Attractions
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Dating back to 1211, the red brick Dom (or Dome)
Protestant Cathedral is a highlight of the historic centre of Riga.
The cathedral is situated near the Western Daugava River and boasts
an incredible organ with over 6,500 pipes built in 1844, stained
glass windows and a beautifully whitewashed interior. There are
regular concerts held on the organ, and the cathedral also has its
own boy's choir that gives regular performances.
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Riga Castle (or Riga pils) was built in 1330 on the
site of the original settlement of the city, as a residence for the
master of the Livonian Order, and later it served as the base for
the city's occupiers throughout its history. The distinctive yellow
castle was destroyed and rebuilt over time and today it serves as
the offices and home of the Latvian president, as well as the
Latvian Museum of Foreign Art and the Rainis Museum of Literature
and Art History. The castle is strategically placed on the banks of
the Daugava, originally in order to oversee all ships entering the
city's port, and has four towers and an inner
courtyard.
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The Open Air Ethnographic Museum is a fascinating
reflection of the traditional Latvian way of life. Set on 247 acres
(100ha), the museum consists of farmhouses, fishing villages,
windmills and other historic buildings that have been relocated
here to create an outdoor exhibit. Visitors can watch craftsmen at
work, sample traditional Latvian cooking and ales, and learn more
about the history of the country.
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One of the oldest and biggest of its kind, Riga's
Central Market dates back to 1201 and is a riot of sounds, sights
and smells. Anything from fresh fruits, cheeses, and whole sheep
carcasses, to appliances, clothing and CDs are on offer, usually at
very reasonable prices. The market was moved from its original home
and relocated several times, but since the 1930s has occupied the
same space in several World War I hangars, close to the bus and
train stations. There is room for over 1,000 vendors, and no visit
to Riga is complete without a stroll through its tantalising
stalls.
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Latvia was occupied from 1949 to 1991 by two
successive regimes in Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. This well
curated museum conveys what life was like during this time, and
serves as a memorial to those who died or fled as a result of the
occupation. Visitors can view film archives and see a
reconstruction of life in the infamous Siberian labour
camps.
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Riga is the world's best preserved open-air museum of
Art Nouveau (also known as Jugendstil) architecture which dates
from the early 20th century. The style is characterised by unusual
shapes, curved and organic arches, gargoyles, and flamboyant
cornices. Over 30 percent of central Riga's buildings were created
in this style, many supervised by famous Russian architect Mikhail
Eisenstein. The best streets to view buildings on are Elisebetes,
Strelnieku and Albert.
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Europe's finest motor museum is tucked away on the
outskirts of town and makes for an essential outing if you enjoy
classical cars and Soviet history. The museum contains Molotov's
limousine, Stalin's bombproof sedan, the wreck of Brezhnev's car in
which he crashed. The model dummies in the vehicles are a nice
touch. There is a priceless collection of classic sports cars and
motorcycles - irresistibly photogenic for petrol
heads.
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Jurmela is Latvia's main holiday resort town, the
place locals go to when they want to relax, catch a tan and enjoy a
spa treatment. The beaches are very good, including the Baltic's
only Blue Flag beach, and the seafood restaurants excellent too.
One of the main attractions away from sand and sea are the spas
which offer a range of therapies and treatments at a fraction of
the cost in Western Europe. Getting to Jurmela from Riga is easy:
by train or bus, the journey takes 30 minutes.
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