'Riga' () the
capital of
Latvia, is situated on the
Baltic Sea coast on the mouth of the river
Daugava. Riga is the largest city in the
Baltic states.
The Historic Centre of Riga has been declared a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city is particularly notable for its extensive
Art Nouveau (
Jugendstil) architecture, comparable in significance only with
Vienna and
Saint Petersburg.
Business and commerce
Business and leisure travel to Riga has increased significantly in recent years due to improved infrastructure. Riga as a city-port is a major transportation hub and is the center of the local road and
railway system. Most tourists travel to Riga by air via
Riga International Airport, the largest airport in the
Baltic states, which was renovated and modernized in 2001 on the occasion of Riga's 800th anniversary. Air traffic at the airport has doubled between 1993 and 2004. Baltic sea ferries connect Riga to
Stockholm,
Kiel and
Lübeck. Riga was also home to two air bases during the
Cold War:
Rumbula and
Spilve.
Almost all important Latvian financial institutions are located in Riga, including the
Bank of Latvia, which is Latvia's central bank. Foreign commercial trade through Riga has been on the increase in recent years and received new impetus on
May 1,
2004 when Latvia became a member of the
European Union. Riga accounts for about half of the total industrial output of Latvia, focusing on the financial sector, public utilities, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, wood processing, printing and publishing, textiles and furniture, and communications equipment manufacturing. The port of Riga is an important cargo shipping center.
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|
| 1767 | 19,500 | | 1800 | 29,500 | | 1840 | 60,000 | | 1867 | 102,600 | | 1881 | 169,300 | | 1897 | 282,200 | | 1913 | 517,500 | | 1920 | ¹185,100 | | 1930 | 377,900 | | 1940 | 353,800 |
| | Year | Population |
|---|
| 1941 | 335,200 | | 1945 | ²228,200 | | 1950 | 482,300 | | 1955 | 566,900 | | 1959 | 580,400 | | 1965 | 665,200 | | 1970 | 731,800 | | 1975 | 795,600 | | 1979 | 835,500 | | 1987 | 900,300 |
| | Year | Population |
|---|
| 1990 | 909,135 | | 1991 | 900,455 | | 1992 | 889,741 | | 1993 | 863,657 | | 1994 | 843,552 | | 1995 | 824,988 | | 1996 | 810,172 | | 1997 | 797,947 | | 1998 | 786,612 | | 1999 | 776,008 |
| |
With 727,578 inhabitants as of 2006, Riga is the largest city in the
Baltic States, though its population has been on the decrease since
1991. Notable causes include out-migration and low fertility rates. Some have estimated that the population may fall by as much as 50% by 2050.
[1] According to the 2001 data, native Latvians make up 41.5% of the population of Riga, with percentage of Russians at 43.5%, Belarusians at 4.6%, Ukrainians at 4.1%, Poles at 2.1%, and others at 4.3%.
[2] By comparison, 59% of Latvia's inhabitants are native
Latvians, 28.5% are
Russians, 3.8% are
Belarusians, 2.5% are
Ukrainians, 2.4% are
Polish, 1.4% are
Lithuanians and the remaining 2.4% are accounted for by other nationalities (2006).
Most
Latvians are
Protestant Evangelical Lutheran Christians (a minority are
Roman Catholics), whereas most Russians belong to the
Russian Orthodox Church. Upon restoration of Latvian independence in 1991, Soviet-era migrants (and any of their offspring born before 1991) were not automatically granted Latvian citizenship. Some have emigrated; this partially accounts for the recent decline in Riga's population. As a result of this repatriation of some Soviet-era migrants, the proportion of Latvians in Riga has slightly increased.
History
Riga is located at the site of an ancient settlement of the
Livonians, an ancient
Finnic tribe, at the junction of the
Daugava and Ridzene () rivers. The Ridzene was originally known as the Riga River, at one point forming a natural harbor called the Riga Lake, neither of which exist today
[3]. Some believe that the name of the river gave Riga its name.
