Riga is a city that has carried its European image through the centuries. Entertainment and recreation. The legend of the origin of Riga

A wonderful and beautiful city. Riga is the most Big City among all Baltic countries. In addition, if we talk about the number of inhabitants in the region, the total Baltic Sea, this city is in third place. The population of Riga is 703,581 inhabitants. Geographically, the city is located on two banks of the Daugava or Zapadnaya Dvina river, not far from the area where it flows into the Gulf of Riga.

Riga is not just a beautiful city, its monuments are recognized by the world community. The historic center is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2014 the city will be included in the register of cultural capitals of Europe.

The origin of the word itself is not exactly known, several versions are put forward. One of them is that Riga is a Livonian word that means "populated place". According to another version, it came from the name of one of the sections of the outflow of the Dvina called Spekupe. He goes around the hill. This outflow was called Riga or Ridzina, Ridzene. The flood that formed was called the Riga Lake. There is also a third version, according to which Cuba (now the center of Riga) was located on the hill, where the settlement of the Wends lived - the Baltic Slavs. This hill, in turn, was located on Rigen or Rugen.

Eat beautiful legend about the origin of the city. In ancient times, a man named Big Kristaps built himself a house on the right bank of the Daugava. One night, on the other side, he heard the cry of a child. Big Kristaps carried him to him, and in the morning the child turned into a chest with money. After the death of the man, this money went to the construction of the city of Riga. And where his house was located, the first houses of the inhabitants of the capital of Latvia were built.

Despite the fact that this is a legend, today there is a glass booth on the embankment, where there is a statue of a huge man with a small child on his shoulder.

There are many monuments of architecture, history and culture in Riga. Also here are world-famous universities, museums, theaters. The infrastructure of the city is quite developed.

Riga is officially divided into six administrative regions, which includes:

Central (area - three square kilometers, 27 thousand people);

Kurzeme (80 square kilometers, 130 thousand people);

Ziemelsky (Northern) (77 square kilometers, 80 thousand people);

Latgale suburb (50 square kilometers, 200 thousand people);

Vidzeme suburb (57 square kilometers, 170 thousand people);

Zemgale suburb (40 square kilometers, 100 thousand people).

In Riga, it is represented in a fairly wide segment from residential to commercial. Thus, the most typical price for the purchase of residential premises is the price from 1,300 to 1,500 euros/m2. As for office space, there is currently an increased interest in quality and small offices.

We also note that there is a city in Latvia (the largest resort city in Latvia and the Baltic countries), in which the international competition of young talents of the same name is held. It is famous for the fact that it is visited by mega-stars of domestic and foreign show business - Alla, Ksenia Sobchak, and of course, creative evenings of Alexander Zatsepin, Raymond Pauls, and many other pop stars are held in Jurmala.

Riga (in Latvian: Rigas Fondu birza) is a stock exchange (another name is NASDAQ OMX Riga), which is located in Riga. The exchange is managed by the Swedish-Finnish company OMX. The company also manages and owns the Helsinki Stock Exchange and the Stockholm Stock Exchange. The exchange trades gold and other commodities. Also, stocks of over 3,500 companies from all over the world and major world currencies (Russian ruble, dollar, Kazakh, Chinese, Ukrainian, Japanese yen) are listed on the stock exchange. Various investment companies operate in NASDAQ OMX Riga. Various brokers and investment companies also operate on the exchange.

In Riga there are embassies such as:,

The capital and largest city of Latvia, Riga (Riga) stretches along both banks of the Daugava (Western Dvina) near its confluence with the Gulf of Riga.

The city was founded in 1201 by German knights, who built a fortress at the confluence of the Daugava, Gauja and the river Riege (Riege, now it is covered) that once flowed here, which later became the stronghold of the Livonian Order. It is interesting that the very fact of foundation is explained not by some particularly favorable conditions of this place, but by a special papal bull that established the mouth of Riga as the main trading point of Zemgale, and then of Livonia. A similar bull, which gave indulgences to all settlers from German lands, led to an explosive flow of colonists, and literally in a century the city grew many times over. In 1252, the residence of the bishop moved here, in 1282 the city entered the Hanseatic League, and since then Riga has become one of the largest trading ports in the Baltic. After a long series of military conflicts between the order, the episcopate and surrounding states, in 1621 the city became part of Sweden and is considered its most important stronghold in the east, but after the Great Northern War in 1721 it became part of the Russian Empire. Such a long and rich history has turned Riga into one of the richest historical and cultural centers The Baltics, a real monument of architecture in the open air, a center of folk music and a venue for hundreds of fairs and festivals. The city is rightfully included in the list of the most beautiful capitals of Europe, in 1997 its historical center was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, and in 2014 Riga bears the status of the cultural capital of the continent.

