Latvia:Cities:Riga:Sightseeing

The Monument of Liberty	The Big & Small Guilds	Riga Castle
Brivibas iela and Raina bulv crossing This monument takes a very special place in the history of Latvia. In the late 80's - early 90's the monument became a spiritual centre of the nation, a symbol of people's longing for independence. Riga residents gather on the square round the monument on state holidays and commemoration days. Military parades are held there. The monument was built in 1935 with the help of people's donations. The author of the project was an outstanding Latvian sculptor Karlis Zale. The image of Liberty holding three stars in stretched hands crowns the monument and symbolizes unity of the country. Karlis Zale was the author of the Cemetery of Brothers in Arms architectural ensemble which is a sacred place for Latvian people. It was build between 1924-1936 at the site of mass burials of Latvian riflemen killed in the fights in 1915. Soldiers who perished in World War I and World War II, fighters for independence were buried there. From the civilians only K.Zale and the project's architect A.Birznieks have been honoured with burial at the Cemetery of Brothers in Arms. The ensemble is formed by three main elements. The central alley with 150 lime-trees. The altar with the Eternal Fire is surrounded by 100 oak-trees. And the cemetery itself where fighters for freedom rest. The statue of Mother Latvia, 9 metres high, at the feet of which heroic sons found their eternal rest, crowns the ensemble.	5 Amatu iela 6 Amatu iela This buildings have been standing for a century and a half as two rivals: they stand still, just few steps from each other, engaged in a trial of proud askance looks of Gothic windows. The Big Guild and the Small Guild, the "family nests" of two Riga families of tradesmen and craftsmen. The Big Guild, also known in the Middle Ages as St.Mary's Guild, united merchants, jewellers and writers. The eclectic Gothic style building was built in the 50's of the XIX century. Up to 1939 it hosted private organization of Riga German community. In 1963, after fire, the building was rebuilt for concert needs and now the Big Guild hosts the Philharmonic Society. The Small Guild was built after the Big one. Its owner was a closed fellowship of craftsmen that had been formed in the XIII century and in the middle of last century united representatives of more than 400 professions. Intentionally, the Small Guild had to outdo its rivals but due to lack of money the fellowship had to give up the imposing project. Now the Small Guild also serves cultural and entertainment needs: artistic parties, concerts, youth disco parties are held there. The rivalry is going on.	3 Pils laukums The first castle built by the Sword Order named Wittenstein Castle ("made of white stone") was mentioned for the first time in 1209. It was located to the north from the bishop's castle. the castle was destoyed by townfolk in the war with the Order. Townpeople had to build a new castle for the Livonian Order at the site of the Holy Spirit hospital under condition to dismantle part of the town's fortification wall and to open the town from the castle's side. The tower of the Holy Spirit and a fragment of the fortification wall were added to the castle that was built under the supervision of master D.Kriege in 1330-1353. In 1484 townpeople destroyed this bilding as well but they were obliged to rebuild it and the construction was completed by 1515. In the end of the XVI and in the XVII the castle was joined into the town's fortification system. In the XVIII the mosat surrounding the castle was filled up and the square near the castle was constructed. In the XVII-XVIII several wings were added to the castle as it was used as a public building by polish and Swedish officials. In the XVIII it became a residence for Russian governor general. today a part of the building is going to be rebuilt for presenta tions.
The Dome Cathedral	St. Peter's Church	St.Jacob's Church
Doma laukums St.Mary's Cathedral was built as a bishop's cathedral. This wee-known historical monument became a symbol of the Old town of Riga. For the past centuries it was rebuilt many times, so its present image contains elements of different architectural styles. The basement of the new cathedral and monastery was laid by bishop Albert in 1211. The first construction period was finished by 1270. once the Dome Cathedral spire, erected in 1547, was the highest spire in the city. It was 140 metres high. After reconstruction in 1776 the tower acquired its present look and height of 90 m. Famous organ of the Dome Cathedral was made in 1884. At that time it was the biggest organ in the world, it has 6718 pipes.	19 Skarnu iela was mentioned for the first time in 1209. It has a fame of the best sample of Gothic architecture in the Baltics. It was meant to be the main church of the town. During the fight with the Order in 1297 it was used for catapult bombarding of the Wittenstein Castle. In 1408-09 Rostock architect I.Rummeschotel built the new altar part of the building. The construction continued in 1456 and by 1473 the old church was reconstructed. The tower of the church had quite a bad luck. it was rebuilt many times. For the first time it collapsed in 1966. Then it was burned down several times - the last one was right on St.Peter's Day in 1941. In 1971 the tower was restored. From the observation platform built in the tower you can enjoy a wonderful bird's-eye view of Riga. Various concerts and exhibitions are held in the church. Services start on Sundays at 10.00.	2 Klostera iela is one of the oldest churches in Riga. The first references to it date back to 1226. At that time it was a church for suburbs' residents. During ages the church changed hands many times: after the reformation it was owned by Lutherans, in 1582 it was given to the Catholic Order of Jesuits, in the XVII century it served needs of Swedish garrison and in 1922 the church was turned over Catholic community. Now it is a Catholic cathedral. Tower of St. Jacob's Church is the only one that still has Gothic spire that was earlier characteristic for all Riga churches. The steeple of St. Jacob's Church is the only one in Riga with a bell hung outside the steeple. It became the city's distinctive feature. It was named "Bell of Wretched Sinners". As legend says, the bell was taken away at requests of discontented townspeople because it had a bad habit to ring by itself when any unfaithful wife was passing it by.
