Baltic Trip- Latvia

Road Scholar - Baltic Road to Independence 2013 - Latvia

Riga, Estonia

St. Peter's Church steeple on the left (aerial photos were taken from this steeple. Blackheads House, on the right, flattened by the Soviets and reconstructed from the original plans in 2001 for Riga's 800th birthday. This is Ratslaukums Square.

The Freedom Monument

Views from St. Peter's Church steeple

Note the four hanger buildings in the upper right- this is the main market area.

Ratslaukums Square

Inside St. Peter's Church

Riga as seen from across the river.

Photos of war damage and pre-war of Blackheads House

Some street scenes in Riga

The oldest street

Riga Cathedral

Lunch!

The only remaining original city gate

The old Powder Tower

The Russian embassy. We were told not to take photos up close.

Noticed a cat watching us as the group was in the Art Nouveau district

Latvian flag with hard to see black ribbon in observance of Holocaust Day.

A classical music concert "Primavera" in Architektu

There is a large mall in the middle of the old town. We came across this display of childrens art.

Art Nouveau architecture, also known as New Style ("Jugendstil" in German). Art Nouveau appeared in architecture and furniture in the 1890s. Art Nouveau buildings often have asymmetrical shapes, arches and decorative surfaces with curved designs. Nearly half of the buildings in the center of Riga were built in this flamboyant style.



Some of the detailed carvings on the buildings

Visited the Monument to Latvian Jew Saviours during the Holocaust

A visit to the main market area (5th image on this page)

A visit to Turaida Castle near Sigulda, Latvia

Turaida Castle (meaning Thor's garden in Livonian) is a recently reconstructed medieval castle in Turaida, near Sigulda. It was built with bricks due to a lack of good rock in the area.