Attractions

The main attraction of Riga is considered to be a small area surrounded by the boulevard ring and the Pilsetas kanals canal Old Riga(Vecriga, "Old Riga"), lying on the right bank of the Daugava below the island of Zakusala. It was here that the formation of the city as a major trading and political center region, so the largest concentration of old buildings is observed around the picturesque Town Hall Square (Ratslaukums). The main reference point here is, as you might guess, town hall(Rigas ratsnams), built according to the project of an engineer-lieutenant colonel Russian army Ivan Fridrikhovich Ettinger in 1765, destroyed, like the entire ensemble of the square, by the advancing Nazis in 1941 and rebuilt in a slightly modified form only in 1991. Currently, the Riga City Council, the City Hall and part of the city services are located here.

Most of the most interesting city monuments are concentrated around: in the southern part - (Melngalvju nams, XIV century, also restored in 1999, now there is a museum and an office of the city tourist center), opposite - a statue of the city's patron Saint Roland, (XVII century) with Museum of Riga life of the XVII-XVIII centuries, magnificent (Rigas Doms, XIV-XV centuries) with one of the largest organs in the world (1884). And three blocks south is St. Peter's Church(Sv. Petera baznica, XII-XIII centuries) with a characteristic bell tower 123 meters high. An almost mystical story is connected with the latter - it was repeatedly rebuilt and was the highest wooden spire in Europe (more than 120 m), in 1721 it burned down from a lightning strike - and none other than the Russian Emperor Peter I helped to extinguish the fire. In 1741, according to his By the same decree, the spire was completely restored - along with the cockerel-weather vane characteristic of this trading city on the top, but on June 29, 1941 - and this is St. So the cathedral got its name for a reason. Well, today the exhibition hall, observation platforms of the temple and its interior decoration attract thousands of tourists. A funny one is installed next to the cathedral - a gift from Bremen, the sister city of Riga.

A block to the east is St. John's Church(Rigas Sveta Jana Evangeliski luteriska baznica), built on the foundation of more ancient temple at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. The complex is famous for its beautiful stained-glass windows and the baroque altar inside, as well as the most beautiful profiled pediment and sculptural compositions of John the Baptist in the dungeon and Salome on the facade. A little to the north you can find the former courtyard of the old sword-bearers castle, now completely destroyed - Convention courtyard(Konventa seta, XIII century) with the hotel of the same name, numerous antique and souvenir shops, cafes and Porcelain Museum.

To the west, almost on the banks of the Daugava, a complex rises Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation(Rigas vestures un kugniecibas muzejs) with the palace of Peter I behind it (Palasta iela, 9), and to the north - the Romanesque-Gothic cathedral Cathedral of Saint James(Sveta Jekaba Romas katolu katedrale, 1226-1756), the oldest residential complex of the city - an ensemble of buildings "" (Tris brali, XV-XVII centuries) with a house located in one of them Museum of Architecture of Latvia(Maza pils, 19), famous Riga castle(Rigas pils, 1330), which now houses the residence of the President of Latvia, as well as collections of museums of foreign art, history of Latvia, literature, theater and music. South, near stone bridge(Akmens tilts), the complex of the Riga Technical University is spread out, and to the north, behind the Cathedral of St. former House Livland knighthood (1867-1922).

If you turn left from Maza pils, then your eyes will see a small Church of Our Lady of Sorrows(1764) - the first Catholic church in the city, built already under Russian rule. And at the beginning of the narrow street Anghkanu, going to the Daugava embankment south of the Riga Castle complex, there is an Anglican Church of the Holy Savior(The Factory Church of St. Savior), built in 1857-1859 by architect I. D. Felsko on the site of the former Pavlovsky fortress bastion.

To the famous historical monuments center also include the building Riga stock exchange(1852) with good museum arts inside, renowned for their rich building interiors Malaya(Maza Gilde) and Big Guild(Liela Gilde, both - XIX century) with luxurious painting, colorful "" (Kaku nams, 1909) with characteristic figures of two cats on the spiers of the towers and nearby Museum of Nature, the only surviving bastion of the old city wall - ("Powder Tower", XIII century) - is now located here Military Museum(Kara muzejs), as well as the only surviving medieval gates of the city - ("Swedish Gate", 1689). After a series of reconstructions adjacent to the gate architectural complex hosted the Union of Latvian Architects, a library and an art studio. And the northeastern bypass forms the longest building in the Old City - Yakovlevsky barracks(Jekaba kazarmas), built by decree of Peter I at the end of the 18th century in the style of Dutch classicism. After a large-scale reconstruction at the end of the 20th century, the American Chamber of Commerce, representative offices of Latvian cities, as well as many commercial and cultural institutions were located here.

