- Address: Riga, Latvia;
- Length: under 14 streets of the Old Riga area;
- Length of moves: from 5 to 20 meters.
About the undergrounds of Riga there are many legends. The minds of townspeople and tourists excite stories about underground passages that go under the river Daugava , and treasures stored in underground chambers. Almost every Riga child heard such a story; many, growing up, continue to rave about the theme of urban dungeons.
Is there any truth in the legends?
Unfortunately, the excitement of the imagination has not been confirmed yet, although underground tunnels exist in Riga. They are found on the territory of the Old City during the construction, laying of communications and archaeological excavations. They have a purely practical goal, far from romance; usually this:
- underground passages in the system of bastions;
- cellars of apartment buildings.
Movements under the bastions
In the XVII century. in Riga began to build new defensive fortifications, under which were laid the communications routes and mine galleries. In the XIX century. These underground structures began to be found during the construction works.
Part of an underground passage 30 m long was discovered in the late 1970s, when a pit was dug under the Ridzene hotel under construction. The tunnel went to the side of the boulevard Jan Rainis. A similar find was made during the excavation in the place where the Marstal bastion was once located, between the streets of Marstal and Minsterjas.
Fragments of underground passages found in the 1930s. when stumps are stuck near the building of the National Opera and Ballet - the location of the Pankuku bastion. In the summer of 2014, during the reconstruction of the square in front of the National Opera, another section of the underground passage was found several meters high.
In the same year on the street. Eqaba, 24 a small fragment of the underground passage, leading to the Yecab bastion, was found.
Under residential buildings
Since ancient times, under the usual houses, cellars have been built. When they were expanded, the cellar went under the street, forming a small underground passage. In the XIX century. began to lay underground communications and such moves interfered with the work, so they broke and covered the ground.
A large basement was in the House of Blackheads , owned by the Brotherhood of Blackheads - the society of young merchants, whose coat of arms depicts the head of Saint Maurice. The cellar was stored goods; It is known that from it led an underground passage to the bank of the Daugava, where the brotherhood had its own wharf.
Dungeons of Riga Castle
But what about Riga Castle , built in the XIV century? After all, should there be underground passages through which you could escape during the siege?
Indeed, medieval castles built passages in order to get out of defensive fortifications or send a messenger, if necessary. In the newspapers since the XIX century. began to appear reports that parts of such moves were found in the Riga Castle. However, these news subsequently did not find confirmation.
In 1969, while laying a heating main in an area near the Riga Castle, a 50 m underground tunnel was discovered. It was walled up from the side of the castle. A similar course was later found in the sculpture garden next to the castle, when building an exhibition hall. But these are not ancient dungeons. Judging by studies of the soil level, their age is comparatively small. Most likely, these are parts of the fortifications of the 17th century.
Other ancient buildings - the same heroes of the legends about the caves of Riga. There is a legend that under the ancient Powder Tower a hexagonal stone room is built, where the city treasury is still kept. It is said that in the dungeons of the Dome Cathedral hidden treasures of the Knights Templar, and the plans for dungeons and keys are kept in the Vatican. However, no one studies the flooded cellars of the cathedral.
How to get there?
Tourists, who came to Riga for dungeons, should visit the Old Town , where the Riga Castle, the Powder Tower , the Dome Cathedral, the Blackheads House, the building of the National Opera and Ballet are located . It's easy to get to the Old Town.
- From the bus station and the railway station Riga-Pasajieru to the Old Town can be reached on foot in a few minutes.
- From Riga International Airport, there is a bus no. 22. You should get off at the "11 November Naberezhnaya" stop. The bus departs every 20 minutes. directly from the terminal building. The trip takes 25-30 minutes.