Riga Castle, Medieval castle at River Daugava bank, Latvia
Riga Castle is a fortress on the Daugava riverbank that displays construction from different eras, beginning with medieval foundations and evolving through centuries. The building features red brick walls with a distinctive roofline marked by three prominent towers.
The castle originated around 1330, with its current structure built during the 1500s on top of earlier fortification remains. Ownership changed hands across centuries under different rulers, each leaving traces in the building's form.
The courtyard serves as a living gathering space where visitors witness regular events and performances throughout the year. This active use keeps the castle connected to daily city life rather than feeling frozen in history.
The castle sits directly along the river and is easy to reach on foot from the Old Town center. Interior rooms are accessible through guided or self-guided visits, with regular rotating exhibitions available year-round.
A fire in 2013 damaged much of the interior, triggering major restoration work that allowed spaces to be renewed with current conservation techniques. This incident inadvertently improved access and preservation of many rooms.
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