Riga TV Tower
Aug 27, 2010 Masterpiece, Places
Riga TV Tower is the tallest freestanding structure in the European Union. It is 386.5 meters tall and was built in 1987 (completely finished only in 1989). Today it is used for transmitting TV and radio channels as well as providing telecommunication services for various organisations and state institutions.
The tower reminds us a little bit of Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is located just outside the city center on the Zaķusala island in the river Daugava. The tower invites everyone to visit their observation deck which is located at the height of 97m, it is the highest publicly accessible observation point in Riga. In the good weather Riga Gulf, Riga Hydroelectric Power Plant and even Sigulda can be seen.
Grebenshikov’s Old Believers Preaching House
Jul 18, 2010 Places
In the district of Riga not so much attractive to most tourists there is one more place worth seeing. With its 27 000 members it is the biggest Old Believers preaching house in the world - Grebenshikov’s Old Believers church.
Old Believers became separated from the official Russian Orthodox Church after 1666-1667 as a protest against church reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon. Their liturgical practices are the same as the Russian Orthodox Church maintained before these reforms.
At the time of reforms many of splitters from the Russian Orthodox Church had to run away from the persecution, they mostly found their shelter in the northern Russia, and also in Latvia which then was partially Polish and Swedish.
The church is named after a rich merchant who supported it for a good while. It is also the only church in Latvia that has a golden dome.
Tags: Latvia, Old Believers, Riga
Wooden Architecture Of Riga
Feb 16, 2010 Places
About four thousand wooden houses. Doesn’t sound like a typical 21st century European capital, but who says Riga is typical? No other European city has so much wooden architecture left from previous centuries.
You can enjoy these nice old buildings already coming from Riga International Airport to the city center on Kalnciema Street where wooden houses stand between stone houses. And this is how it is almost anywhere in Riga. Stone buildings, brick buildings, art nouveau, modern buildings and between them original wooden architecture even from 18th century.
If you head out of the city center you can even find whole quarters of wooden architecture. Ķīpsala is definitely a must visit! But try other places too - Āgenskalns, Maskačka. Or just walk around just outside the UNESCO heritage city center - you may find some unexpected true treasures!
