Great and Small Guild Halls
During the centuries of German economic domination, the guilds were Riga's power brokers. The former, dating from 1384, was the home of the merchants, while the latter held the city's artisans. These slightly different audiences are reflected in the respective usage of the buildings today: while the Great Guild is home to the Philharmonic Orchestra, its smaller cousin hosts conferences and the occasional youth disco.
House of Blackheads
One of the architectural treasures of Riga, it was just recently rebuilt in honour of the city's 800th anniversary in 2001. Dating from 1344, it was destroyed in 1941. The politically incorrect Soviets completely pulled down the ruins in 1948, because it was considered to represent 'decadent' German architecture. A striking Gothic building with a Dutch Renaissance facade, it was used to house travelling, single members of the merchants' guild. Many of its fantastic riches accompanied Baltic-Germans who repatriated to Germany in the late 1930s. The building is now open to the public.
The Dome Cathedral
The foundation
stone of the Dome was laid in 1211, when Bishop Albert had a great plan
of building a church, a monastery, some more buildings to present the
power of Catholic church in Riga.
Its present appearance is a result of impact of numerous architectural
styles during centuries. The oldest part, built in the manner of Romanesque,
is the Altar. Gothic style has left its influence on the development of
Basilica, Baroque has changed the Dome Spire to present state, by the
way, the height of the spire is 90 m, as well as the Easter Pediment.
The pseudo-gothic Western Entrance was built in the second part of the
19th cent. (architect J.Felsko). Then stained-glass panels were placed
in the windows also.
The Dome Cathedral is famous for its organ, constructed by a German company
"E.F.Walker & Co" in 1884. The reconstruction of it was
carried out by the Dutch company "Flentrop-Orgelbow B.V.-Zaandam".
Now the services are held in the Dome Cathedral, as well as you can enjoy
the organ concerts there.
RIGA
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