Riga, the capital of Latvia, is not only the crown jewel of Latvia, but also of the Baltics.
Riga’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Riga has more than 600 000 inhabitants, making it the largest city in the Baltic States.
Riga is also known as an architectural jewel – a city where you can see churches from the city’s origins, medieval buildings in the Old Town, unique examples of Art Nouveau, as well as wooden architecture that has survived the centuries and modern architectural jewels.
The Old Town
Riga has a beautiful and varied architecture. From Romanesque to Gothic and Baroque,The Old Town has a remarkable number of architectural monuments. A walk through the streets of the Old Town will be an exciting experience for anyone visiting Riga.
Riga architecture
Old Town Riga, with its narrow cobblestone streets, not only features gorgeous Medieval-era buildings but unique sacral structures as well.
Craftsmen and artist houses
Buildings in the growing city were constructed by guilds of craftsmen and artists. Old Town is a striking example of how cities were built back in the day.
The buildings in Old Town are varied and constructed during different periods of history. It features over 500 buildings built in various architectural styles – Romanticism, Gothic, Mannerism, Baroque, Eclectic, Modernism, etc.
Visit the Dannenstern building featuring an exhibition on how prosperous Riga residents once lived, the trio of historical buildings known by locals as the Three Brothers, as well as Riga Castle, the Powder Tower, and many other architecturally and historically important edifices.
Cultural landmark
- In 1967 Old Town was recognized as a national protected zone,
- Since 1987 is a town planning landmark,
- Since 1997, the historical center of Riga has been included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
- In 2007, thanks to Old Town’s panorama and silhouette, Riga was granted the European Heritage Label
- Most buildings in Old Town have the status of cultural heritage landmarks