Vecrīga, also known as Vecpilsēta, is the historical center of Riga, Latvia. It is located in the Central District on the east side of the Daugava River. Vecrīga is known for its old churches and cathedrals, such as Riga Cathedral, St. James's Cathedral, and St. Peter's Church.
History
Vecrīga is the original area of Riga and was the city's boundaries before it expanded greatly in the late 1800s. Vecrīga was once surrounded by a wall, except for the side near the Daugava River. When the wall was removed, water from the Daugava River was directed into the area where the wall once stood, forming the Riga City Canal.
In the early 1990s, traffic was not allowed on Vecrīga's streets. Only people who lived there and local delivery vehicles with special permits could enter the area. Vecrīga is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site called "Historic Centre of Riga," which also includes most of the nearby Centrs district.
Vecrīga is the oldest part of Riga. Although many buildings were originally made of wood, many structures from the Renaissance, Baroque, and medieval periods remain. These buildings are located among other notable structures in the Art Nouveau style, especially those designed by the well-known architect Mikhail Eisenstein.
Landmarks
Churches
• Church of St. Peter
• Dome Cathedral
• Cathedral of Saint James
• Church of Saint John
• Church of Our Lady of Sorrows
• Anglican Church
• Reformed Church
• Church of Mary Magdalene
Museums
• Military Museum
• Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation
• Sports Museum
• Latvian Museum of Pharmacy
• Latvian Museum of Photography
• Riga Castle
• Latvian Museum of National History
• Art Museum Riga Bourse
• Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts
• Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
• Latvian Museum of Architecture
• Riga Film Museum
• Museum of the Popular Front
Gallery
- The original borders of Old Riga in 1637
- St. John's Church in Riga
- The House of the Blackheads and the Roland statue
- A part of the medieval city wall that has been rebuilt
- Riga Castle located in Vecrīga
- Riga Town Hall located in Vecrīga
- Looking down from above at Town Hall Square
- A view of Vanšu Bridge
- The 11 November Embankment