The Cat House
In the Old Town of Riga, there is only one building topped not by a rooster, but by a black cat, known as the "Cat House." In many European countries, since the Middle Ages, black cats have been symbols of the devil and omens of bad luck. However, this black cat stands proudly on the roof, and behind such an interesting building, there is naturally an interesting story.
The owner of the Cat House was once an extremely wealthy local German merchant. However, due to his improper conduct, he was refused entry into the prestigious "Great Guild" merchant association. In his indignation, he built this mansion directly opposite the guild hall and placed two black cats with arched backs and raised tails on the towers on both sides of the house. Even more daringly, he pointed the cats' posteriors toward the "Great Guild House," using this insulting gesture to express his dissatisfaction with the association. Such an act naturally drew strong protests from the guild. Eventually, the dispute was mediated by the court, and the guild and the owner of the Cat House reached an agreement to preserve the building, but the orientation of the cats was changed so that their heads faced the guild.
Looking at the black cats on the yellow building under the sun, both the owner of the Cat House and the guild are long gone. The past grievances and rights and wrongs have now turned into a fascinating topic of conversation and a unique ancient building, left for visiting foreign tourists to savor, while also adding much joy to their travels.
Sigulda Castle
Sigulda Castle is usually referred to as the New Sigulda Castle, mainly to distinguish it from the ruins of the medieval Sigulda Castle located next to it, which was built in the late 19th century. Both are located in the Sigulda region of Latvia. Sigulda is a small town in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, 53 kilometers from the Latvian capital, Riga.
Sigulda Castle is a stone structure with an elegant and grand architectural style, having witnessed the changes of multiple eras. From 1878 to 1881, it was the manor of the Kropotkin family. After World War I, the building served the Latvian Painters' Association, primarily as a place for writers and journalists to relax and recreate. Between 1935 and 1937, Sigulda Castle was rebuilt, and its interior was meticulously designed by Latvian artists such as Vilis Vasariņš, Niklāvs Strunke, Pēteris Ozoliņš, and Kārlis Sūniņš. After World War II, it was used as a sanatorium for the Soviet Ministry of Health. From 1993 to 2003, Sigulda Castle served as the center for the Sigulda City Council, and it is now the center for the Sigulda District Council.
St. Peter's Church, Riga
St. Peter's Church, Riga, is a towering church in the Latvian capital, Riga. It stands 123 meters tall (136 meters before the war) and was first built in 1209, with expansions by Rostock stonemasons in the early 15th century. The current bell tower was completed in 1746 and has been struck by lightning in history, causing it to collapse twice (in 1666 and 1721). Before World War II, it was the tallest wooden structure in Europe. During the war, the roof and bell tower were destroyed by fire. In the 1970s, Soviet engineers rebuilt the church and installed an elevator, allowing people to overlook the scenery of Riga from a height of 70 meters.
St. Peter's Church is a typical Gothic building; both the walls and the tower become more delicate as they rise, with increasing ornamentation, and they are topped with sharp spires piercing the sky, making it the highest point in the Old Town. The entire church displays an upward momentum, a strong upward movement that embodies the religious thought of the church renouncing the mundane world. At the top of the church is a cast-iron rooster, with one side of the body gold and the other black. This rooster is also called a weathercock and serves to determine wind direction; when the gold side faces the city, it indicates a favorable wind, and ships at sea can enter the port; when the black side faces the city, it indicates a headwind, and ships cannot enter the port. Locally, the rooster is also considered capable of warding off ghosts and evil spirits; when the rooster crows three times, the day breaks, and the devil must return to hell, so the rooster is a local symbol of good luck.
Cēsis Castle
Cēsis Castle is located in Cēsis, one of the most beautiful ancient towns in Latvia. Having experienced multiple destructions and reconstructions, the current Cēsis Castle dates back to the early 16th century, when Wolter von Plettenberg, the Master of the Livonian Order, ordered the construction of new walls, moats, and towers to reinforce the fortifications. Cēsis Castle was once the strongest fortress of the Livonian Order, having withstood the tests of various wars. Today, it is the best-preserved castle ruin in Latvia and the most magnificent castle ruin in the Baltic states.
Since 1949, the Cēsis History Museum has been housed in the restored New Cēsis Castle, and the granary and stables in the courtyard in front of it have also been converted into exhibition halls for the museum. In the castle garden, there is an ancient jewelry workshop that introduces ancient Latvian jewelers and their work, where visitors have the opportunity to try it themselves. In addition, there is the oldest brewery in Latvia, the Cēsu alus darītava, built in 1878, and the annual beer festival held here attracts thousands of tourists. The Cēsis Castle Park, built in 1812, surrounds Cēsis Castle. The park's layout is quite romantic, featuring winding paths, exotic flowers and plants, and a pond surrounding the ancient castle.
National History Museum of Latvia
The National History Museum of Latvia is located in the Latvian capital, Riga, and was established in 1869. Since 1920, the museum has been housed in Riga Castle. It became the official National History Museum in 1924. The museum's primary mission is to "collect, preserve, research, and promote the spiritual and material culture related to Latvia and the world from ancient times to the present, mainly covering fields such as archaeology, ethnography, numismatics, historical or artistic significance, and the interests of the Latvian state and people."
The National History Museum of Latvia is the largest repository of Latvian material culture, housing approximately one million items related to Latvian history from 9000 BC to the present. Its collection is mainly divided into five parts, including archaeological excavations, ancient jewelry and coins, national costumes, traditional tools, applied arts, photographs, documents, maps, engravings, paintings, and other historical artifacts of Latvia.
