Located in the former church of St George (adapted for temporary exhibitions), this museum displays its collections in two large rooms. The first (level 2) is dedicated to the early days of applied arts in Latvia (19C-20C). The second deals with desi..

The best-known building in Lives Square is an Art Nouveau building on the corner of Meistaru Street. It is the famous house of cats (Kaka nams) built in 1903 by Friedrich Scheffel. The story goes that the cats with arched backs on the rooftop express..

This museum is sited in a vast historicist building dating from 1905. It primarily deals with the great Latvian painters of the late 19C to the middle of the 20C (Janis Rozentals, Janis Valters, Uga Skulme, Janis Liepins, Valdemars Tone…), but also h..

In the new town to the north of Old Riga, Alberta Street is worth a detour on account of the rich and diverse Art Nouveau architecture which lines it, illustrating the extraordinary creativity of this movement. Note in particular the five buildings b..

Bordered by footpaths, the Amata Valley is one of the most striking landscapes in the Gauja park, with spectacular rocky outcrops. The best known, the Zvarte iezis , is also (the less sporty will be pleased to learn) accessible by car from Karli alo..

The River Daugava crosses Belarus for 350km to reach the gulf of Riga. Above the village of Koknese, a barrage was built across the river to generate electricity for the valley, submerging part of Koknese castle (built in the early 13C). A model bear..

The fire which the castle suffered at the very beginning of the 21C was mercifully not fatal. Indeed, the subsequent programme to restore this building, originally built by Baron Adolf von Wulf in the 19C, is astonishing for the breadth of styles it ..

This prety traditional hamlet is surrounded by forest. 19C log houses with thatched roofs encircle a village green. Meadows and orchards provide the pleasant fragrance of wild grasses and flowers. The typical Vidzeme barn smells of smoke and straw. T..

The P 81 between Braki and Madonna is punctuated by interesting sites (near Mengeli, visit the house of the Jurjani brothers, classical musicians; climb to the top of Gaizinkalns). In particular, don’t miss the other-worldly sight of the splendid Lak..

Lying in the southeast of the country, Latgale has a unique character. This is a region of immutable ancestral traditions where time seems to stand still. While its countryside is today somewhat depopulated (many having left for the cities), it remai..

Built in 1810 by the Tsarist army to repel Napoleonic forces, this fortress is the jewel of the city, albeit currently in need of a clear social purpose. The fortress’s impressive dimensions – it housed 6 000 Russian troops between the end of the Sec..

Bird lovers should make a detour to visit this lake, the country’s largest, with huge expanses of marshland. Information centre and observation towers. During April and May, thousands of migratory birds come through here, notably large flocks of swan..

This park borders Liepaja beach for 3km, a place for strolls and open-air activities, perhaps a game of tennis, before taking a dip in the sea. A lovely spot which will appeal to visitors of all ages.

Separated from the Baltic by the Jurmala maritime park, this district is notable primarily for its fine houses bordering Liepu Street.

Built in 1910 in the neo-Moorish style, this colourful covered market is particularly animated. Behind it is a vast open-air space where clothing, plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables are sold.

If the opportunity arises, take in a concert here to see this church’s remarkable interior at its best. A monumental organ (7 000 pipes) occupies the sanctuary.

Not far from the frontier, Lake Pape is a saline lagoon with landscape resembling France’s Camargue region. Many migratory birds (more than 250 species) take up residence here between August and November. The area is also a habitat for wild horses th..

Running for 2km, these underground quarries are the result of sand extraction for use in the glassmaking industry during the reign of Duke Jekabs. Today they make for an extraordinary, at times entrancing, spectacle

A poignant opportunity to learn about Janis Rainis and Elza Plieksane (nicknamed Aspazija), engaged Latvian poets who were exiled here in Tsarist times. They lived here for three years before the death of Janis, living on the first floor of this litt..

The silhouette of this large wooden building topped by a turret overlooking the beach has become the emblem of this resort. During the Belle Époque period, it was the fashion to take baths of heated sea water here.