It is also worth visiting the complex located within Old Riga Latvian National Opera(Latvijas Nacionala opera, 1860-1863) on the banks of Pilsetas kanals, colorful Yanov yard(Janu seta) with a fragment of the old fortress wall, the narrowest street of the Old Town - Rosen(Rozena iela, southeast of the Dome Cathedral) with ancient wine warehouses (now the "medieval" restaurant Rozengrals is located here), a picturesque park on Bastion Hill(Bastejkalns, one of the 14 towers of the fortress gates of the city once stood here, hence the name), The executioner's house next to swedish gate, a wonderful example of Riga baroque - Dannenstern's house(Dannensterna nams, 1694-1696) on the street Marstalu street in the southern part of the historical center, a symbol of the city's connection with the river and navigation - a wooden sculpture of a man with a child on his shoulder and a pole in his hand (he is called Big Kristaps, or Big Christopher) in a small pavilion on the embankment, Church of St. George(Sv. Jura Baznica, 1204 - the oldest building in the city) - now located here Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, as well as a number of medieval buildings on Troksnu Street, which runs parallel to the Yakovlevsky barracks.

The historical center can conditionally be attributed to unique complex Riga Central Market(Rigas Centraltirgus, 1924-1930), lying in the so-called Moscow suburb (Maskavas forstate) a little to the south, behind the Pilsetas kanals canal and railway tracks. This is one of the oldest and largest shopping malls in the Northern Hemisphere, which also has a rather unusual design and history. It was built using five hangars for balloons left over from the Kaiser's "Iron Division", deployed during the First World War in the town of Vainode in the southwest of the country. Unusual architecture and scale ( total area 5.7 ha covered market- 1.6 hectares!) The complex still has nothing like it in Europe, and therefore attracts thousands of tourists, which is greatly facilitated by the abundance of trading organizations and good infrastructure. A little to the south is the house of the Academy of Sciences of Latvia (1952-1958), whose characteristic appearance, copying the architecture of "Stalin's skyscrapers", stands out quite sharply from the surrounding urban landscape.

Between the old and the new city rises built on public donations freedom monument(Brivibas Piemineklis 1931-1935) with a nine-meter female statue on a 19-meter pedestal (the most tall building of this kind in Europe) and bas-reliefs on the sides. A little to the northeast, in a small picturesque square, rise the Orthodox (Rigas Kristus Piedzimsanas pareizticigo katedrale, 1884) in the neo-Byzantine style and the complex Latvian National Library(Gaismas pils, "Castle of Light", 2008-2013), which has a reputation as the most expensive and unusual building of its kind in the world. And a little to the south-west you can find a favorite place for rendezvous of the townspeople - the original pole clock "Layma"(Laimas pulkstenis, 1924), which are considered the most accurate in the city, as well as columnar kiosk in neoclassical style (1924).

To the north, colorful quarters begin, built up already in the 19th-20th centuries. First of all, it is worth seeing a real gem of Art Nouveau here - numerous houses on Elizabetes iela and Alberta iela streets with sculptures and bas-reliefs decorating them, the building National Opera(Latvijas Nacionala opera, 1860-1863) on Aspazijas bulvaris, the picturesque street Kalku iela, crossing the eastern part of the Old Town to the canal itself, as well as a complex of small parks and promenades, broken on the site of the fortress walls, stretching along the entire coast of Pilsetas kanals.

And on the opposite bank of the Daugava, the main reference point will be Riga TV tower(Rigas radio un televizijas tornis, 1979-1986) - the most high building Baltics (368.5 m), the third highest in Europe and 44th in the world.

Museums in Riga

The city has many interesting museums, among which the most popular are Military Museum(Latvijas Kara muzejs) in the building of the Powder Tower, Architectural Museum in the "Three Brothers" building, Museum of Foreign Art(Arzemju makslas muzejs), Latvian National Museum art(Latvijas Nacionalais makslas muzejs, www.lnmm.lv), (Riga Art Nouveau Museum) in the former apartment of the famous artist and engineer Konstantin Pekšens, History Museum of Latvia plus Museum of Literature, Theater and Music in the Riga Castle, one of the oldest collections of its kind in Europe - Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation(Rigas vestures un kugniecibas muzejs, founded in the 18th century), rather controversial Occupation Museum(Latvijas Okupacijas Muzeja, it is interesting that it is located in the former building of the American Embassy), a private collection of an unusual Sun Museum(Saules muzejs) in the southeastern part of the Old Town, Museum of Culture "Dauderi", Museum of Nature And Sports Museum.

