House of Blackheads, Riga

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House of the Blackheads, this beautiful building is not the original. It was totally rebuilt, replicated and completed in 1999. Originally called the New House which was built in 1334 and since then it has been reconstructed on numerous occasions from 1522. It was partly destroyed during WW2 the remainder demolished by Soviets in 1948. Today the building is a museum.

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Unfortunately, the lovely "House of Blackheads" I was viewing today, was not old, it was only completed in 1999.

World War II, and because the House of Blackheads was one of the most impressive architectural monuments in the city, it was destroyed. What little remained was then demolished by the Soviets in 1948.

What a shame, as this old gothic building dated back till 1344, a place for the unmarried German Merchants to come, and also a Concert Hall where R. Wagner once performed.

Opening Times... Tues-Sun 10-5pm (May-Sep); 11-5pm (Oct-Apr).
Admission ...2Ls

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The House of Blackheads is well worth a visit, but was closed to the public when we were there in March, 2011. From information on the internet, the outside is the main attraction of this building. Dating back to the 14th century with a Dutch early 17th century facade, it was virtuallydestroyed by the Soviets in 1948, then fully restored in 1999. It was originally the Riga headquarters of an association of unmarried merchants. The tourist information office which was housed here has been relocated to Kalku iela 16. Do double check as this may be a temporary move.

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In the main Ratslaukums square, you'll find this elegant Hanseatic building belonging to the Guild of the Blackheads. This was a unique guild of unmarried merchants, and ship captains, who would host lavish parties attended by the rich and famous across the region, including Russian tsars.

The building was destroyed during World War 2, and the Soviets finished the job with explosives. But since independence the Latvian government has restored the building from practically nothing, to its original spleandor. It's easily one of the most impressive buildings in the city.

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The house of Blackheads is a colourful and easily recognised building. It is located in the southwestern part of the Old Town not far the west of St. Peter's Church. It was originally built in 1344 and partly destroyed during World War II, before and the ruins were completely destroyed by the Soviets in 1948. It was rebuilt in 1999 for Riga's 800th anniversary in 2001, and made as an exact copy as the original. The building contains a tourist Office, a café, a souvenir shop and a museum.

Open to the public daily, 10 - 17, except Mondays.
Admission: 1,50 Ls

The House of Blackheads is a Gothic building from 1344. Blackheads was a guild of unmarried merchants, existing in several Baltic medieval towns. The building was renovated for Riga's 800th anniversairy in 2001.

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The house of Blackheads is a house with an impressive renaissance façade on Town Hall Square. It was originally built in 1344 and was then used by the Guild of unmarried merchants. There used to be shops and other businesses on the first floor, on the second floor was the guildhall and on the other floors were rooms for storage.

The house of Blackheads was destroyed in 1941, during World War II. Not until 1999 the building was rebuilt and it was then made as an exact copy as the original building. Now days you will find the Tourist Office, a café, a souvenir shop and a museum showing the restored rooms in the building.

This building that really stands out from the crowd within the Town Hall Square, with its striking facade of blackskinned men in medieval costume, was orginally the headquarters of a guild of bachelor German merchants.

Open Tuesday to Sundays 10am to 5pm. Admission about £2.

Rebuilt since the Soviet authorities in the 1940s demolished much of the Town Hall Square to eradicate German architecture.

Originally built in 1344, it was owned by a merchant guild. It was destroyed during 1941 in the war and then the Soviets destroyed it in 1948. It was rebuilt again in 2001 to it's original detail.

It sits in the Town Hall Square by the Museum of Occupations. It is now used as a museum and also at times as a concert hall

First mentioned in 1334, the building was owned by the Great Guild, but in the 15th century the house was rented out to the Blackheads Merchant Guild it became their property in 1713.

Blackheads was an organisation of unmarried foreign merchants. The beautiful Gothic building was destroyed in 1941 and was rebuilt for Riga's 800th anniversary in 2001.