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Koentje3000
Koentje3000
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Old Town

  • August 28, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Koentje3000 from Hamme, Belgium
Old Town

Riga Old Town (Latvian: Vecriga) is situated between the Daugava river and the tiny Pilsetas canal, thus technically forming an island. This area is roughly rectangular, measuring 500m by 1500m, and can easily be covered on foot. It is here that Bishop Albert of Livonia founded the city around 1200AD as a stronghold for its Christianizing crusade against Baltic pagans. Nowadays the historical centre of Riga still contains buildings of different times, from 13th century churches to 20th century Soviet buildings, leading to an inscription on the Unesco World Heritage list.

If you want to explore the old town on foot, a good place to start is the Freedom Monument. The 40m high granite column, topped with a copper female figure holding 3 stars that represent the Latvian regions, was commissioned during Latvia's first independence beginning 20th century. It is situated right on the Pilsetas canal just east of the old town. Along the former moat is the small but pleasant Bastejkalns park, with statues commemorating famous Rigans. In the south is the 19th-century neo-classical National Opera House.

From the monument Brivibas (Liberty) Street runs eastwards into the Old Town. You will soon pass the beautiful Livu Laukums, a square planted with flowers and lined with historical houses like the Small Guild House, resembling a castle, the Large Guild House next door or the "Cat House" of which the roof is topped with two feline statues. From here Meistaru Street runs north towards the Gunpowder Tower (Pulvertornis), the only original remainder of the old town wall. Torna Street runs eastwards and contains a recent replica of the old wall. A little further down the road, Maza Pils Street has three nice medieval houses informally known as the "Three Brothers". Just east lies Riga Castle next to the Daugava river. The original building dates from the 13th century but has been rebuilt several times. The current castle dates from the 16th century with more recent additions and now houses offices and a museum. Vansu bridge just behind the castle offers an excellent panorama on the old town and beyond.

Going for 500m south past the castle and into the old town again you will come to the wonderful Dome Square (Doma Laukums). The beautiful 13th century Dome Church towers over this nice square, filled with cafés and restaurants that set up terraces as soon as the weather allows it. Apart from the Dome, notable buildings on the square are the green-brown Art Nouveau stock exchange building and the neoclassical Komercbankas and Finance Department. South of Dome Square lies that other city gem, the Town Hall Square with the beautiful House of the Blackheads. If you head eastwards for another 500m, you will arrive again at the Freedom Monument.

From journal The Latvian Capital Shines as Never Before

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