- Address: Aspazijas bulvāris 20, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia;
- Website: citariga.lv;
- Open: round the clock.
In each city there are unique monuments and structures, which are shrouded in stories and traditions. In Riga, those are Laima watches, which are characterized by an extremely original design. They are located in the center of the city, so tourists, strolling along the central streets, necessarily make a photo against their background.
Laima Clock in Riga - history
History says that the hands of Laima watch in Riga began to count the course of time since 1904. Until this time, the biggest event was the launch of the first tram. This led to the need to improve public transport stops, so the architect August Rheinberg created amazing pavilions-gazebos.
They were made of wood in an elegant Swiss style. It was on the front of the arbor and for the first time such watches appeared. Later, the Swiss style went out of fashion, and the design of the pavilion was taken up by the Baltic-German architect Arthur Medlinger. The project, which he developed, tourists are admiring so far.
The arbor is made in neoclassical style, so the building can easily be confused with a small ancient Greek temple. Together with the building, their appearance was also replaced by the hours that appeared thanks to a deputy from the Social-Democratic bloc. It was at his insistence that an iron pillar with four dials was built.
Originally, the watch was meant to ensure that workers were not late for factories. But the same deputy Veckalns explained that the task of the clock is not to allow workers to come to work earlier. Thanks to this zeal, the clock got its first name in honor of the creator.
However, this name lasted until the 1930s. Already in 1936 the building was decorated with the logo of the famous chocolate producer in Latvia - "Laima", and the clock began to be named after the factory. On the column to the dials the name of the firm is laid out on all four sides.
Gradually, he was joined by the names of different products of the company. The clock went through the restoration, when in 1999 they were recreated in the image of 1936. They received a new elegant illumination, they put the names of products, a new clock mechanism was created, collected in Switzerland.
The clock will not only indicate the right time, but also remind you that you need to buy the famous chocolate "Laima", which is very proud of Latvia. You can appoint a date or a meeting according to the Riga tradition right under the clock.
How to get there?
Laima Clock is located on the main city street Brivibas , on the border of the Old and New Town. Not far from them are located other sights of Riga, therefore, reaching the Powder Tower , you can immediately see the desired object.