly by German, Austrian and Finnish architects. Mikhail Eisenstein is one of the most famous proponents of the style in Riga.

After the revolution of 1905 a distinctively Latvian variation of Art Nouveau developed, known as National Romanticism. Architects started to use traditional Latvian folk elements and natural building materials. Typical elements were steep roofs, heavy structures and the use of ethnographic ornamental motifs.

Riga as a city made its first mark in history in the 1201. In that year, Albert the Bishop of Bremen established his first German fortress here. With his Knights of the Sword he executed a Crusade to the Baltics. The town started to prosper as a trading station. This resulted in joining the Hanseatic League in 1282.

Year Decision Comments
1997 Inscribed Reasons for inscription



Visit July 2004

Walking around in Riga (you really have to pack good shoes here), what most surprises is the ecclectic architecture. Notably in the Old Town there is always a medieval highlight next to some Stalinist leftover. This diversity in styles adds a lively atmosphere to the town. Generally, Riga is less open-air-museum like than Talinn for example.

The main reason for inclusion is Riga's fine collection of Art Nouveau buildings. They can be found a few blocks north from the city center. There are several streets adorned with great specimens. The buildings by Mikhail Eisenstein are well restored and freshly painted.

Another feature of Riga are the 19th century wooden buildings. They are less prominent than the Art Nouveau ones, and less often renovated.

More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery

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Reviews

Elizabeth P Vilela (Brazil):
I love Riga, specialy the World Heritage Site, yours nice buildings Art Nouveau. Each detail is so special. I saw a video in the Riga Art Nouveau Museum about the buildings and their architects. I'd like to buy on DVD like that.
I wish every old building will be restored.
Date posted: May 2010
Maija Veide (USA):
Konventa Seta where I stayed during my visit is located very conveniently to most of the fascinating destinations in the city. The old cobble stone streets are negotiated by the most modern young women in heels(!) headed for their places of work. Every visitor should take back with them some form of amber for which the Baltics are known. And, of course, the magnificent art nouveau buildings could take the whole day to inspect and admire. Riga citizens seem to have a way with flowers, too. Visitors should check out the unusual floral arrangements at most flower markets and the imaginative plantings in the parks. Last, but not least, Laima chocolates!
Date posted: January 2010
Ole Ekl?f (Sweden):
Recently I spent 5 sunny days in Riga. Enjoyed a ballet and an opera performance in the National Opera. Impressed by the architectural gems I made long walks in the central parts of the city and in the "Old Town". A significant drawback is the fact that almost all museums are closed Monday and Thursday that is the same days. Another problem is the way cars are driven leaving pedestrians to trust their good luck. Street crossing in corners without traffic lights equals suicide. Even at street lights some drivers arriving late to a corner do not respect red lights.
Date posted: September 2006
Christer Sundberg (Sweden):
Riga, the heart of Latvia goes back to the early 13th century and today it is the largest town in the country and also in the Baltic’s. In difference to Tallinn in Estonia and Vilnius in Lithuania there is a quite different pulse in Riga. There is a lot to see and do in this town and as a World Heritage Site it first of all offers you a seductive Old Town with narrow alleys and a medieval atmosphere. I have visited Riga twice over the last 10 years and can conclude a gradual change from a quite confused, run-down post-Soviet state to a town slowly becoming more and more westernised, with new shopping centres popping up both in and outside the city. My hope is that it still keeps it charm in a similar way Tallinn and Vilnius have managed to do.

The Old Town, besides being littered with numerous strip-clubs (which was not there at my first visit in 1997), offers you brilliant 14th century Hansa-styled cathedral, an old Livonian castle dating back to the early 12th century and today the home of the Latvian president. Not to be missed is the famous House of the Blackheads near St.Peters Church and the river Daugava. In my personal opinion, the Old Town is at its absolute best at the former Konventa Seta, an old monastery that’s been turned into a hotel.

An absolute must for anyone visiting Riga is to walk up to the Albert and Elisabetes Street and check out the famous Art Noveaux buildings, works of famous architects like Eizenstein, Scheffel and Peksens and some of the most beautiful in its class in Europe. Another must-do in Riga is the food market, housed in old Zeppelin hangars, just behind the train station.
Date posted: September 2006
Christer Sundberg (Sweden):
Riga, the heart of Latvia goes back to the early 13th century and today it is the largest town in the country and also in the Baltic’s. In difference to Tallinn in Estonia and Vilnius in Lithuania there is a quite different pulse in Riga. There is a lot to see and do in this town and as a World Heritage Site it first of all offers you a seductive Old Town with narrow alleys and a medieval atmosphere. I have visited Riga twice over the last 10 years and can conclude a gradual change from a quite confused, run-down post-Soviet state to a town slowly becoming more and more westernised, with new shopping centres popping up both in and outside the city. My hope is that it still keeps it charm in a similar way Tallinn and Vilnius have managed to do.

The Old Town, besides being littered with numerous strip-clubs (which was not there at my first visit in 1997), offers you brilliant 14th century Hansa-styled cathedral, an old Livonian castle dating back to the early 12th century and today the home of the Latvian president. Not to be missed is the famous House of the Blackheads near St.Peters Church and the river Daugava. In my personal opinion, the Old Town is at its absolute best at the former Konventa Seta, an old monastery that’s been turned into a hotel.

An absolute must for anyone visiting Riga is to walk up to the Albert and Elisabetes Street and check out the famous Art Noveaux buildings, works of famous architects like Eizenstein, Scheffel and Peksens and some of the most beautiful in its class in Europe. Another must-do in Riga is the food market, housed in old Zeppelin hangars, just behind the train station.
Date posted: September 2006
Alija (Latvia):
I'm from Riga. I have travelled a bit in the other European countries, and I can say that Riga has so wonderful architecture, old town, art nouveau sights.. I just love to look up in the sky when I walk through the streets and watch details of houses, and everyday I see something new, every day a new experience!
 
Fanny Melian Havela (Finland):
Some sources claim that Riga was the only European capital to survive WWII destruction. While I can not confirm this, I can still say a word on behalf of this strange city.

Obscure little cafés, the ludicrous mixture of medieval beauty and Soviet monuments, chocolate bonbon stores, poverty, luxury.. What ever you find to be of contrast in the world, can be found in Riga, at least in some form.
 
Gatis (Latvia):
I am living here for 12 years now. The city is magnificent, and it is ridiculous that most tourists see just the Old City which looks rather similar to hundreds of Old Cities elsewhere in Europe. Ok it is not bad at all but you should see the boulewards, the thousands of Art Noveau and Eclectism style houses, thousands of ornate wooden houses (most unfortunately are in bad condition).
Hundreds of times I have found inspiration and joy just by looking at incredible beauty of these houses.
Come and see Riga before it is spoiled by mass tourism and modern, tasteless architecture!
 


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