The modern founding of Riga is regarded by historians to have begun with the arrival in Latvia of German traders, mercenaries and religious
crusaders in the second half of the
12th century, attracted by a sparsely populated region, potential new markets and by the
missionary opportunities to
convert the local population to
Christianity. German merchants established an outpost for trading with the
Balts near the
Liv settlement at Riga in 1158. The
Augustinian monk Meinhard built a monastery there
ca. 1190.
Bishop Albert was proclaimed Bishop of
Livonia by his uncle Hartwig,
Archbishop of Bremen and Hamburg in 1199. He landed in Riga in 1201 with 23 ships and more than 1500 armed crusaders, making Riga his bishopric. He established the Order of
Livonian Brothers of the Sword (later a branch of the
Teutonic Knights) and granted Riga city rights in that same year. Albert was successful in converting the King of the Livs,
Caupo of Turaida, to Christianity, although, as related in the
Chronicle of Henry of Livonia ("Henricus Lettus"), it took him three decades to gain full control of
Livonia (German ''Livland''). Riga as well as Livonia and
Prussia came under the auspices of the
Holy Roman (German) Empire. It was not until much later, at the time of
Martin Luther, that Riga, Livonia and Prussia converted to
Protestantism.
Classical view of Riga's Skyline
Riga served as a gateway to trade with the Baltic tribes and with
Russia. In
1282 Riga became a member of the
Hanseatic League (German ''Hanse'', English ''Hansa''). The Hansa developed out of an association of merchants into a loose trade and political union of North German and Baltic cities and towns. Due to its economic protectionist policies which favored its German members, the League was very successful, but its exclusionist policies produced competitors. Its last
Diet convened in 1669, although its powers were already weakened by the end of the
14th century, when political alliances between
Lithuania and
Poland and between
Sweden,
Denmark and
Norway limited its influence. Nevertheless, the Hansa was instrumental in giving Riga economic and political stability, thus providing the city with a strong foundation which endured the political conflagrations that were to come, down to modern times.
Riga's Central Market pavilions and Science Academy Building
As the influence of the Hansa waned, Riga became the object of foreign military, political, religious and economic aspirations. Riga accepted the
Reformation in 1522, ending the power of the archbishops. In 1524, a venerated statue of the Virgin Mary in the Cathedral was denounced as a witch, and given a
trial by water in the
Daugava or Dvina River. The statue floated, so it was denounced as a witch and burnt at Kubsberg
[4]. With the demise of the
Teutonic Knights in 1561, Riga for twenty years had the status of a Free Imperial City, then in 1581, Riga came under the influence of the
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Attempts to reinstitute
Roman Catholicism in Riga and southern Livonia failed as in 1621, Riga and the outlying fortress of
Daugavgriva came under the rule of
Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, who intervened in the
Thirty Years' War not only for political and economic gain but also in favor of German
Lutheran Protestantism. During the
Russo-Swedish War, 1656-1658, Riga withstood a siege by Russians. Riga remained the second largest city under Swedish control until 1710 during a period in which the city retained a great deal of self-government autonomy. In that year, in the course of
Great Northern War,
Russia under
Tsar Peter the Great invaded Riga. Sweden's northern dominance ended, and Russia's emergence as the strongest Northern power was formalized through the
Treaty of Nystad in 1721. Riga was annexed by Russia and became an industrialized port city of the Russian empire, where it remained until
World War I. By 1900, Riga was the third largest city in Russia after
Moscow and
St. Petersburg in terms of numbers of industrial workers.
