What to See in Latvia - Top Sights and Attractions

Medieval church with a high steeple. St. Peter's Church is a Lutheran church in Riga, the capital of Latvia, dedicated to Saint Peter. It is a parish church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia.^[1]

Castle in Riga, Latvia. Riga Castle is a castle on the banks of River Daugava in Riga, the capital of Latvia. The castle was founded in 1330. Its structure was thoroughly rebuilt between 1497 and 1515. Upon the castle's seizure by the Swedes, they constructed spacious annexes in 1641. The fortress was continually augmented and reconstructed between the 17th and 19th centuries. Sometime in the 1930s, some renovation work was done by architect Eižens Laube. The Latvian government declared the castle its residence in 1938. Today it is the official residence of the President of Latvia as well as home to several museums.^[2]

Outdoor museum with houses and interiors. The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia is an open-air museum located just outside Riga, the capital of Latvia, on the lightly wooded shores of Jugla Lake.^[3]

Waterfall. Venta Rapid is a waterfall on the Venta River in Kuldīga, Latvia. It is the widest waterfall in Europe at 249 metres, and becomes as wide as 270 metres during spring floods. The height of the falls varies from 1.80 to 2.20 metres depending on the level of water in the river.^[4]

Sports complex in Sigulda, Latvia. The Sigulda bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track is located in Sigulda, Latvia, built in 1986. Currently, the track manager is Dainis Dukurs, former bobsleigh brakeman and the father of skeleton racers Martins and Tomass Dukurs.^[5]

Palace in Jelgava, Latvia. Jelgava Palace or historically Mitau Palace is the largest Baroque-style palace in the Baltic states. It was built in the 18th century based on the design of Bartolomeo Rastrelli as a residence for the Dukes of Courland in their capital of Mitau. The Dukes of Courland also had a summer palace by Rastrelli, about 40 kilometers to the southeast, called Rundāle Palace.^[6]

Kuldīga Castle also Goldingen Castle and Jesus Castle was a medieval castle of the Livonian Order in historical Courland in town Kuldīga near Venta Rapid. Today on the left bank of the Venta at the end of the old bridge one can find the former castle mill, a castle guard's house and a city park with the castle ruins on Rumba Hill.

National archaeological site, approved by Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia Order No. of 29 October 1998, 128 as an object of state protection No. 1233 : Kuldīga Medieval Castle.^[7]

Cathedral in Liepāja, Latvia. The St Nicholas Naval Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox cathedral church located in Karosta in the north of Liepāja, Latvia.^[8]

The Great Amber Concert Hall is a concert hall, cultural and arts centre in Liepāja, Latvia. The building features a cone-shaped structure, enveloped by a tilted glazed facade.

The Liepāja Symphony Orchestra is a resident of the concert hall.^[9]

Cathedral in Liepāja, Latvia. The St. Joseph Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Liepāja located in Liepāja, Latvia.^[10]

Cathedral in Daugavpils, Latvia. The Saints Boris and Gleb Cathedral is the main Orthodox church in Daugavpils, Latvia. It can hold 5,000 people, being the biggest Orthodox church in Latvia.

The cathedral is situated in Jaunbūve neighbourhood on the Church hill, along with the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the Martin Luther Lutheran Cathedral, and the House of Prayer of Daugavpils First Old Believers' Community.^[11]

Palace in Latvia. Rundāle Palace is one of the two major baroque palaces built for the Dukes of Courland in what is now Latvia, the other being Jelgava Palace. The palace was built in two periods, from 1736 until 1740 and from 1764 until 1768. It is situated at Pilsrundāle, in Rundāle Parish, Bauska Municipality in the Semigallia region, 12 km west of Bauska.^[12]

Building complex in Bauska, Latvia. Bauska Castle is a complex consisting of the ruins of an earlier castle and a later palace on the outskirts of the Latvian city of Bauska.

While originally a hill fort, the Livonian branch of the Teutonic Knights built the castle in the fifteenth century, the palace was added in the sixteenth century, and restoration began in the nineteenth century.^[14]

Fortress in Daugavpils, Latvia. Daugavpils Fortress, also known as Dinaburg Fortress or Dvinsk Fortress, is an early 19th century fortress in Daugavpils, Latvia. It is the only early 19th century military fortification of its kind in Northern Europe that has been preserved without significant alterations. The construction of the fortress began in 1810 by decree of Tsar Alexander I of Russia, in the atmosphere of increased tension before Napoleon's invasion of the Russian Empire in 1812. Construction of the fortress, due to Napoleon's invasion, lengthy delays, serious floodings and slow construction work, was fully completed only in 1878.

The Mark Rothko Art centre is located in the former Artillery arsenal.^[15]

The Latgale Culture and History Museum in Rēzekne, Latvia, is a history museum with a large collection of items, including Latgalian ceramics. It receives about 31,000 visitors per year.^[16]

Museum park with sculpture and castle. Turaida Castle is a recently reconstructed medieval castle in Turaida, in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, on the opposite bank of the Gauja River from Kurzeme.^[18]

Padure Manor is a manor house built in empire style located about 200 metres from a large pond formed by the waters of the Venta river, in Padure Parish, Kuldīga Municipality, Latvia. Used as a war hospital during the German occupation in the Second World War, it housed the Padure parish library until 2005.^[19]

Castle in Sigulda, Latvia. Sigulda Castle also known as Sigulda New Castle. Built in 1878 in the Neo-Gothic style as the living house for the owners of the manor, the Kropotkin family. The building has changed its owners and functions several times. Since 1993, the Sigulda Region Council has been located in the castle.^[20]

Historical landmark in Sigulda, Latvia. Sigulda Medieval Castle ruins are located on the edge of the Gauja valley in Latvia. The original castle was built in 1207 as a castellum type fortress, later rebuilt into a convent type building. The residence of the Land Marshal of the Livonian Order since 1432.

Due to its importance as a tourist attraction, the old castle walls have been fortified many times in the 20th century. The castle reopened its walls to visitors in 2012 and now encourages everyone to step back in time and enjoy the surroundings that bore witness to many historical events. It is possible to climb up the North Tower, the Main Gate Tower and enjoy the medieval aura.^[21]

Cathedral in Jelgava, Latvia. The Cathedral of Sts Simeon and Anne, located at 12 Akadēmijas Street in Jelgava, is a cathedral of the Latvian Orthodox Church, one of four Orthodox cathedrals in Latvia.^[22]

Catholic church in Jelgava, Latvia. Cathedral of the Immaculate Virgin Mary or the Cathedral of Our Lady is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Jelgava, is located in Jelgava, Latvia.^[23]

Museum in Ventspils, Latvia. Ventspils Castle is located in Ventspils, Latvia. It is one of the oldest and most well-preserved Livonian Order castles remaining, in that it has retained its original layout since the 13th century. Through its 700-year history, it has been used as a fortress, residence, garrison, school, military base, and prison. In 1995, the castle was restored to its 19th-century appearance, and was converted into a museum.^[24]

Museum in Sigulda, Latvia. The Krimulda Castle is located just outside Sigulda, Sigulda Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia and is a tourist attraction. The castle dates from the 14th century and was destroyed in a war in 1601. Prince Liven’s living house was built in the classic style. The manor complex consists of steward’s house, coach house, Swiss cottage, etc. Home wine tasting is available by prior arrangement.^[25]