The permanent exhibition of the National History Museum of Latvia mainly displays historical artifacts reflecting Latvian history up to 1940, while some separate exhibitions showcase more specific themes in Latvian history. The museum hosts four to five temporary exhibitions each year, which are very popular with tourists.
Rāzna National Park
Rāzna National Park is located in the Latgale region of Latvia and is the newest national park established in 2007, covering an area of 532 square kilometers. The main purpose of establishing this national park is to protect Lake Rāzna and its surrounding areas, as well as to preserve the cultural and natural landscapes of the entire Latgale region.
Rāzna National Park is home to numerous lakes; for example, Lake Rāzna, with an area of 57.56 square kilometers, is the second-largest lake in Latvia. Because there are many soft sandy beaches around the lake, it is affectionately called the "Latgale Sea" by the locals. The lake is home to many fish species, and ice fishing in the lake during winter is a very interesting activity, with the fish meat being very delicious at this time. In addition, there are many convenient leisure and entertainment facilities around Lake Rāzna, where people can go boating or play on the beach.
Rāzna National Park is also home to the third-highest mountain in Latvia—Lielais Liepukalns, with an altitude of 289 meters. Although not particularly high, it enriches the terrain within the park, and the flora and fauna on the mountain are also very rich. As the youngest national park in Latvia, Rāzna National Park is truly worth a visit for tourists. You can not only see magnificent natural beauty here but also gain an in-depth understanding of the charming Latgale region, where the people are warm and friendly, and the local culture and traditions are quite unique.
Riga Central Market
Riga Central Market is not only the largest market in the Latvian capital, Riga, but also the largest market in Europe. It is the most famous building in Latvia in the 20th century, and in 1998, it was listed as a World Heritage site along with the Old Town of Riga. Riga Central Market is a must-visit place for tourists coming to Riga, because only here can you more thoroughly understand the daily life of the people of Riga.
Riga Central Market is located right in the center of Riga, just a few steps away from the Old Town, on the banks of the Daugava River, near the Riga Bus Station and the Central Railway Station. The plan to build the Riga Central Market began in 1922, and the entire construction project started in 1924 and was completed in 1930. The main structure of the market consists of five repurposed old German Zeppelin hangars, with Neoclassical and Art Deco styles added. The market covers an area of 72,300 square kilometers and has about 3,000 stalls.
The goods at Riga Central Market are very rich and fresh, from vegetables, fruits, poultry, meat, and fish to cheese, honey, pots, pans, hardware, and general merchandise, etc. You can basically get everything you need for a lifetime here. The stalls here also seem to be "hereditary"; being a merchant here from generation to generation seems to be a highly respected job.
Tērvete Nature Park
Returning to childhood fun is perhaps everyone's dream, and Latvia's Tērvete Nature Park is just such a good place. Surrounded by beautiful natural forests and breathing fresh air, people can enjoy a variety of performances, games, and activities together here. Wooden houses and characters from the fairy tale world will make people feel as if they are in a fairy tale world, forgetting the troubles and worries of life; there is nothing wrong with being a big kid for once.
Tērvete Nature Park is a very popular tourist attraction, and a full tour takes at least about three hours. There are fairy-tale forests, playgrounds, and a dwarf forest. Visitors can see pine forests that are about 300 years old, many of which have been carved into various colorful wooden sculptures. These fairy-tale characters are mostly fairy-tale figures from the works of Latvian writer Anna Brigadere.
Coming to Tērvete Nature Park, a must-see is the beautiful Swan Lake, where visitors can rent a small boat to leisurely enjoy the surrounding natural beauty on the lake. This lake is famous for its rich fish species and is also a good bird-watching spot. Visitors can participate in various outdoor activities here, such as swimming, cycling, camping, or other winter outdoor activities.
Preiļi Doll Museum
The Preiļi Doll Museum is located in the small town of Preiļi, Latvia, 60 kilometers north of the city of Daugavpils. This is not a traditional museum containing contemporary dolls like Barbie or Bratz dolls. Here, you will discover a unique collection of dolls, all of which were created by the museum's owner, Jeļena Mihailova, who once created 150 dolls in one year.
The decoration of each doll in the Preiļi Doll Museum is different, and each has its own story. This is an excellent and interesting place for family trips or gatherings with friends. The doll products in the Preiļi Doll Museum have very rich expressions; some are smiling, some are crying, some are dreaming, and some are even flirting, etc. The various expressions displayed by these dolls look as if they were real people. Walking into the Preiļi Doll Museum, you will feel as if you have entered a miniature world. On both sides of the museum are miniature versions of giant castles, with little people driving four-wheeled carriages, and some doing outdoor work. Visitors can take photos with these miniature landscapes while wearing doll costumes handmade by Mihailova.
Rundāle Palace
Rundāle Palace is the most typical Baroque and Rococo style building in Latvia, and the nearby French Rococo garden is the largest and most magnificent garden in the Baltic region. The palace was built between 1736 and 1768 under the guidance of Italian architect Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli. Rastrelli was also the designer of the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia (now the Hermitage Museum).
Rundāle Palace was the summer residence of Ernst Johann von Biron, the monarch of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia. The interior and exterior of the palace have preserved the architectural style of that time to the greatest extent. The palace is luxuriously decorated and filled with countless oil paintings, sculptures, furniture, tapestries, porcelain, glass, silverware, and many other artifacts. Rundāle Palace has a 10-hectare rose garden with a special area called the "Blue Rose," where this flower field is planted with four types of roses in the shape of blooming flowers. This rose garden is the largest in the Baltic region, with more than 2,600 varieties of roses.
Every year, Rundāle Palace hosts the Early Music Festival and the Baroque Garden Festival. Classical concerts and Baroque music are also held here regularly, and guided tours in Russian, English, and German are available.