During these many centuries of war and changes of power in the Baltic, the
Baltic Germans in Riga, successors to Albert's merchants and crusaders, clung to their dominant position despite demographic changes. Riga even employed
German as its official language of administration until the
imposition of
Russian language in 1891 as the official language in the Baltic provinces. All birth, marriage and death records were kept in German up to that year. Latvians began to supplant Germans as the largest ethnic group in the city in the mid-19th century, however, and by 1897 the population was 45% Latvian (up from 23.6% in 1867), 23.8% German (down from 42.9% in 1867), 16.1% Russian, 6% Jewish, 4.8% Polish, 2.3% Lithuanian, and 1.3% Estonian. The rise of a Latvian
bourgeoisie made Riga a center of the
Latvian National Awakening with the founding of the Riga Latvian Association in 1868 and the organization of the first national song festival in 1873. The nationalist movement of the
Young Latvians was followed by the socialist
New Current during the city's rapid industrialization, culminating in the
1905 Revolution led by the
Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party.
A view of Riga on a postcard from around 1900.
The 20th century brought
World War I and the impact of the
Russian Revolution to Riga. The German army marched into Riga in 1917. In 1918 the
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed giving the Baltic countries to Germany. Because of the
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne) of
November 11,
1918, Germany had to renounce that treaty, as did Russia, leaving Latvia and the other Baltic States in a position to claim independence.
After more than 700 years of German, Swedish, Russian rule, Latvia, with Riga as its capital city, thus declared its independence on
November 18,
1918. For more details, see
History of Latvia.
Between World War I and World War II (1918–1940), Riga and Latvia shifted their focus from Russia to the countries of
Western Europe. A democratic, parliamentary system of government with a President was instituted. Latvian was recognized as the official language of Latvia. Latvia was admitted to the League of Nations. The
United Kingdom and
Germany replaced Russia as Latvia's major trade partners. As a sign of the times, Latvia's first Prime Minister,
KÄrlis Ulmanis, had studied agriculture and worked as a lecturer at the
University of Nebraska in the
United States of America.
Laima Clock - a popular meeting place in Riga
Riga was described at this time as a vibrant, grand and imposing city and earned the title of "Paris of the North" from its visitors. This period of rebirth was short-lived, however, as World War II soon followed with
Soviet occupation and annexation of Latvia in 1940,
German occupation in 1941-1944. The
Baltic Germans were forcibly repatriated to Germany at
Hitler's behest, after 700 years in Riga. The Jewish community was forced into a ghetto in the Maskavas neighbourhood, and a concentration camp in Kaizerwald. Hundreds of thousands of Latvians perished and thousands fled into exile in countries all over the world. Latvia lost one-third of its population. The Soviet Union resumed control over Latvia with the defeat of Nazism.
The Soviet occupation after the war was marked by deportations of many Latvians to
Siberia and elsewhere, on the charge that they collaborated with the Nazis. Forced industrialization and planned large-scale immigration of large numbers of non-Latvians from other Soviet republics into Riga, particularly Russians, changed the demographic composition of Riga. High-density apartment developments, such as
Purvciems,
Zolitude, and
Ziepniekkalns ringed the city's edge, linked to the center by
electric railways. By 1975 less than 40% of Riga's inhabitants were ethnically Latvian, a percentage which has risen since Latvian independence.
In 1986 the modern landmark of Riga, the
Riga Radio and TV Tower, whose design is reminiscent of the
Eiffel Tower, was completed.
The policy of economic reform introduced as
Perestroika by Soviet leader
Mikhail Gorbachev led to a situation in the late 1980s in which many Soviet republics, including Latvia, were able to regain their liberty and freedom (see
Latvia). Latvia declared its full ''de facto'' independence on
August 21,
1991 and that independence was recognized by Russia on
September 6,
1991. Latvia formally joined the
United Nations as an independent country on
September 17,
1991. All Russian military forces were removed from 1992 to 1994.
★ In 2001, Riga celebrated its 800th anniversary as a city.
★ On
March 29,
2004 Latvia joined
NATO.
★ On
May 1,
2004 Latvia joined the
European Union.
