2. The Art Nouveau (Jugendstil)

Riga is deservedly proud of its ancient part. A walk around the Old Riga is like a tour in a museum of architecture - from the period of Gothicism to classicism. But the capital of Latvia can boast of its younger part that was built in the end of XIX - in the beginning of XX centuries. There is no other European city where in its architectural image Art Nouveau has been presented so widely and splendidly. This very part of Riga was acknowledged by UNESCO experts as deserving to be mentioned in the list of the world architectural monuments. Decorativeness and utility, rationalism - these are the most distinctive features of Art Nouveau in architecture. Architects of the Art Nouveau times used ornamentation in decoration of buildings for the same reasons that move women in the process of matching jewellery to their costumes. Plastic bas-reliefs and masks, sculptures, magnificent panels and frescos, lacy forged balconies and other rich ornaments exist next door to elegant simplicity of lines and decor. Exotic motives get on well with folk elements. The best known is Alberta Street designed by M.Eisenstein (father of a worldwide famous film director Sergey Eisenstein) - this is a real carnival of architecture.

3. The Ethnographic Open - Air Museum of Latvia

Situated in the pine forest on the banks of the Jugla Lake, this museum consists of 90 traditional wooden buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries. These buildings were taken to the museum from all four regions of Latvia: Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Zemgale and Latgale. You can see the traditional rural buildings: farmsteads, craftsmen houses, windmills, churches and tavern from both the outside and inside. Different craft exhibitions are held in the museum on the regular basis. During the season each Thursday, Friday and Saturday you can see the different kind of craftsmans working as weavers, smiths, wicker-workmen etc. On summer weekends folk dancing is usually performed.

4. Freedom monument

(1935, sculptor K. Zale) This monument stands in the heart of the city. It is more than half the height of the famous Statue of Liberty in New York, but it is one of the most distinguished monuments in Europe. It is 42 meters high and has 4 architectonic levels with a 19-meter high obelisk.

5. Warriors' Cemetery (War Graves)

(1924.-1936. sculptor K. Zale, architects P. Feders, A.Birznieks) Approximately 2,000 soldiers were buried there during the First World War. The monument consists of 3 parts and its sculptural groups are very expressive.

6. Riga Motor Museum

This shows the history of motorcar engineering, including such rarities as the personal cars of Stalin and Brezhnev. The museum is the proud owner of a copy of the world's first motor car produced by G.Daimler between 1885 and 1886.

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