Bastion Hill, Riga

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The Bastion Hill (Park) located near the Old Town and Freedom monument. It is nice park to stroll along after sightseeing the Old Town of Riga. Great spot to meander along the canal and see flower beds or just sit and relax on many of the benches located at the park. I think the photos will manifest itself. A memorial stones were placed at the park to commemorate to five people killed by Soviet soldiers in January 1991 disturbances. Bastion hill was created from 1857 to 1859.

Bastejkalns is one of the parks that surround Old Riga Town. Bastejkalns in translation to English mean The Bastion Hill, so from the name we can guess that this place was very significant for the defense of the city in medieval Riga.

You can find small river there, statues of famous Latvian people (writer Rainis), lot of flowers, fountains. If you just walk or to sit after long walk, this place is nice, just a few steps from old part.

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Bastion Hill looks like a big pile of snow in the winter, but is graced by an artificial spring and water cascades in the summer. The most interesting aspect of Bastion Hill for me were the five polished stones, which I spent much time searching for in the snow. They are actually located around the base of the hill.

They commemorate the Latvian documentary team that was murdered by Soviet soldiers while filming their attempt to retake Latvia in 1991. The last words of Andris Slapins as he lay bleeding to death on the ground, recorded on film, were "keep filming". His collaborators all had a mix of names, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, reflecting Latvia's broad ethnic mix, and the wide support, even from Russians, for independence.

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Bastion Hill (Bastejkalns) is a park made up by an artificial mound. The park separates Old Riga (Vecriga) from the new city. Bastion Hill was made in 1857 to replace the old Sand Bastion. It's a nice park with benches, sculpture, walking paths and a canal.

Some red granite stones in the northern side of Bastion Hill are the memorial of five people who were shot when Soviet troops stormed the Latvian Interior Ministry building in January 1991.

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Bastion Hill is an artificial mound made between 1857 - 1859 as part of the fortification. The park around is very nice with walking paths and a canal, and there are several statues and monuments in the park. It is situated just outside Old Town, and near the Freedom Monument, so it can be nice to have a walk in this park, or sit on one of the benches by the canal, after a lot of sight seeing.

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This park was built around the original Medieval Fortifications of the Old Town stood, it has been here since the 19th Century

There are five stones representing those who were killed by Soviet bullets during the 1991 troubles.

A pretty place in the city, with a canal running through it and fountains creating an easy, relaxed place to sit and while away a few hours.

We also saw a group of people meditating in the grounds, so entranced they had no idea anyone was standing taking in the peacefulness of them.

Take a stroll around the Bastion Hill Park (Bastejkalns). The Hill Park was created in the mid-19th century removing the medieval fortifications of the Old Town.
It includes a nice city canal and 5 memorial stones for people who were killed by Soviet bullets during the January 1991 disturbances.

The Bastion Hill was created from 1857 to 1859 to replace the old defensive sand bulwark.
Nowadays within the Bastion Hill precincts are memorial stones to five people who were killed by Soviet bullets during the January 1991 disturbances. Among the dead were camera operators who where documenting these events.
The Bastion Hill is very popular place for locals.