In 2004, the arrival of
low-cost airlines resulted in cheaper flights from other European cities such as London and Berlin and consequently a substantial increase in numbers of tourists.
[5] However concerns have been expressed about the misbehaviour of some groups of tourists after two British tourists were caught urinating in Freedom Monument Square
[6] prompting the British embassy to issue advice to tourists to behave in a responsible way when drinking.
[7]
View of the city from St. Peter's Church
Climate
Riga Annual Temperature
Sights
A cat on the top of a roof in the Old Town
View of the old town
★ The
Doma Cathedral, considered the largest church in the
Baltic states. Built in the 13th century, it was modified several times in its history. It has a magnificent
organ that dates from 1844.
★
Riga Castle ('RÄ«gas Pils'), which houses the Museum of Latvian History and the Museum of Foreign Art.
★ St. Peter's Church, with its 123 m high tower.
★ St. John's Church, a small 13th-century chapel, behind St. Peter's Church.
★ The Powder Tower ('Pulvertornis'), the only tower that remains from the original city walls. The Latvian Museum of War is located inside.
★ Wooden architecture
open air museum.
★ The Occupation Museum of Latvia, which documents the seizure and occupation of Latvia by different forces from 1918 to 1991.
★ Art Nouveau architecture on Central Riga streets such as Alberta and Elizabetes Iela.
★
Riga Radio and TV Tower - the third highest tower in Europe.
★ Motormuzejs (Motormuseum) - collection of retro automobiles, including some historically significant autos, for example, Brezhnev's and Stalin's limousines with waxworks of these political figures. Located in
Mežciems.
★ Riga Zoo and
Mežaparks(Forest Park) with a Ferris wheel.
★ Domina Shopping Centre - the largest shopping centre in the Baltic states (located in the North-West side of
Purvciems).
★ Riga Circus - the only stationary circus in the Baltic States.
Development and future
In the near future, the face of Riga will undergo notable changes. In 2008, the first stage of the new Southern Bridge route across the Daugava will be completed.
[9] The Southern Bridge is currently the biggest construction project in Latvia, and will help to reduce traffic jams and the amount of traffic in the city centre.
[10] An another big construction project is the planned Riga Northern Transport Corridor,
[11] which is scheduled to start in 2010. The construction of a new landmark — the Latvian National Library building — is beginning in the autumn of 2007 and is due to be built by 2010.
[12] Currently discussions are underway in Riga council about the development of the central areas on the left bank of the Daugava. The major dispute surrounds plans to build skyscrapers in Ķīpsala. The construction of 3 buildings in Ķīpsala has already started — the Da Vinci complex (25 floors, construction stopped) and two
high-rises called Z-Towers (30 floors).
[13][14]
Riga's neighbourhoods
The Powder Tower of Riga
The city of Riga consists of six administrative regions, four of which are named after regions of
Latvia -
Kurzeme district,
Latgale suburb,
Vidzeme suburb,
Zemgale suburb. There is also a Central District and a Northern district. Residents, however, divide Riga into residential neighbourhoods called ''micro regions.'' Unlike the city center, they are mostly residential although they are equipped with commercial sectors. These neighbourhoods include:
★
Ä€genskalns - Left bank, old neighbourhood, mainly built in late 19th - early 20th century.
★
Andrejsala - An emerging art, culture and enterteinment district, located within former territory of the industrial port.
★
BeberbeÄ·i - A neighbourhood consisting mainly of private houses, it lies on the western edge of the city. Swampy forest ''Mukupurvs'' and
Riga Airport noise area devides it from the rest of the city.
★
BolderÄja - Left bank, Northernmost neighbourhood.
18th century fort bilt by
Peter the Great is one of the oldest buildings in this part of the city.
★
ÄŒiekurkalns - Right bank, old neighbourhood.
★
DÄrzciems - Right bank, mainly consists of one- or two-story private houses.
★
Dreiliņi - A newly built neighbourhood in the eastern part of the city.
