Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

Street-by-Street: Around Town Hall Square

Until a local government reform in 1877, the

Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums) was Rīga’s

administrative centre. Built in 1334, the Town

Hall was one of three pillars of power

alongside Dome Cathedral and Rīga Castle,

representing the interests of the city’s

residents. The square functioned as a

marketplace and a site where festivals were

held and executions carried out. The

impressive step-gabled House of Blackheads

has been completely rebuilt, while the Town

Hall is a modern building behind a Neo-Classical

façade. At the square’s edge is a Soviet-era building

housing the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia.

78 NORTH EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp92–3

STAR SIGHTS

. House of Blackheads
. Museum of the
Occupation of Latvia
. St Peter’s Church

Statue of Roland

A legendary medieval

figure and one of

Charlemagne’s knights,

Roland became a

symbol of the inde-

pendence of cities from

the local nobility.

Town Hall Square

Many of the square’s elaborate buildings,

destroyed by the Russians after World War II,

have benefited from a restoration project

tied to the city’s 800th anniversary in 2001.

. House
of Blackheads
Damaged by bombing
in 1941, the ornate
building was restored
to its former glory
during the 1990s 8

KEY

Suggested route

A roadside café in summer in the

courtyard of St John’s Church

The
Blackheads’
patron

To w n H a l l

Museum of the

Occupation of Latvia

GR

ĒC

IN

IEK

U^

IEL

A

KA

ĻĶ

U^

IE

LA

K

A

ĻĶ

U

I

E

LA