An intriguing mix of midieval buildings and Art Nouveau/Jugendstil architecture that is unmmatched anywhere else in Europe.
Riga was a major centre of the Hanseatic League, deriving its prosperity in the 13th–15th centuries from the trade with central and eastern Europe. The urban fabric of its medieval centre reflects this prosperity, though most of the earliest buildings were destroyed by fire or war. Riga became an important economic centre in the 19th century, when the suburbs surrounding the medieval town were laid out, first with imposing wooden buildings in neoclassical style and then in Jugendstil. It is generally recognized that Riga has the finest collection of art nouveau buildings in Europe.[unesco]
After two uneventful weeks spent traveling through Sweden and Estonia, I was starting to question the wisdom of my chosen path through Europe. I set out on this trip to escape from my comfort zone, but the clean, safe and well-maintained cities of northern […] read more
WARNING! AWARE OF GOING TO RIGA! British embassy has warned them citizens through the bbc. More than 800 visitors have been victims (have been beaten up and robbed) as the official information says and this is just a part of that what the government cant hide and that what is being published which includes email addresses, phone numbers, names of the bars and nightclubs, its all commercials written by local people themselves and it is just hidden organized criminality what they have share from. And if u turn to them, its just a waste of ur time. And what I have experienced myself and my other friends, we can say easy racism and criminality is not only in this uncivilized society, it is even in government, that every smart journalist can investigate easily. And anybody who dont believe, go and find it out urself (should this country be the member of EU and therefore allowed to this citizens to come to ur country? Decision is up to u
Riga is a capital of Latvia, and also a major commercial and cultural centre.The Old Town: Originally constructed by Germans, the Old Town now attracts visitors from all over the world with its stunning architectural monuments These attractions include Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gates, Riga Castle, the Powder Tower, and more.Art Nouveau (Jugendstil): Architecture dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries is known as Art Nouveau. Although Jugendstil architecture may be seen throughout the city centre, Alberta and Elizabetes Streets display an unusually abundant variety of such buildings.The Ethnographic Open-airLatvia’s countryside looked in previous centuries. It features wooden houses (dwelling houses, windmills, barns) from all over Latvia and often hosts traditional craft fairs. Museum: The extensive, park-like grounds demonstrate howFreedom Monument: The monument was erected from money donated by Latvian citizens, and was unveiled in 1935, during the first independent Republic of Latvia. It symbolises the long-cherished dream Latvians held of freedom from the yoke of German landlords and the Russian monarchy.House of the Blackheads (Schwarzhäupterhaus): This architectural monument was first built in the 14th century, destroyed in 1941 and then rebuilt in 2001. It once hosted a brotherhood of foreign merchants. [URL]http://www.activetravellatvia.com[/URL]
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