- Address: Riga, Latvia;
- Religious buildings: St. Peter's Cathedral, Dome Cathedral, St. Jacob's Cathedral and others;
- Museums: Military Museum, Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation, Museum of Sport;
- Areas: Livia Square, Town Hall Square, Dome Square.
Old Riga is the historical center of the city, where a unique heritage of the great Latvian people gathered in a relatively small area. The ancient fortress walls preserve the history of the medieval city, the numerous spiers of churches remind of the mighty sacred power of the capital, the monumental centuries-old buildings embody the inviolability and authenticity of the beautiful Riga. Here, walking along narrow cobblestone cobblestone streets, you will imbue with the magical atmosphere of this amazing city, you can drink coffee in a cozy cafe with the famous Riga balsam and enjoy amazing views.
Old Riga: history
According to many historians, the time of the founding of Riga is the very beginning of the 13th century - 1201. The future great capital of the Latvian state was born at the crossroads of the modern streets of Kelkyu and Shkunyu. The city was founded by Bishop Albert, who soon made the new settlement his residence. The city underwent constant misfortunes - it was fired by fires and destroyed by enemy troops. But, in spite of everything, Riga was again and again restored, strengthened, annexed more and more adjacent land and very soon became the largest economic and commercial center of the country.
Photos of Riga's Old Town of the XIX century differ significantly from the modern view of the historical center. At the beginning of the twentieth century, a small redevelopment was carried out here, due to the building of new economic relations with other countries. Several architectural structures were demolished. Old Riga also changed during the war. Almost a third of the buildings were destroyed by shelling. Fortunately, most of the buildings were reconstructed, and city visitors today can appreciate their splendor.
What to see in Old Riga?
Tour of the Old City is an endless series of the brightest sights. Tourists here go around, puzzled, and do not know how to start a trip through the historical center of the capital. For convenience we divided the sights of Old Riga into several categories.
Famous places of worship:
- St. Peter's Cathedral with the highest spire in the city and 800-year history;
- The Dome Cathedral is the largest temple of the Middle Ages in the entire Baltics;
- House of the Blackheads - an architectural monument of the XIV century, restored in 1999;
- St. Jacob's Cathedral - the fourth largest in the capital, features an unusual brick Gothic and a beautiful turquoise spire (also known as the church of Jekaba);
- the Church of St. John , combining in its architecture elements of late Gothic, Mannerism, the Northern Renaissance and classical baroque;
- barracks Jekaba - a complex of buildings that stretches for 237 meters;
- Anglican Church of the Holy Redeemer of the XIX century, built in the Neo-Gothic style;
- the Church of the Sorrowful Mother of God in delicate blue and white tones with graceful eclectic decoration;
- "The cat's house" with black cats on the roof;
- Reformed Church of the Baroque ;
- The Church of Mary Magdalene is a three-nave structure with beautiful empores (church balconies);
- architectural composition "Three Brothers" (white, medium and green).
The old town of Riga is also rich in a large number of museums. They are here already 12:
- a branch of the Military Museum inside the Powder Tower (free entrance);
- Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation (adult ticket costs € 4.27, children - € 1.42);
- museum of sports (the cost of the entrance ticket depends on the exhibited exhibition);
- Museum of Pharmacology (excursion with an interpreter costs € 4.5, in Latvian - € 0.75);
- museum of photography (entrance - € 2-3);
- Riga Castle (closed for renovation until December 2018);
- The National Museum of Latvian History , transferred from Riga Castle to Brivibas Boulevard (the price of an adult ticket is € 3, the student's € 1.5, the child's € 0.75, guide support costs € 8 (excursion in Latvian) and € 15 (excursion in English / Russian));
- a museum of foreign art , also moved from the Riga Castle to the building of the former exchange (the cost of the entrance ticket depends on the number of open exhibitions, on average € 3-4);
- the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts (exhibitions in the Grand and Main Hall, in the halls of the 2nd and 3rd floors, the cost of an adult ticket: from € 1.2 to € 5, children's - from € 0.4 to € 2);
- Museum of the Occupation of Latvia (free admission);
- kinomies (entrance for adults - € 1,5, for children - € 0,5);
- Museum of Architecture , located in one of the buildings of the famous composition "Three Brothers" (does not have a permanent exposition and works in the mode of the exhibition hall).
* Prices are valid for March 2017.
Also to the sights of Old Riga is the famous Swedish gate , the Town Hall , the building of the Seimas , the Bastion Hill , the Great Guild and the beautiful squares: Albert , Herder , Jekab , Liv , Latvian Riflemen , Dome , Town Hall and Castle Square .
Riga Hotels in the Old Town
Given the endless flow of tourists to Old Riga, it is not difficult to guess that there are plenty of places to stay overnight. There are different types of accommodation.
Fans of a comfortable holiday with an elite service can stay in one of the five-star hotels:
- Pullman Riga Old Town ;
- Grand Palace Hotel ;
- Spa hotel Dome-Relais & Châteaux ;
- Royal Square & Suites .