Also noteworthy is the only one in the Baltic countries Porcelain Museum, photography museum, State art Gallery Latvia, Theater Museum, synagogue and Latvian Jewish Museum(Muzejs Ebreji Latvija) in the suburb of Maskavas (a ghetto was located here during the Nazi occupation), Riga Automobile Museum(Rigas Motormuzejs, " Motor Museum", more than two hundred different vehicles, 17 thousand related exhibits and a unique library), Railway Museum, The Wax Museum And Riga Film Museum.

On the opposite bank, next to the TV tower, the well-deserved attention is Riga Aviation Museum named after Zander(Rigas aviacijas tehnikas muzejs, ru.airmuseum.lv, 1997) - one of the largest in Europe. It is known for the largest collection of Soviet aircraft outside the CIS (more than 40 aircraft), as well as an extensive collection of related equipment, cockpits and weapons.

And you should definitely visit one of the largest complexes of this kind in Europe - an open Latvian Ethnographic Museum(Latvijas Etnografiskais Brivdabas Muzejs, 1924-1932, an area of ​​90 hectares!) on the shores of Lake Juglas (Juglas ezers) with a collection of buildings from all over the country - from wooden churches to windmills of the 16th-19th centuries.

Theaters and concert halls

Fans of theatrical art will also find a lot of interesting things for themselves - there are Latvian National Opera(Latvijas Nacionala Opera, founded in 1918, www.opera.lv), Latvian National Theater(Nacionalais Teatris, founded in 1919, one of the largest in the country), Russian Drama Theater(Krievu Dramas Teatris) - the oldest professional group in Latvia (opened in 1883), Dale Theater(www.dailesteatris.lv, 1920, mainly productions of contemporary plays by foreign authors), Latvian State Puppet Theater(founded in 1944), New Riga Theater(Jaunais Rigas Teatris, 1992, mostly by contemporary artists) and so on.

Located in the heart of the Old City Hall of the Great Guild(Liela Gilde; Amatu, 6) you can regularly see performances of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, and in Dome Cathedral And house of the Blackheads listen to regular performances by classical musicians from all over the world. Also, the capital is the main stage of the famous Riga Opera and Ballet Theater - once the third most famous in the USSR (now it is part of the National Opera troupe).

Gardens and parks

The abundance of parks and green areas is very "refreshing" the urban landscape of the capital of Latvia. The oldest is considered Vermanes Park(Big Vermansky, Vermanes darzs), founded in 1813 on the site of a swampy area of ​​​​the floodplain. Now on its vast (5 hectares) territory, which lies slightly to the east of the Latvian University complex, you can see several interesting monuments and stele, the already famous stage, which hosts many musical performances and ... chess battles, as well as a well-organized landscape area, within which about 80 tree species grow.

Lying north of the Old City viestura garden(Viesturdarzs, 7.6 hectares) is the first public complex of this kind in Riga, founded in 1721 by Peter I under the name of the First Tsar's Park (Petrovsky Park). Now here, in addition to a beautiful green area (15 native species trees and 57 imported ones), you can see those installed in honor of Russia's victory over Napoleon Alexander Gate(1815-1817), Song Festival Memorial Ensemble and a memorial sign in place of the elm planted by Peter.

A little to the south along the banks of the Riga City Canal (Rigas kanals, Pilsetas kanals) Kronvalda park(Kronvalda parks, 13 hectares), the author of the project is the famous German master of landscape art Georg Friedrich Kufaldt. Founded in 1883 as a private territory of the German Rifle Society, now it serves as a place for mass festivities, where among beautiful flower beds and groves (about 130 plant species) you can also find decorative lighthouse, fountain at Congress houses, pavilion of Kergalvis, as well as many sculptural compositions. And to the south, a whole series of green spaces begins, marking the contour of the fortress wall that once ran here. It stretches for almost 3 km through the square of the Freedom Monument, past the Riga market to the Daugava itself and is most often simply called Kanalmalas apstadijumi (approximate translation - "Planting at the city canal" or simply "Green along the canal").

