- Address: Central District, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia;
- Website: riga.lv;
- Open: round the clock.
Bastion Hill - a bulk hill in the center of Riga . In olden times, from the street Peschanaya (the modern street Smilshu), there was an entrance to the city, along the street there was a trade route between Riga, Pskov and Novgorod. Now Bastion Hill is a popular place for tourists and tourists.
History of the Bastion Hill
In the Middle Ages, when instead of the city channel there was a defensive moat, here stood the Sandy Bastion. In the XIX century. He, together with other bastions, was demolished, and in its place it was decided to pour a decorative elevation from which a view of the Old City would be opened. Hence the name - Bastion Hill.
In 1860, at the very top of the hill, a wooden pavilion was erected, pavilions were laid to the pavilion. Already in these years the hill became a favorite place for Riga residents, according to the doctors ordering the evening exercise.
In 1887, the pavilion was demolished, and in its place a Viennese cafe was built of stone. The café stood on the top of the hill until the end of the 1940s. Having climbed here, the townspeople could afford a well-deserved rest with a cup of coffee and a newspaper.
In 1892, through the city channel, the first pedestrian bridge was bridged - the bridge Agte, named so by the name of the engineer who built it. A year later, at the foot of the Bastion Hill, a house for Japanese swans was built.
At the end of XIX century. on the slopes of the hill created a creek with an artificial waterfall. In 1963, on the south-eastern slope of the Bastion Hill, a rock garden was built - the so-called rock garden, or the Alpine hill.
What to do here?
The bastion slide is a great place for walking, especially in the summer. On the slopes are planted trees and flowers, in the greenery are hidden small sculptures. At night it is romantic and safe: the hill is well lit, and the bridges delight the eye with colored lighting.
On the Bastion Hill you can:
- walk along the promenade to the top, from where you can see the Old Town;
- walk with your soul mate on the bridge of love and hang the castle;
- Ride along the city canal on a boat or river tram, feed the ducks.
How to get there?
On the territory of the Old Town, where the Bastion Hill is located, public transport is prohibited, but bus and trolleybus stops are very close. You can reach the hill in several ways.
From Riga- Pasajieru railway station:
- take the trolleybus, route number 17, from the stop "Central Station" to "Street of Turbatas", from there walk for 7 minutes;
- walk 12 minutes walk. - The road will run along the boulevard along the city canal.
From the bus station:
- take the bus, route number 3, to the stop "Boulevard of Freedom", from there in 7 minutes. walk;
- walk 15 minutes walk.
From the International Airport Riga:
- take the bus, route number 22, to the stop "Embankment 11 November", from there walk for 11 minutes. walk through the Old Town;
- from the bus number 22, get off at the "Skolas Street" stop, change to trolleybus No. 5 and get to the "Siegfried Anna Meyerovitsa Boulevard", from where to the Bastion Hill 4 min. on foot.
Bus number 22 leaves every 20 minutes. directly from the terminal building. The trip to "Skolas Street" takes 20 minutes, until "Embankment 11 November" - approximately half an hour.