But most of all in the Old Town hotels with 4 stars. The best of them according to tourists:
- Wellton Centrum Hotel & SPA ;
- Neiburgs ;
- Wellton Riga ;
- Radi Un Draugi ;
- Justus .
Well and for the most unpretentious tourists doors of numerous hostels in the Old city of Riga are always opened. The most popular of them are:
- Doma ;
- Bunka ;
- Teddy Bear Riga ;
- Liberty Airy ;
- Red Nose ;
- Naughty Squirrel Backpackers .
If you are used to relaxing in seclusion, the ideal option is the apartments in Old Riga . You can rent an apartment with any number of rooms and even a cozy loft under the roof, from where incredible views open.
Cafes and Restaurants in Riga in the Old Town
Practically on any photo made in the old Riga one can notice a signboard of a cafe, a summer area of a restaurant or a tray with street food. The gastronomic diversity here is striking. And it's not accidental, because tourists from all over the world go to the Old Town. And Latvians have always been famous for their hospitality, so they try to respect every guest of the city.
We will show you where you can taste the cuisine of different countries:
- Chinese restaurant Gan Bei (Krasta str. 46);
- restaurants of Japanese cuisine Kabuki (14, Audėyu street), Planeta sushi (Skunu street 6);
- Russian pelmeni Pelmeni XL (Kalku street 7) and pancake Sefpavars Vilhelms (6, Shtyunu street);
- restaurants of traditional Latvian cuisine Niklav s (Marstalu street 1), Egle (Kalku street 1a);
- Italian restaurants Sale & Pepe kafe ( Gleznotayu street 12/14), IL Patio (Kalku street 6);
- Korean restaurant Soraksans (Miesnieku street 12);
- restaurant of French cuisine Allumette (49, Valnu street);
- Turkish restaurant Turkebab (26, Valnu street).
But most restaurants are establishments with international cuisine, where everyone will find a treat for themselves: Gutenbergs , Konvents , Aleks , Gardenia , Melna Bite .
Connoisseurs of beer will be able to truly take heart by trying their favorite foam drink in one of the pubs: Beer House No.1 , Paddy Whelan's , S.Brevinga bar & restaurant , Lido Alus Seta , Stargorod .
On the tourist map of old Riga you will also see a lot of pizzerias, steak houses, confectioneries, coffee houses and bistros. There are even the main symbols of American fast food - McDonald's and Friday's .
Legends of the Old Riga
The history of the Old Town is covered with beautiful legends. Some of them are fantastic, but there are those who make them believe in truth.
- The Legend of the Swedish Gate . The only city gates in the Old Riga, which have survived to this day, according to legend, appeared because of the greed of one merchant. He did not want to pay taxes for every importation of goods through the main entrance, and therefore cut through the wall a "secret passage", which later became an architectural monument of the city.
- The legend of "impudent three brothers . " Looking at the famous buildings in the Old Town of Riga, called the three brothers, you can see that they have brazenly "crawled out" to the entire sidewalk. Legend has it that before taxes were levied not for the area of the building, but for the number of windows it has. Therefore, cunning builders tried to lengthen their projects, as far as possible.
- The legend of the "noisy" street . Once in Trokšņu Street, it's hard to believe that it used to be called "noisy". Today it is very quiet and cozy. But according to legend, long ago there were smithies and the executioner's house. The smiths knocked their hammers all day, and so no one heard the sounds from the executioner's work. The screams of his victims were drowned in a metallic ringing. At the corner of the street in one of the facades of the house there is a small window where the alleged messenger left the executioner a sign that he has a job for him - he put a black glove there.
- Legend of the origin of the Old Riga . The folk story says that in the distant past, when there was no city on this place, the giant Great Kristaps lived on the bank of the River Daugava, who helped the travelers to cross the river. One day he was awakened by the crying of a child coming from another shore. Кристапс has passed the river, took the kid and began to return back. But with every step his burden grew heavier and heavier. Giant barely reached the shore and fell without power, laying the baby next to him. When he woke up, he saw a huge chest with money instead of a child. According to the legend, Riga was built on these treasures. On the embankment there is a monument to Big Christaps with a toddler on his shoulder.
How to get there?
The old town in Riga is a strictly pedestrian zone. Therefore, you can not drive to any sights by public transport or car. From the airport to the city center, you can take a taxi, a special minibus from Air Baltic or a regular shuttle bus number 22.
Within the city to Old Riga it is easy to reach by tram or bus. On the street January 13, which is the southern boundary of the Old Town, there is a tram number 27, buses number 22, 23, and 26, as well as bus numbers 222 and 280.
From the north to the Old Town, you can get on tram number 5, 12, 25, bus number 13, 30, 37, 41, 53, 57 and minibus № 236, 237, 241. They stop at Valdemara Street.
The nearest points of public transport routes from the eastern part of Old Riga are the stop of trams No. 5, 6, 7, 9 on Aspazias boulevard.