Old Riga
Cat House The house was named after the two black cats perched on the roof. At the turn of the century, the owner of the building was exiled from the Great Guild across the street and ordered the cats to be turned with their tails towards the Guild. The cats were eventually turned back after a long court battle, and the man was admitted back to the Guild.
Dome Cathedral The largest cathedral in the Baltics was founded by Latvia`s Teutonic conquerors in the beginning of the 13th century under the bishop Albert. This well-known historical church has become an icon of the Old Town of Riga.
In the past centuries it has been destroyed and rebuilt many times, so presently it is a composite of different architectural styles. The cathedral`s last reconstruction took place in 1776 the tower was raised to the height of 90m. The famous organ of the Dome cathedral was made in 1884, it was the biggest organ in the world comprised of 6 718 pipes!
Dominican monastery This monastery was founded at the site of the first palace of the bishop Albert, near the fortification wall. It was then passed into the possession of the Dominican Order in 1234. Instead of the monastery`s chapel, St. John`s church was built next to it at the end of the 13th century. After the Reformation, the monastery was turned into a shelter.
Great and Small Guild Both Guild houses were built over a century and a half ago. The Great Guild and the Small Guild are the "family nests" of two Riga families of tradesmen and craftsmen. The Great Guild, also known in the Middle Ages as St. Mary Guild, united merchants, jewellers and writers. The eclectic Gothic style building was constructed in the middle of the 19th century. In 1963, after a fire, it was rebuilt as a concert hall and now hosts the Philharmonics Society.
The owners of the Small Guild were an esoteric fellowship of craftsmen formed in the 13th century. In the middle of the last century they represented more than 400 professions and trades. Now the Small Guild serves cultural and entertainment needs such as artistic parties, concerts, youth disco parties.
House of Blackheads First mentioned in 1334, the building was owned by the Great Guild. In the 15th century the house was rented out to the Blackheads Merchant Guild and became their property in 1713. Blackheads was an organisation of unmarried foreign merchants, existing in several Baltic medieval towns. The beautiful Gothic building was destroyed in 1941, but it has now been rebuilt for the celebration of Riga`s 800th anniversary this summer.
Powder Tower First mentioned in 1330, used to be called the Sand tower because it defended the city from the side of the Big Sand Road. The tower received its present name in the 17th century when it was used to store gunpowder and cannonballs. The latter are still stored in the outside walls of the tower!
Riga Castle The first castle built by the Order of the Sword Brothers around 1209 and originally named Wittenstein Castle ("made of white stone"). The castle was destroyed by townsfolk in the civil war. Townspeople built a new castle for the Livonian Order at the site of the Holy Spirit hospital under the condition of dismantling part of the town's fortification wall and opening the townfrom the castle 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 the citizens destroyed this building as well, but this time they were forced to rebuild it and the reconstruction was completed by 1515. In the 16th and 17th centuries the castle was incorporated into the town's fortification system. In the 18th cent. several wings were added and the castle was used as a public building by Polish and Swedish officials, the moat surrounding the castle was filled up and the square near the castle was constructed. In the 18th century it became a residence for Russian Governor General.
Nowadays the castle is the President's residence.
Rolands' statue In the 14th century Roland's statues appeared all over Northern Germany as a symbol of justice and freedom. He was considered to be a just judge, defender of the accused and therefore his statue was placed in Town Hall Square in front of the Guilds of Hanseatic cities. His wooden statue also symbolising a brave knight served as a moving target during the tournaments, which were popular in the 15th century. As a result of "injuries" sustained during these, it had to be repaired several times and on December 11, 1896 a 6.3m high stone statue designed by Vilhelm Neumann and August Volz replaced it. Today in the centre of the square we can see its replica. It is interesting to learn that the pointed end of Rolands` sword was the point from which different distances in Riga and Latvia where counted.
St. George's Church St. George's church was founded on the spot of the Riga Castle chapel built for the Order of the Sword Brothers in 1204. After the Reformation victory in the first half of the 16th century, when most Catholic monasteries and churches had been destroyed, the "Brown Dove" and the "White Dove" – were placed in the church. Now the church houses the Museum of Decorative and Applied Art.
St. Jacob's Church St. Jacob's is one of the oldest churches in Riga, references date back to 1225. At that time it was a church for the suburban residents. After the religious Reformation in the early 16th century it became Lutheran in 1522, in 1582 it was given to the Catholic Order of Jesuits, in the 17th century it belonged to the Swedish garrison and in 1922 the church was turned over to the Catholic community. Now it is Roman-Catholic.
St. John's Church St. John's church was built in the Dominican monastery after 1234, first intended as a chapel. After expulsion of the Dominicans in the period of Reformation, the building was privately owned – it was used as a furniture workshop and later as a weapon arsenal. In 1582 it became a part of the Latvian parish. In 1587-89 the eastern part of the altar was added. In the 15th century two monks were immured here of their own free will. Only a small window in the wall to pass them food and drinks was left. The spot where the monks were walled up, and subsequently buried, can be easily seen today, marked by a cruciform barred aperture in the wall.
St. Peter's Church First mention of St. Peter's church was made in the year 1209. The church is one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in the Baltics, meant to be the main church of the town. The church tower seemed to be jinxed, it was burned down and rebuilt many times trough the centuries. It first collapsed in 1666 and the last destruction it suffered was on St. Peter's Day in 1941. In 1973 the tower was restored for the last time. From the observation platform of the tower you can enjoy a wonderful eagle's-eye view of Riga.
Swedish Gate The Swedish Gate was added to the city`s old fortification wall in 1698 to celebrate the Scandinavian occupation of Riga. At the time the city`s executioner resided in the apartment above the gate. An exceedingly romantic and considerate fellow, he placed a red rose in his window the night before a good execution, duly notifying the sick and the curious public of the pending sordid act – thoughtful, eh? A fragment of the fortification wall has been restored nearby on Tornu street.
Three Brothers The "Three Brothers" are the best examples of residential buildings of medieval Riga. The "eldest brother" (No.17) was built in the 15th century and is the oldest stone dwelling-structure in Riga.
|
