Art Nouveau.
Riga was a major center of the Hanseatic League and prospered from its trade with central and eastern Europe in the 13th-15th centuries. The urban fabric of its medieval center reflects this prosperity, although most of its earlier buildings have been destroyed by fire and war. In the 19th century it became a very important economic center, and the suburbs of the medieval town were built, first in imposing wooden buildings in classical style and then in Jugendstil.It is generally recognized that Riga contains the finest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe. An outstanding place to begin getting a sense of Riga, especially if you've never been here before, is from atop the sky-scraping Reval Hotel Latvija at Elizabetes 55 , by looking out the tall windows of both side of the eagle's nest Skyline Bar, you can see virtually the whole of Riga. There are several good
reference points to keep your bearings straight in and around the old city, recognized that Riga contains the finest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe. An outstanding place to begin getting a sense of Riga, especially if you've never been here before, is from atop the sky-scraping Reval Hotel Latvija at Elizabetes 55 , by looking out the tall windows of both side of the eagle's nest Skyline Bar, you can see virtually the whole of Riga. There are several good reference points to keep your bearings straight in and around the old city, including: the imposing Dome Cathedral, in the middle of the old town (H-2), and the Freedom Monument. The "Historic Centre of Riga" has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which has written that it "is generally recognized that Riga has the finest collection of Art Nouveau (German Jugendstil) buildings in Europe". The Latvian National Opera in Riga hosts the Riga Opera Festival each summer. Tourists are once again hailing Riga as "the Paris of the North" for its many tourist attractions and outdoor cafés. These days Riga is a port city of fewer than one million inhabitants, more than half of them ethnic Russians. Its old town of Vecriga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a medley of fine medieval treasures, only very occasionally interrupted by a Soviet eyesore. The surrounding forests provide Riga with another of its treasures, the amber formed from ancient tree sap.
Riga is full of antique shops replete with curiosities from Latvia's turbulent past. Central Ratslaukums (Town Hall Square) reflects this unsteady past perfectly: atop the impressive redbrick and gilded façade of the House of Blacksmiths, an ancient guild, the words ‘Anno 1334-Renov 1999' hint at the building's history. The original medieval structure was damaged in the war, destroyed by the Soviets and rebuilt in time for Riga's 800th anniversary in 2001.
Next door stands a two-storey, windowless black concrete block – once dedicated to the local riflemen who fought with the Bolsheviks. It now houses the fascinating and well-presented Occupation Museum tracing both the brief Nazi occupation and over 50 years of Soviet rule.
The Dome Cathedral (Doma laukums) with its soaring spires, is the largest church in the Baltics, dating back seven centuries. St Peter's is the other must-see church in town, a survivor of raiders and fires. It dates back to 1209, and its wooden tower was once the highest in Europe. It was rebuilt in the 1970s with a lift to an observation platform; the spire offers a panoramic view of all Riga, including the dramatic sweep of the Daugava River to the Baltic Sea.
For a remnant of Soviet life, head for the Centraltirgus a gigantic Soviet-style market located south-west of the Old City and housed in German WWI Zeppelin hangars, where – Latvians say – you can buy anything that is made or grown in their country.
The main thoroughfare of Brivibas iela crosses Riga's string of parks, with cafés dotted around the surrounding streets. Gloriously preserved art nouveau treasures by Mikhail Eisenstein are found along Elizabetes and Alberta iela.
Riga is the site of a university (est. 1919), the Latvian Academy of Sciences (1946), and numerous other educational and cultural institutions.
The old section, or Hansa town, of Riga is circled by a park-lined moat and includes the ancient castle of the Livonian Knights (rebuilt at various periods), the 13th-century Lutheran cathedral (rebuilt 16th cent.), and the Parliament building (19th cent.). The famous Hanseatic Schwarzhaupter House (15th cent.) and the Church of St. Peter with a steeple 412 ft (126 m) high were largely destroyed during World War II. The old town, with its narrow, cobbled streets lined with gabled dwellings and warehouses, has retained much of its medieval character.
Riga is home to numerous institutions of higher education, including the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, Riga Stradins University (Latvian Stradinš) (formerly the Academy of Medicine of Latvia), and the Stockholm School of Economics. The Latvian Parliament, the Saeima, sits in Riga and Riga Castle is the residence of the President of Latvia.
Almost all important financial institutions are located in Riga, including the Bank of Latvia, which is Latvia's central bank. Foreign commercial trade through Riga has been on the increase in recent years and received a new impetus on May 1, 2004 when Latvia became a Member State of the European Union.
The main Riga post office is conveniently located at Stacijas laukums
1 . There are also post offices at Brivibas 19 and at Elizabetes 41/43
Citizens of the Nordic countries, the other two Baltic states, most EU nations (including the UK), the United States and Japan don't need a visa to visit Latvia. consult your local Latvian embassy or see visa explanations at the government websites.
|
