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Riga's *huge* traditional market is located in five enormous halls which were used as zeppelin hangars during WW1 - the hangars were moved to Riga from Kurzeme in 1923. The market opened in 1930, and is one of Europe's largest. Unlike many markets, it's not a very touristy place at all - lots and lots of locals do their shopping here.
Inside the halls you'll find mainly food - vegetables, honey, home-made chocolate, cheese, meat, fish, and all things smoked (!)- basically all kinds of food imaginable... :o) Quite interesting - and a bustling place...! There are also hundreds of stalls outside the hangars - where you'll find *absolutely everything* from knitted socks, hand-made soaps and candles - to cell phones, computer games and general nicknack!:o) The perfect place to buy all those hand-knitted mittens and socks you'll want as souvenirs... :o)
Keep an eye on your camera & other belongings while you're here - it's a pretty crowded place, and things might easily get "lost".
Opening hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 7 - 18
Sunday - Monday 7 - 17 Leave a Comment Directions: Next to the bus station, a five-minute walk to the south-west of the Old Town. The hangars are *huge* - and impossible to miss!Website: http://www.rct.lv/en/rct/
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 The Swedish Gate by FletteMette
The Swedish Gate was built into the the city's fortification wall in 1698, when the Swedish ruled here - the gate was simply cut through an existing house. Only a very short stretch of the wall that formerly surrounded all of the Old Town has been preserved, and the Swedish gate is the only gate that has survived through the centuries in its original form. Walk through the Swedish Gate onto Tornu iela to see the only part of the town wall that's still standing. The wall was built between the 13th and 16th century.
There's a story saying that a rich merchant had the gate cut through a building he owned, because he didn't want to pay tax every time he brought goods into town - might be true, who knows... :o) Leave a Comment Address: End of Aldaru iela
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 by FletteMette
This was the Guild Hall of the craftsmen & artisan's guild, which was established ca 1350. The Guild Hall was built in the fourteenth century, and reconstructed several times. The former building was completely torn down when the present Small Guild Hall was built in 1864-1866. The building is now used for conferences, discos (!), classical concerts and various other arrangements.
I thought the Small Guild Hall looked the most interesting by night, when it's illuminated - it lost some of its charm in the harsh daylight... :o) Leave a Comment
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In the northern end of Livu Laukums (Liv square) you'll notice a light yellow building, with a cat standing on top of each of the building's two towers. This house is, of course, known as the Cat House, and it is definitely among the most photographed buildings in Riga... :o)
In the early 20th century, the owner of this building was excluded from the powerful and prestigious Great Guild - their building is situated just across the street from the Cat House. He was pretty upset by this, and ordered the two cats to be turned around, with their rear ends towards the Great Guild Hall - as a way of insulting his enemies. An original way of protesting - and apparently it worked too, after a long battle in court the guy was admitted back to the Guild, and the cats were turned back. Leave a Comment Address: Meistaru 19
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The quite striking, very colourful building called the House of Blackheads is in the southwestern part of the Old Town - a few seconds walk to the west of St. Peter's Church. It's an easily recognised building, popular with tourists - but definitely not my favourite one among all the lovely buildings of Riga. (It looks so *new* - and it actually is, it was (re)built from scratch in 2001!) Still worth a quick look, though...
The Blackheads was an organisation of unmarried foreign merchants - the rather unusual name of the guild comes from their patron saint, the black st. Maurice. The building was first mentioned in 1344, it was then owned by the Great Guild. The Blackheads rented this building from the 15th century, and bought it in 1713.
The building was partly ruined during World War II, and the ruins were completely destroyed by the Soviets in 1948. The House of Blackheads was rebuilt in Gothic style for Riga's 800th anniversary in 2001.
Open to the public daily, 10 - 17, except Mondays.
Admission: 1,50 Ls Leave a Comment Address: Ratslaukums 7
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The 42-metre high Freedom Monument on Brivibas iela (brivibas means freedom) right next to Bastion Hill is easily spotted from the eastern part of the Old Town (near McDonald's...). The monument was constructed in 1935, designed by Latvian sculptor Karlis Zale, and to the Latvians it is a very important symbol of Latvian independence.
The woman on top of the monument (for some reason nick-named "Milda" by the elderly Latvians) is holding three golden stars, symbolising the unity of the three historical regions of the country: Kurzeme, Vidzeme and Latgale. (During Soviet times, the guides would tell visitors that the three stars represented the three Baltic Soviet republics!) Locals are often placing flowers at the base of the monument - which was known as a "travel agent" in Soviet times, since laying flowers there would most likely get you a one-way ticket to Siberia. The inscription Tevzemei un Brivibai on the lower part of the monument means "for fatherland and freedom".
A guard of honour stands at the monument from 9 - 18, and changes every hour, on the hour - not a particularly spectacular sight, but worth a look if you're in the area. Leave a Comment Address: Brivibas iela
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The Powder Tower, built in the beginning of the 14th century, is the only tower of the city's old fortification system that's still standing. The original tower was ruined by Swedish troops in 1621, and rebuilt thirty years later. (Damn those Swedes!;o)
The Powder Tower got its present name in the 17th century, when it was used to store gunpowder and cannonballs - and there are still 9 cannonballs embedded in the 2,5 m thick walls, remnants of battles with Russia. (I think I spotted 7-8 of them;o)
The tower is situated in the north-eastern part of the Old Town, just across the road from Bastion Hill, and it is now part of the Latvian War Museum. Leave a Comment
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 by LilaselLeave a Comment Address: 2 Klostera iela
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 by LilaselLeave a Comment Address: 24 Skarnu iela
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In 1999 the Latvian National Opera celebrated its 80th anniversary. The construction of this magnificent structure was completed in 1863 and originally intented to house the City of Riga`s German Theatre.
"The White House" as it is fondly known in Riga re-emerged immaculate and radiant after the reconstruction in 1995. It now boasts a 967 seat auditorium authentically restored as a pristine museum interior circa 1882, and a stage complete with state of the art state technology.It became the home of the Latvian National Opera as a result of a production of Richard Wagner`s The Flying Dutchman in 1919. (Incidentally, Wagner drew his inspiration for the Flying Dutchman during his departure from Riga, where he was the Musical Director of the German Theatre from 1837 to 1839). Rich artistic talents such as Teodor Reiter, Leo Bleh, Emil Kuper and Maris Vetra have graced the threshold of this building. After WWII Rihards Glazups, Edgars Tons, Janis Zabers, Karlis Zarins performed here.The Riga Opera Festival - a recently established annual event in June - has already gained considerable acclaim among international opera lovers. The opera and ballet companies endeavour to satisfy a demanding audience both by featuring world famous stars as presenting exciting new young talents. Leave a Comment
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