★
Dzirciems - Left bank, South of Iļģuciems.
★
Iļģuciems - Left bank, North of Āgenskalns.
★
Imanta - Left bank, newly-built neighbourhood.
★
Jugla - Right bank, large neighbourhood, lies just West of lake Juglas.
★
Ķengarags - Right bank, South-East of city center. One of the most inhabited neighbourhoods in town.
★
Ķīpsala - island located just West of the Old Town. Home to The Press Office and Exhibition Hall.
★
Maskavas Forštate - located South of the city centre.
★
Mežaparks - Right bank, consists largely of private houses. Notable for it's large forest-like park and the city zoo.
★
Mežciems - Right bank, just East of large Biķernieku forest.
★
PÄrdaugava - Not really a neighbourhood by itself, but the name is frequently used when talking about Left bank, particularly Ä€genskalns and Torņakalns.
★
PleskodÄle - A neighbourhood consisting mostly of private houses on the west side of the city. It borders ZolitÅ«de and Å ampÄ“teris neighbourhoods.
★
Pļavnieki - Right bank, one of the town's most inhabited neighbourhoods.
★
Purvciems - Right bank.
★
Sarkandaugava - Right bank, East of the small river with the same name.
★
Šampēteris - An old neighbourhood on the best bank of Daugava, with many houses built in the first part of 20th century still surviving.
★
Å merlis - Right bank, more of a forest than a neighbourhood, it is home to Riga's Cinema Studio.
★
Torņakalns - Left bank, old neighbourhood known for the MÄras pond.
★
VecmÄ«lgrÄvis - Right bank, cut off the mainland by a small river, MÄ«lgrÄvis.
★
Vecrīga - Old Town.
★
Ziepniekkalns - Left bank, consists both of old and new buildings.
★
Zolitūde - Left bank, another newly-built neighbourhood, just South of Imanta.
Some common factors in these place names are "vec" meaning old [vecs], "kalns" meaning hill, "ciems" meaning village, "sala" meaning island and "mež" meaning forest [mežs].
'Panorama over Riga from Latvian Academy of Sciences'
Panorama från Stadshustornet
Riga in different languages
★
★
★
★
★
Notable people
Sister cities
Riga maintains
sister city relationships with the following cities:
| Aalborg, Denmark (1989) | Florence, Italy | Slough, UK |
| Almati, Kazakhstan | Alicante, Spain | Calais, France |
| Amsterdam, The Netherlands | Cairns, Australia | Dunkirk, France (1960) |
| Astana, Kazakhstan | Kiev, Ukraine | Bordeaux, France |
| Kobe, Japan | Bremen, Germany | Moscow, Russia |
| Dallas, USA | Minsk, Belarus | Norrköping, Sweden |
| Beijing, China | Pori, Finland | Rostock, Germany |
| Saint Petersburg, Russia | Santiago, Chile | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Suzhou, China | Taipei, Taiwan | Tallinn, Estonia |
| Vilnius, Lithuania | Warsaw, Poland | Guam, USA |
| Providence, USA |
See also
★
Public transport in Riga
★
Riga City Council
★
Archbishops of Riga
References
1. Latvia Looks West, But Legacy of Soviets Remains
2. Riga in Figures
3. Teritorija un administratÄ«vÄs robežas vÄ“sturiskÄ skatÄ«jumÄ
4. , , Diarmaid, MacCulloch, Penguin, 2003,
5. Latvia prepares for a tourist invasion Jonathan Charles
6. UK tourist urinates in Freedom Monument square
7. British embassy warns tourists in Latvia: think before you drink
8. Pogoda.ru.net
9. About the South Bridge
10. Southern Bridge project homepage
11. About the Northern Corridor
12. About the construction of the Castle of Light
13. Da Vinci project info
14. Z-Towers project description
External links
★
Virtual tour of old Riga
★
Riga Municipality portal
★
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