St.John's Church	Powder Tower	Warehouses
24 Skarnu iela was built in the Dominican monastery ensemble after 1234, first as a chapel. After expulsion of the Dominicans in th period of reformation the building was privately owned - it was used as a stable and later as a weapon workshop. In 1582 it became a part of a Latvian parish. In 1587-89 the eastern altar part was added. As a legend goes, in the XV century two monks were walled up there at their own will. Only a small window in the wall to pass them food and drinks was left. They wished to be canonized but they didn't tolerate long and died soon. And the Pope never canonized them being sure that they had been moved only by their ambitions. The spot where the monks were walled up, and buried, can be easily seen today - it is marked by a cruciform barred aperture in the wall.	10/20 Smilshu iela For the first time it was mentioned under the name of the Sand Tower in the beginning of the XIV century as a main fortification of the Sand Road that led to the town. It started looking like it looks today in the end of XVI centuries when it was adapted for a new kind of arms - cannons. And for its new name it should be obliged not to powder cellars but to terrible smoke that surrounded the tower when all 11 cannons put in loop-holes started firing. The Powder Tower had to stand main attacks of Sweden in 1625 and it was restored only in 25 years. The war with Russia left its traces too - 9 cannon balls embedded in the walls.	Special stone buildings for storing goods. In the XVII - middle of the XVIII century there were more than 160 warehouses in Riga. Only 20 buildings have been preserved in course of time. The first warehouse at 10 Vecpilsetas street is not typical - it is decorated with anchors and crosses. It dates back to the XIX century. Two warehouses at Alksnaja street are more common for Riga. Facade of one of them is decorated with a picture of white dove - that was the name of this warehouse because at that time buildings in Riga didn't have numbers.
Dominican monastery	St.George's Church	Reitern House
Jana seta was founded at the site of the first palace of bishop Albert, near the fortification wall, after it had been given to the Dominican Order in 1234. Right at this site the first residence of bishop Albert, first mentioned in the chronicle by Indrikis of Latvia in 1207, was located. Instead of the monastery's chapel St.John's Church was built in the end of the XIII century. The monastery had a yard with cross-shaped gateway. Remains of the gate were built into the building. After the reformation the monastery was turned to a shelter.	10/20 Skarnu iela was founded on the basis of the Riga Castle chapel built for the Sword Order in 1204. After the Reformation victory in the first half of the XVI century when all Catholic monasteries and churches had been destroyed, warehouses - "brown dove", "grey dove" and "white dove" - were placed in the church. Now the church houses Museum of Decorative and Applied art.	2/4 Marstalu iela This house was the first new-style dwelling house in Riga. It was built in 1685 by a rich town hall memeber Johann Reitern. Architector of the building was Riga city building master R.Bindenschuh. Northern-baroque style building has a long wall along the street, large windows and splendid facade that was decorated by stone-cutter H.Smysel and sculptor H.Herold. In 1986-90 the building was restored by Polish company PKZ and now the building houses Latvian Journalists' House.
Reformers' Church	"Three Brothers"	"Swedish Gate"
10 Marstalu iela Building of this Calvinist church built in 1727-33 by master-mason K.Meiner is the only baroque-style church building in Old Riga. The building burned down and was built anew and reconstructed in 1805. The church has a visible feature - Morning Star at the spire.	17,19,21 M.Pils iela This ensemble is a good sample of medieval Riga dwelling buildings. The oldest house No.17 was built in the XV century, No.19 - in 1646, No.21 - in 1718. inthe inner yard you can find walled up portals of old Riga houses.	11 Torna iela was built into the city's old fortification wall in 1698 - now it is a part of the House of Architects building. Fragment of the fortification wall has been restored nearby, at Torna street.