Riga - Six most important sites
1. Old Riga
Old Riga /Central part of Riga/ The brick Dome,
St.Peter's, St.Jekab's, St.John's Churches, Powder
Tower, Swedish Gate, Riga Castle and many
museums and art galleries.
The Dome Church - St.Mary's Cathedral was built as a bishop's cathedral. This well-known historical monument became a symbol of the Old Town of Riga. For the past centuries it was rebuilt many times, so its present image contains elements of different architectural styles. Bishop Albert laid the basements of the new cathedral and monastery in 1211. 1270 finished the first construction period. Once the Dome Church spire, erected in 1547, was the highest spire in the city. It was 140 metres high. After reconstruction in 1776, the tower acquired its present look and height of 90 meters. The famous organ of the Dome Church was made in 1884. At that time it was the biggest organ in the world. It has 6,718 pipes.
St.Peter's Church - This church was mentioned for the first time in 1209. It has a fame of the best sample of Gothic architecture in the Baltics. It was meant to be the main church of the town. In 1408-09 Rostock architect I. Rummeschotel built the new altar section of the building. The construction continued in 1456. 1473 reconstructed the entire church. However, the tower of the church had extreme bad luck. It was rebuilt many times. It collapsed for the first time in 1666. It also burned down several times. The last time was right on St.Peter's Day in 1941. In 1971 the tower was restored. From the observation platform you can enjoy a wonderful bird's-eye view of Riga. Various concerts and exhibitions are held in the church.
St.Jacob's Church - It is one of the oldest churches in Riga. The first references to it date back to 1226. At that time, it was a church for suburbs' residents. During these years, the church changed hands many times. After the Reformation Lutherans owned it. In 1582 it was given to the Catholic Order of Jesuits. In the XVII century it served the needs of the Swedish garrison. In 1922 the church was turned over to the Catholic community. Presently it is a Catholic cathedral. The steeple of St.Jacob's Church is the only one in Riga with a bell hanging outside. This became the city's distinctive feature. It was named Bell of Wretched Sinners. As the legend says, the bell was taken away at requests of discontented townspeople because it had a bad habit of ringing by itself when any unfaithful wife passed by!
St.Jon's Church - This church was built in the Dominican monastery ensemble after 1234, first as a chapel. After expulsion of the Dominicans in the period of Reformation, the building was privately owned. It was used as a stable and later as a weapon workshop. In 1582 it became a part of a Latvian parish. In 1587-1589 the eastern part of the altar was added. As a legend goes, in the XV century two monks were walled up there at their own will. Only a small window was used to pass food and drink to them. They wished to be canonized but didn't tolerate it long and therefore died. The Pope never canonized them to be sure that they had been moved only by their ambitions. The spot where the monks were walled up, and buried, can easily be seen today. A cruciform barred aperture in the wall marks it
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The Spire of St. Peter's
Church - Riga