Tiny Koyusalas park(Kojusalas) is sandwiched between Kojusalas iela, Gredu iela and Fridrika iela streets in the very south of the former Moscow suburb. Founded in the first half of the 18th century, for a long time it was a favorite vacation spot for citizens, then it changed its appearance several times and is now known for its old linden alleys and decorative hedges made of cotoneaster and alpine currant. And literally a couple of blocks to the north begins a slightly larger Moscow park(Maskavas darzs, 6.2 ha), founded in 1937 - now there is a children's playground, a sports arena and a pleasant green area. The park is also popular. Esplanade(8.7 ha) with monuments to Barclay de Tolly and Oskars Kalpaks (the first commander of the national units of the Latvian Armed Forces), Victory Park(36.7 ha) with the monument of the same name and park Dzeguzhkalns(Dzeguzkalns, 6.4 ha), crowning the ancient dune of the same name on the left bank of the Daugava - in fact, this is the most high point city ​​(28 meters above sea level).

Things to Do in Riga

In the northeast of the city, on the coast lakes Kisezers, located Riga Zoo(Rigas zoodarzs, rigazoo.lv), opened in 1912. Here, on an area of ​​​​about 0.2 square meters. km (plus branch Ciruli almost 500 species of animals and birds live on the 154th kilometer of the Riga-Liepaja highway with an area of ​​137 hectares), there are special pavilions for birds, insects, enclosures for tigers, giraffes, polar inhabitants, takins and pandas, a special complex for seals and waterfowl, as well as the House of the Tropics (about 80 species of amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates and nocturnal mammals). You can get here from the center of Riga in just 20 minutes by trams No. 11 and 9, as well as bus No. 49. And practically in the center of the city there is a small indoor water park. Aqualande(www.akvalande.lv) with two large slides, several saunas, swimming pools, jacuzzis, playgrounds and cafes.

Every year, the city hosts many interesting cultural events, including the famous Riga Opera Festival(www.opera.lv/en/festival), Riga Salsa Festival(www.rigasalsafestival.com), Autumn days of chamber music(www.kamermuzika.lv), international music festival Porta(www.festivalporta.lv), classical music festival winterfest(www.hbf.lv), international film festival " Arsenal" (September), International Organ Music Festival in the Dome Cathedral (July) and others.

There are many modern sports facilities in and around the city, among which the multifunctional complex " Arena Riga"(Arena Riga, 2006), and in May-June, the capital traditionally hosts participants in the annual Riga Marathon.

Night life

In recent years, Riga has acquired a rather dubious reputation as one of the "drinking centers of Europe." The old town offers an innumerable number of nightclubs, bars and restaurants, usually filled seven days (or rather nights) a week. Prices vary quite widely depending on the location of the establishment and the policy of the owner, so when planning a trip, it is best to study all the nuances through the city tourist office or the Internet. However, excellent Latvian cuisine, incorporating many elements from the most diverse cultures of the region, allows you to spend an evening without much emphasis on alcohol.

Shopping in Riga

Riga is not the cheapest of the capitals of the Baltic countries, especially for imported goods. However, most handicrafts, souvenirs, clothes and shoes of local craftsmen, as well as culinary products will surely find their buyers.

The main shopping area of ​​the capital is located within the Old Town and around it - most of the boutiques and supermarket chains are concentrated here. The most popular in this regard is Audeju street with many shops of various kinds, the oldest one is also located here. shopping mall Riga - Galerija Centers(Audeju iela, 15/16). Grocery supermarkets Rimi, Prisma or Maxima there is in almost every major department store (it is typical that they usually open an hour earlier on average and close an hour later than the mall itself). Also popular Spice And spice home(Lielirbes, 29) on the way to Jurmala, Domina(Ieriku iela, 3), Mols(Krasta iela, 46) next to entertainment complex"Lido", as well as small shopping centers Olimpia(Azenes, 5), Riga Plaza on the left bank of the Daugava (Mukusalas iela, 71) and Galerija Azur(Rencenu iela, 1) in the southern part of the city. And the largest shopping complex of the capital - Alpha- located outside the Old Town, next to the "Motor Museum" (Brivibas gatve, 372).

Fans of antiques and handicrafts can be advised specialized stores like Antiqua(Kr Valdemara, 20), Tango(Dzirnavu, 66) or Volmar(Brivibas, 39). The best place to buy amber products is Valnu iela, where many specialized shops selling "sun stone" are concentrated.

Another exceptionally local souvenir - the famous Riga Black Balsam (Rigas Melnais balzams) created in the middle of the 18th century by pharmacist Abraham Kunze from 24 herbs and oils, is sold in almost all licensed stores. However, when buying it, you should be wary of fakes - a characteristic ceramic bottle is not yet a complete proof of its authenticity (you should ask for a certificate).

