A Day in Old Riga, Riga, Latvia

As an important port city in the Hanseatic League, Riga has a small but lovely historic centre that is just waiting to be explored. With medieval buildings lining the cobblestone streets and squares, you’ll love spending a day in Old Riga.

The most notable building in Vecrīga (Old Riga) is The House of Blackheads. The original building was erected in 1334 to house banquets and meetings of the Brotherhood of the Blackheads. We can only image what those banquets would have looked like given that the Brotherhood of Blackheads was a society of unmarried merchants and shipowners in medieval Riga.

What we see today is a reconstruction of the original structure that was destroyed during World War II. Even knowing that it is not the original, it’s difficult to take your eyes off this magnificent building. Its interesting roofline is covered in delicate carvings and statues. Ornate figures decorate the colourful red brick façade. The building is quite beautiful, but is even more so when the final rays of the setting sun make the building glow.

The oldest residential complex in the historic centre is affectionately referred to as ‘The Three Brothers’. The white Gothic building on the right is the oldest, built in 1490. Apparently when it was built, there was a ‘window tax’ for new construction. The owner replied by using very small windows to keep his taxes down. The middle brother is more grand with an ornamental door pediment and large windows. The skinny building on the left is the youngest of the three was built in the late 1600s in Baroque architectural style. They are said to represent typical architecture in the Hanseatic Region for each of their times. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).