Riga Old Town

Riga Old Town

Attraction Introduction   Riga Old Town is located on the right bank of the Daugava River. Though compact in size, it is surrounded by canals. The Old Town features characteristics of a medieval city — low-rise houses, narrow streets, and roofs mostly covered with red tiles. Each roof is adorned with a gleaming metal rooster — a weather vane. Legend has it that since the late 13th century, the weather vane has been regarded by locals as an object to ward off evil spirits. Later, people painted one side of the rooster’s body gold and the other black to indicate wind direction. Today, the weather vane serves mainly as a unique symbol of the city. Although Riga has endured war damage, many ancient buildings in the Old Town have been preserved. These structures are ingeniously built and exquisitely designed. Gleaming metal roosters stand atop the spires of several 13th-century churches. Among the uniquely shaped churches, St. Dom’s Church is world-renowned for its massive pipe organ, while St. Peter’s Church is the tallest church in Riga. Other notable buildings include the Order Castle, the Great Guild Hall, and the Small Guild Hall.

Features

The Old Town features characteristics of a medieval city — low-rise houses, narrow streets, and roofs mostly covered with red tiles. Each roof is adorned with a gleaming metal rooster — a weather vane.

Riga, Latvia