The main market of the city - Central(Negu iela, 7), open daily from 7:00 to 18:00 (its different sections may have slightly different opening hours). Located in old hangars to the south of the city center, it is still far from the gloss of European establishments familiar to many, but there is an opportunity to bargain, and the choice of goods is very large. There is also a modern shopping center here. Origo with inexpensive clothing, footwear, perfumery, cosmetics and electronics stores, as well as several restaurants and cafes, a grocery supermarket, a bookstore (there are publications in Russian). Nearby - halfway to the bus station - there is also a shopping center of the Finnish network Stockmann.

Most retail outlets are open from 9:00 to 17:00 without a break for lunch, on weekends - a little shorter, most supermarkets are open until 22:00.

Tourist Information

The main city tourist office LIVE Riga (www.liveriga.com) is located at Ratslaukums 6. It is open daily from 10:00 to 19:00, telephone 67-181-091. Here you can get comprehensive information about the capital and its environs, open exhibitions and festive events, restaurants and transport schedules.

A great help when visiting the city will be a special Riga Card(www.rigacard.lv), which provides guests with the opportunity to freely use the bus, trolleybus and tram system, a free train ride to Vecaki (Vecaki, a northeastern suburb on the Baltic Sea) and Jurmala, free or discounted admission to most museums, as well as discounts in a number of shops, cafes, restaurants and car rentals. The card is issued in three versions - for 24, 48 and 72 hours. In addition to the tourist office, it can be purchased at the airport, in some hotels and stalls with a green RC logo.

Surroundings of Riga

Just 22 km west of Riga lies the first-class seaside resort (Jurmala), which is the largest in the country. Here, in addition to a three-kilometer beach made of the purest quartz sand, numerous health resorts and rest houses, you can see residence of the President of the Republic of Latvia, dacha-museum of the couple Jan and Aspazija Rainis, Brezhnev's dacha(now a museum here), the famous concert hall " Dzintari", Babite lake and of course the suburbs Ķemeri(Kemeri), which forms the western part of the town. This climatic and balneo-mud resort was founded in 1838 around mineral water springs (there are about 30 of them, each with its own unique physical and chemical composition) on the territory estates of the forester A. Kemer from where it got its name. Now to medicinal waters added peat mud from nearby Sloka lakes(it is itself known as a great place for bird watching) and sapropelic mud from Lake Kaniera(7 km northwest), which only expands the possibilities of the resort area (however, many sanatoriums are in a rather deplorable state). But opened in 1997 national parkĶemeri provides an opportunity to get acquainted with the ancient ecosystem of coastal dunes, forests and raised peat bogs, which are a haven for thousands and thousands of birds and aquatic animals. It is characteristic that there are many well-groomed walking and cycling paths, there are boat rental stations on the lakes of Kaniera and Valguma, and if you have a license in the lakes, you can go fishing perfectly.

28 km southeast of the center of Riga is located small town Baldone(Baldone), known as a first-class balneological resort since the 15th century. Its low-hydrogen sulfide mineral water and peat mud help with a whole range of diseases, and the picturesque park allows you to relax between treatments.

A small town lying on the Memel River Bauska(Bauska, www.bauska.lv, 65 km south of Riga) is one of the oldest in the country - it was founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1443 as a stronghold on the southern border of the Order. Nowadays, its main decoration is Bauska Castle(1443-1451, now there are several museum expositions), Museum of Local History and Art, as well as Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit(XVI century).

And just 10 km west of Bauska, near the village of Pilsrundale (Pilsrundale, on Russian maps - Mazrundale), is one of the most famous monuments Latvia - Mezotne Palace, or rundale(Ruental), - the country residence of the Dukes of Courland, built according to the project of F. B. Rastrelli for E. I. Biron in 1736-1768. In addition to the complex itself, which is a vivid example of the Baroque style and replete with ceremonial halls and galleries, here you can see a French garden surrounded on all sides by a canal (an area of ​​10 hectares) and a hunting park (34 hectares). Now the actively restored complex has the status of a museum and is used to receive official foreign delegations.

18 km southeast of Riga is one of the oldest in the country settlements- town Salaspils(Salaspils, www.salaspils.lv) - location of the infamous concentration camp. Between 1941 and 1944, more than 100,000 people were tortured here, including 55,000 Riga Jews and 47,000 Soviet prisoners of war. Today, the camp is preserved as a reminder of those terrible days and serves as a museum, on the territory of which memorial Complex memory of the victims of fascism (1967). You can get to it by commuter trains, intercity buses or by car. The complex is open around the clock, admission is free.

Riga. Capital of Latvia. The largest city in the Baltic States.

