Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten, Bronze sculpture near St. Peter's Church, Latvia
Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten depicts four animals from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale: a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster stacked on top of each other between two metal bands. The bronze statue stands about three meters tall on Skarnu Street in the northern section of Riga's Old Town, located directly next to St. Peter's Church.
Bremen presented this sculpture to its partner city Riga in 1990, symbolizing the opening of the Iron Curtain during the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The artwork marked the restoration of cultural ties and the beginning of a new relationship between the two cities after decades of separation.
The animals peer through a gap in the wall, representing the discovery of new horizons during a time of major political transformation. Visitors often touch the shining noses of the figures as a way to mark this moment of hope and change.
The sculpture stands freely accessible in a public space and can be viewed from all sides, particularly visible from the adjacent street. There are no restrictions to visiting and it can be seen at any time of day.
The noses of the animals shine with a golden color because visitors touch them for good fortune, with the rooster's beak being particularly difficult to reach. This everyday gesture has polished the bronze surface and continuously changes the appearance of the figures over time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
