Riga photo collection place by place

[Linguine]

nice rooftop shots, very colorful too.....

[dj4life]

Great update with some marvelous pictures, Vecais!

[Vecais Sakarnis]

546. Inside Konvent yard. Konvent yard was built in place of another Riga castle - the Castle of Knights of Sword Order (the so called White Stone Castle), which was destroyed in 1297. The castle was rebuilt on the embankment of the Daugava in the former site of the Holy Ghost Hospital (which therefore was rebuilt instead the ruins of the White Stone Castle). After some time this place was renamed as the Convent Yard of the Holy Ghost.



547. Konvent yard consisted of many shelters - for poor people, for widows, etc. The Convent Yard included also “Asylum of the Grey Sisters”, a hospital and nursery home for the ill. The hospital was built in 1488 and rebuilt in 1860. The name “Asylum of the Grey Sisters” originated from grey cloaks the nuns there were wearing. In the end of the 17th century a road was made in the Convent Yard between Kalēju and Skārņu streets.



548.

[Vecais Sakarnis]

549. Judging from the inscription this bar pretends to be more than 200 years old. But actually it is the drink itself - Riga's black balsam (one of the most famous Latvian products) was invented in 18th century.



550.



551. Spiral stairs in one of the "dead ends"

[aarhusforever]

Wauw, Riga would be a great place to shoot a movie. All the buildings and areas look so stunning. Lovely

[bleetz]

Why can't they build quarters like this any more? Seriously, why?

[bebrs12]

Because buyers care much more about price and convenience of the estate rather than visual appeal.

[Vecais Sakarnis]

Originally Posted by aarhusforever

Wauw, Riga would be a great place to shoot a movie. All the buildings and areas look so stunning. Lovely

Indeed, and actually more and more movie producers realize that: Riga becomes internationally popular filming location

[dj4life]

Riga deserves even much more!
Thanks to you, Vecais, we can explore the most beautiful and interesting corners of the city.

[Vecais Sakarnis]

552. This sculpture was located at art gallery which was there (now gallery is moved to Elizabetes street).



553.



554. Amber (fossil resin), organic jewel of Baltic sea coast, is widely used in souvenir production and selling to tourists here. It has even special shop which disguises in it's name as "museum".



555.



556.

[Vecais Sakarnis]

557. Konvent Yard in light festival Staro Riga 2009. The story about "Laima" chocolate was projected on the walls...



558.



559.



560. John's Yard - neighbouring patio to Konvent Yard, connected with medieval gates. Exactly here that first Riga castle was located which Rigans destroyed in 13th century. In the picture you see medieval fortress wall - one of few places in Riga Old Town where it is preserved (reconstructed in 1960). This outdoor cafe is very popular in summer, people like to sit here and enjoy some beer in the middle of medieval atmosphere.



561. Exit from John's Yard to St Peter's church/st John church area (from where we came).



562. Entrance to st John's Yard from Kalēju street (where we head to).

[Tin_Can]

Out of curiosity - is there any website or place where you could see some drawings,maps or even better - 3D renders of old Riga city wall & other military defences when they were still intact?

[Vecais Sakarnis]

Originally Posted by Tin_Can

Out of curiosity - is there any website or place where you could see some drawings,maps or even better - 3D renders of old Riga city wall & other military defences when they were still intact?

I haven't discovered such web-site where something like that would be collected..

[ABC LV]

Here you can find a simple map (scroll down)
English version for some reason doesn't work.
http://www.citariga.lv/?page=303&id=12&part=1&lng=1

http://www.citariga.lv/?page=303&id=12&lng=1

[Vecais Sakarnis]

563. Kalēju street 23. This weird tenement house is built in 1903, reconstructed exactly 80 years later. Now it houses offices in upper floors (as most buildings in Old Town) and a cafe in first floor.



564. This "ecclectic decorative Art Nouveau" is not in my taste somehow. But, of course, although I'm not a fan of it, I must admit it's interesting. To provoke more reactions in this thread I will give my ratings to some buildings (you can give yours too!). This one goes for 5/10.



565. Overview of Kalēju street in it's section from Audēju street to Līvu square. Ugly concrete box you see at the end of it is not there anymore - now there is ugly metal box. Progress!



566. Kalēju street facade at walking level.



567. Jāņa street which connects Kalēju and Skārņu streets is short but very scenic street.



568. Same street at night. Don't what these "drying clothes" there for, but it catches attention in a positive way. The yellow house on left is from 17th Century. Now it's housing some restaurant and a hostel.

[Galro]

Originally Posted by Vecais Sakarnis

563. Kalēju street 23. This weird tenement house is built in 1903, reconstructed exactly 80 years later. Now it houses offices in upper floors (as most buildings in Old Town) and a cafe in first floor.

Now, that was one weird building. Looks like something a child would draw. Like you, it is not my taste but I can appreciate the uniqueness of it. To you have any more similar buildings in the city? Perhaps something done by the same arhitect or some one else on the same drugs?

[Vecais Sakarnis]

569. Some textile shop show-window on Jāņa street.

[Vecais Sakarnis]

double post

[Vecais Sakarnis]

Originally Posted by Galro

Now, that was one weird building. Looks like something a child would draw. Like you, it is not my taste but I can appreciate the uniqueness of it. To you have any more similar buildings in the city? Perhaps something done by the same arhitect or some one else on the same drugs?

Well, that was exactly my first thought too - on drugs The architect is Paul Mandelstam and his other buildings in Riga isn't in such style. Btw, he experienced tragic death - he was Jew and murdered by Nazis in 1941.

Riga, of course, has many Art Nouveau buildings, but such one, which resembles cannabis smokers' drawings, to me is only one.

[aljuarez]

Great work, Vecais!
I hope that's not really you in your avatar!!!