What is worth seeing in Riga if you come here for 1 day? Of course, the Old Town, in 1997 included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. That's where we headed.

Unfortunately, the weather was not kind. Grey sky. Drizzling rain, sometimes turning into a downpour. All this did not allow us to properly inspect the city and take vivid photographs, but we managed to get the first impression of the city.

In the very center of the city is the so-called "House of the Blackheads". This is a modern reconstruction historical building trade guild "Blackheads"

The house of the Chernovs was built in 1334. Killed during World War II and restored in 1999.

The name of the Blackheads Guild was given in honor of the symbol of the patron saint of the corporation of foreign merchants, St. Mauritius. The black head was featured on the guild crest.

The House of the Blackheads can be viewed for quite some time. It is adorned with a number of statues. On the facade are statues of Neptune, Mercury, Unity and Peace.

There are other sculptures on the building.

In front of the house of the Blackheads, a restored statue of Roland, with a drawn sword of justice, a symbol of the freedom of a medieval city.

Opposite the House of the Blackheads Riga City Hall

The town hall building was rebuilt at the beginning of the 21st century and now it is the seat of the Riga City Council. And the statue on the roof seems to be the goddess of justice Themis.

Behind the house of the Blackheads is the high spire of St. Peter's Church.

The spire of St. Peter's Church is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Riga. Its height is 123.5 meters.

The existence of St. Peter's Church is mentioned as early as 1209. The church was built with public money.

The church has been rebuilt and rebuilt several times throughout its existence. So the spire appeared in 1690.

During World War II, the church was destroyed. The decision to restore the church was made in 1966, and in 1973 a new spire was erected, which is a copy of the destroyed one. Restoration continued until 1983. Traces of destruction and restoration are visible on the facade.

Above the entrances to the church there are sculptures in the European tradition.

The Church of St. Peter is now transferred to the Lutheran Church of Latvia and is active.

In Soviet times, there was an exhibition hall here. Now, to the left of the entrance, there are several artifacts left over from buildings destroyed during the war, as well as old photographs of them, which helped in the restoration of the already mentioned house of the blackheads.

And on the spire of the church there are two observation platforms. And not for nothing. After all, this is the highest point of the old city.

A golden cockerel is mounted on the spire. A similar one is installed at the foot of the church.

Cockerels on the towers served as weathercocks. And they were painted with gold only on one side. If merchants from the sea saw a cockerel turned to its golden side, they understood that the wind allowed them to enter the port. And the turned dark cockerel spoke about the opposite.

Near the church of St. Peter is the church of St. John, built in the 13th century.

Of course, during its existence, the church was also completed more than once, updated and restored.

Now St. John's Church is an active Lutheran church. It did not close even in Soviet times.

By the way, there is also a golden cockerel on the roof of the church.

It is worth mentioning one more monument located in this area of ​​the old town - the monument to the Latvian Red Riflemen

Behind them is the wretched building of the museum of the Latvian Red Riflemen, which has now changed its name and exposition and turned into a museum of occupation. There is some evil symbolism in all this...

There is a monument in Riga to another revolutionaries - the fighters of the 1905 revolution, opened in 1960.

But back to more ancient sights.

The streets of the old city are narrow and paved with large paving stones.

Walking on it is not always convenient, but it maintains the atmosphere of antiquity

In the back streets you can find such stone beauty.

The streets are so narrow that it is almost impossible to take a full-length photo of the house you like...

because the focus is on the details

however, sometimes there are small squares and then you can see the buildings in all their glory.

This is a powder tower - part of the remaining city fortifications. The first mention of this tower was in 1330. This is the only fortification tower that was not demolished in 1856 during the reconstruction of Riga.

Nearby is a house with black cats. Built in 1910, it is one of the most famous symbols of Riga.

He got his name because of the black cats sitting on the roof.

In 1935, the Freedom Monument was erected on the site of the monument to Peter I. Surprisingly, in Soviet times it was not dismantled and now this 42-meter monument adorns the center of Riga.

In the evening, the streets of Riga's old town are even prettier.

Naturally, in Riga there is not only the old city, but also quite modern buildings.

Hockey fans know Riga from Arena-Riga. The local Dynamo plays in this ice palace, and the Moscow Spartak comes here a couple of times a year. The hall is full.

By the way, it was in Riga that the 2012 KHL All-Star Game was held.

As a reminder of Moscow, the building of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, built in the 1950s in the style of Stalin's skyscrapers, serves as a reminder.

In the end - one of the artifacts seen on one of the doors in the city center.

And, of course, the traditional cat. True white.

