Eight hundred years have shaped the city’s unique appearance and rich traditions. Due to its geographical location on the Baltic Sea (where East and West meets), Riga has been an important centre of trade, finance and culture for centuries. Riga has unique values due to its rather intact medieval architecture and that of later periods, the urban structure, the richness and quality of Art Noveau architecture and the 19-th century wooden architecture of the city.

The development of Art Nouveau in Riga coincides with the city’s period of unprecedented prosperity and a sudden expansion of the population. Over a period of several years more than 100 multi-story stone buildings were erected. The distinctive look of Riga’s central district took shape in the early 20th century. By 1904, the eclectic characteristic of Riga’s late 19th century architecture completely disappeared. Approximately 40% of all buildings in the central district are in the Art Nouveau style. This is considerably more than in any other city in the world.

Art Nouveau influence reached Riga through its German influence , still

under the Russian Empire.

From the late 1890's, buildings within the style began to emerge and soon

Riga became a show case city for a style. To represent Art Nouveau (or

Jugendstil as it was locally known here) through architecture required a

great deal of investment . Riga was one of the wealthiest cities in Europe

at the turn of the 19th century and with so many Merchant families ready

to become Landlords within the city there was no shortage of capital.

The Dome Cathedral is an impressive mixture of romantic, gothic, Renascence, baroque and classical styles. It's a symbol of the Old City, its versatility and individuality. In the cathedral they keep one of the largest organs in the world,special works for which were written by Franz Liszt.

Swedish Gate

House ofBlackheads

The Three brothers -The "oldest brother" (No.17 – the white house) was built in the 15th century and is the oldest stone dwelling-structure in Riga.

St. Peter Church

City Hall

Roof of St. John's Church

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