OLD TOWN WALK
Start your walk at the Råtslaukums (the City Council Square) and admire the splendid gothic House of Black- heads (1). Although it was completely destroyed during the WWII, now it is “reincarnated” from the ashes. Walk around it and you will bump into the St. Peter’s Church (2), one of the dominant landmarks of Riga. From St. Peter’s take Skårñu (Butcher’s) street. The building of whitewashed bricks is the oldest stone building in Riga. It is the former St. George’s Church (3) that now houses the Museum of Deco- rative Art and Design. A few buildings further up the street you will discover St. John’s Church (4). Enter the St. John’s Yard (Jåña Séta, left from the church entrance) (5). Walk through the small door and enter the small maze of the “Convent’s Yard” (Konventa Séta) (6), which is now a hotel com- plex. Now walk through to Kaléju (Black- smith’s) street, turn right, walk up the small Gleznotåju (Painters) street and turn left to Vågnera street, named
after Richard Wagner. On your right, the Wagner Concert Hall is situated. You have now reached the Liv Square) (Lîvu laukums) from where you may see the merchants’ Guilds on Amatu street founded in Riga after 1221. The restored building of the Great Guild (7) now houses a concert hall. Just opposite, is the Small Guild (8). The present building was constructed at the end of the last century in eclectic English Gothic style. Across from Lîvu laukums, you will see a building with two towers on which two cats are perched. This is the Cat’s House (9). From Amatu street turn left onto Í˚üñu street and you are on Doma laukums (Dome square), the heart of the Old Town. The massive Dome Cathedral (10) has undergone multiple “face-lifts” over the centuries. If you have time later on in the evening, it is worth attending an organ concert. After having visited the Dome square take Smilßu (Sand) street and walk up to the Pulvera (Gunpowder) Tower (11). The only tower of the old fortification system that is still standing.
Now it houses the Museum of war. Turn left to Torña (Tower) street – Jacob’s Barracks (Jékaba Kazarmas) (12) stretch along the right side. The Barracks are the longest building in Riga. Opposite is the restored fragment of the old for- tification wall (13). Now walk through the Swedish Gate (Zviedru Vårti) (14), which were “carved through” an already existing dwelling house in 1698. Walk down Aldaru (Brewer’s) street and turn right into Trokßñu (Noise) street. After you have crossed Jékaba street, you will find on your right the Saeima-building (15), the Parliament of Latvia, construct- ed in eclectic Renaissance style. Just op- posite the Saeima is the only Riga church with a ‘balcony bell’ in the cupola – St. Jacob’s Church (16). Walking further past the entrance you arrive at Mazå Pils (Small Castle) street just opposite to one of the Riga symbols—three medi- eval dwelling houses christened “Three Brothers” (17). Continue walking along Mazå Pils street, turn right at the begin- ning of it and you’ve reached the Riga Castle (18).
32
www.rigathisweek.lv/sights
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