2012. Photo: Artyom Mochalov, Natalya Nagorskaya, Evgeny Turkulets

Actual:

The capital of Latvia, Riga, is the pearl not only of Latvia, but of the entire Baltic. Riga is included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. It is located in the middle part of the country, on the southern coast of the Riga sea ​​bay, at the mouth of our largest river Daugava. More than 700 thousand inhabitants live in Riga, which makes it the largest city in the Baltic States.

Since Riga was created at the crossroads of trade routes, our metropolis has become a multicultural city, where you can always find a lot of interesting things for yourself.

Riga is a great tourist destination where you can go for a weekend to get new experiences and relax.

Each century leaves its traces in its features. This can be seen in architecture – in Old Town and in the city centre. Cultural heritage harmoniously coexists with the modern rapid pace.

Riga is called the pearl of architecture – a city where you can see churches built at the time of the city’s birth, medieval buildings in the old town, unique examples of Art Nouveau, as well as wooden architecture that has survived centuries in one place.

Reasons to visit Riga:

• Cultural capital of the Baltics. There is a dynamic cultural life here. Latvian National Opera brings together world-class artists. Concert halls regularly offer concerts of classical and popular music. In the exhibition halls, you can see the works of art of both world classics and epoch-making artists. The rich cultural life of Riga is expressed in its various manifestations.
• Pearl of architecture. The architecture of Riga is beautiful and varied. Old Gothic churches built by the founders of Riga, whose age is 800 years old, medieval buildings in Old Riga, the refined heritage of Art Nouveau, as well as wooden architecture make Riga an architectural pearl. A walk through the streets of the city will be an exciting adventure for every guest of Riga.
• Capital of gastronomy in the Baltics. Cuisine is typical for Riga restaurants fusion. Here you can try both typical Latvian dishes prepared according to traditional recipes and dishes with an amazing combination of flavors created by local chefs. It will be an exciting gastronomic journey.
• A place for active recreation. Marathons, orienteering in the forest or adventure competitions are just some of the activities that you can enjoy in Riga. The parks of the center seem to be made for running in the summer and skiing in the winter. Wealth water resources allows you to practice various water sports. Golf courses and a motorsport track will delight lovers of technical sports.
• A city for your beauty and wellness. Riga seems to be made for enjoying the procedures of beauty salons and spa salons, as some salons are located in the center of Riga. While in Riga, you should definitely enjoy a traditional Latvian sauna!
• City for shopping. Old Riga seems to have been created to allow oneself the leisurely pleasure of shopping. Small souvenir shops and art galleries have settled in the narrow streets of the old town. In addition, you can go to any of the supermarkets and buy both imported and local brands.
• City for your health. Professional and highly qualified medical staff will help improve your health. Wellness procedures in Riga are popular not only due to high-quality service, but also due to attractive prices.
• City for business. Riga is an ideal place to organize conferences, exhibitions and team building events. The city is very dynamic, therefore it is able to provide not only professional service, but also the appropriate infrastructure.

Riga - the European capital of free WiFi

Riga has the largest number of free WIFI points per square kilometer and per population in Europe, which is why in the summer of 2014 Riga became the European capital of free WiFi. Three free Wi-Fi points from Lattelecom are available per square kilometer in the city. Free wireless internet is also available in most hotels, cafes and taxis.

How to get to Riga

Riga is the center of air, rail and road communication, from where you can conveniently travel around the whole of Latvia and the rest of the Baltic countries.

• By plane. Direct flights to Riga are offered from more than 85 cities in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The Latvian national airline airBaltic (www.airbaltic.com) provides easy and convenient flights to all major airports in Europe and the CIS. Riga International Airport (www.riga-airport.com) is located just ten kilometers southwest of the center of Riga.
• By ferry. You can get to Riga from Stockholm by ferry. The Tallink ferry line (www.tallink.com) provides regular ferry service from Stockholm to Riga every day. The building of the ferry terminal is located at the address: Export Street 1, within walking distance from the old town.
• By train. Trains to Riga run from Moscow (twice a day), St. Petersburg (once a day) and from Pskov (once a day). Train traffic is provided by the state enterprise Latvijas Dzelzceļš (www.ldz.lv). Recently renovated Riga Central Train Station is located on the Railway Station Square, directly east of the border of the old city.
• By bus. You can get to Riga by bus from Berlin, Hamburg, Warsaw, Prague, Pskov, Kiev, Grodno, Vilnius, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kaliningrad, Minsk and many other cities of the world.
• Personal car. The largest highways connect Riga with Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kaunas and Vilnius. The northern and southern road connections have recently been upgraded.