Bastejkalns Park, Public park next to Freedom Monument, Riga, Latvia
Bastejkalns Park is a landscaped green space with stone terraces, meandering paths, and a canal system that links the Old Town with broader city avenues through a series of bridges. The waterfall cascade and carefully maintained lawns form the main features of this central Riga park.
The park was created in 1856 after the Riga Fortress ramparts were demolished, reclaiming the Sand Bastion area for public use. This conversion of military ground into green space shaped how the city center would develop for the next generations.
Sculptures and art pieces sit throughout the park, and visitors notice how the space connects the fortified old quarter with the modern avenues beyond.
The park is open to visitors year-round with no time restrictions, and it is easily reached on foot from the Old Town. Multiple bridges help you cross the canals and move between different levels of the green space.
A floating wooden cottage designed by architect Heinrich Scheel sits anchored on pontoons in the canal and has remained a permanent park feature for over 130 years. This unusual structure shows a creative way of working with water in the middle of the city.
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