Art Nouveau in the Old City

Riga is justifiably famous for its Art Nouveau buildings and decorations, the most spectacular, flamboyant and ornate of which can be seen in Alberta and Elizabetes ielas and surrounding streets, a short walk to the north east from the Old City.

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The Three Brothers

Tucked away in Mazā Pils iela you will find the Three Brothers – three Medieval to Baroque period houses, in a terrace like format. In medieval times houses at this location would have been on the outskirts of the city and home to craftsmen and their families. Today, the houses are home to the Latvian Museum of Architecture (No 19 – the centre house) and the State Inspectorate for Heritage Protection which you likely would not have cause to visit.

‘Graffiti’ in the Old City

Of late I have taken a liking to street art – aka graffiti. Lest my Reader think that I have developed anti-social tendencies in my advancing years, I assure you I am absolutely against wanton destruction of public or private property by tasteless tagging and the like.

Swedish Gate

Riga’s medieval city walls had eight gates. Today only one of those gates, that giving access to Jacob’s Barracks from the Old City, Swedish Gate, remains.

Powder Tower

Dear Ladies, and Gentlemen as appropriate, Riga’s Powder Tower is not a fashionable place to powder your nose. Rather, it part of the Latvian War Museum but more on that later.

Riga City Walls

Like many medieval cities, Riga encircled itself with defensive walls. Originally these ‘walls’ were merely a deep ditch. This was later replaced by a rampart with a wooden fence on top. Over time, due to advances in munitions, these ramparts and wooden walls were replaced with dolomite (stone) walls.

The Former Jacob’s Barracks

The Great Northern War saw Latvia move (not that it had any choice in the matter) from occupation by Sweden to occupation by Russia in 1710 and resulted in Riga’s fortifications and barracks being severely damaged.

Riga Black Balsam

‘Subtle hints of linden blossom, birch bud, valerian root, raspberry, bilberry, and ginger as well as touches of nutmeg and black peppercorn tease the palate and come alive in the glass’.

Great & Small Guild Halls

In 1282 Riga joined the North German city trading union, Hansa. The Hanastic League governed all trade along the Baltic seacoast until the 19th century. The League founded the Guild of the Holy Spirit in Riga with the mission of ”fostering conviviality, genteel socialising, feasting, charity and spirituality” among its merchant and master-craftsmen members. Sounds to me like a year round Oktoberfest though that is probably a little less genteel and lacking in the spirituality department!

Time to Get Catty – The Cat House

The Cat House takes its name from two angry black cats, one perched on each of the two turrets of this rather grand 1909 Medieval / Art Nouveau styled house, located across the road from the Great Guild.