Daugavpils and Liepāja are other largest cities at a national level. The city joined the Hanseatic League in 1282 and became the dominant centre of trade on the Baltic Sea’s eastern shore. Riga’s German-speaking nobles and merchants retained local privileges under all of the above monarchies. (From left) Riga Dom (cathedral), St. Peter's Church, and St. Saviour's Anglican Church in Riga, Latvia. Independent once again since 1991, Riga's Art Nouveau center has won it UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. The city’s Russian community, which accounted for some two-fifths of Riga’s population in the early 21st century, maintains strong ties to Russia, and it was instrumental in electing the city’s first ethnic Russian mayor in 2009. Before that it was a part of the Russian Empire. When you’re hiking in the Baltics, every step reveals new horizons. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The Soviets returned in October 1944, and for the next four decades Riga was the Soviet Baltic Military District’s command post. Riga is the capital city of the European country of Latvia. ATMs are widely available in Riga and in major towns. Riga, city and capital of Latvia. Riga Aerial View Latvia. (2011) 658,640; (2015 est.) Public education tripled the number of municipal schools in the city, serving a diverse ethnic population with instruction in nine languages. Riga is on river Daugava near the Baltic Sea. Among the public buildings that were renovated in the 1990s was the National Opera, first built as the Riga German Theatre in 1863. Albert of Buxhoevden arrived in 1199 with 23 ships of Crusaders and established the military Order of the Brothers of the Sword (reorganized in 1237 as the Livonian Order, a branch of the Teutonic Order). Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Latvia is a Baltic country located in Northern Europe, bordering Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, Belarus on the southeast, and the Baltic Sea on the west. 14 °F: More filters. A Nordic blonde with a fiery heart, there’s much more to Riga than meets the eye. Enter ZIP/Postal Code or City. Riga, LV 1051. View a wide selection of all new & used boats for sale in Riga, Latvia, explore detailed information & find your next boat on boats.com. Latvia declared renewed independence in May 1990, mobilizing nonviolent resistance to achieve that goal in August 1991. For information concerning travel to Latvia, including information about the location of the U.S. Embassy, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, entry/exit requirements, safety and security, crime, medical facilities and health information, traffic safety, road conditions and aviation safety, please see country-specific information for Latvia. The population grew exponentially in the 1800s, spurred by the 1817–19 abolition of serfdom in Lifland and Kurland as well as by the expansion of railroads (1861). The ķegums hydroelectric power station was completed 30 miles (roughly 50 km) upstream in 1939, and domestic and international flights to Riga’s airport began in the 1920s. The EU budget doesn't aim to redistribute wealth, but rather focuses on the needs of Europeans as a whole. It is yet another country boasting a beautiful Baltic Sea coastline, and it is only one of the many gorgeous, mostly natural, features that this country has to offer. Riga’s astonishing skyline tells the story, as the timeless Gothic spires in the Old Town mingle with the fantastic fa… By means of the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Latvia came under the Soviet “sphere of interest”, together with the other Baltic States, Finland and a part of Poland. Latvia is a Baltic country situated in North Eastern Europe. The latitude of Riga, Latvia is 56.946285, and the longitude is 24.105078.Riga, Latvia is located at Latvia country in the Cities place category with the gps coordinates of 56° 56' 46.6260'' N and 24° 6' 18.2808'' E. Latvia lies along the shores of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga, and it is bounded by Estonia to the north, Russia to the east, Belarus to the southeast, and Lithuania to the south. The Via Baltica highway is a major trucking route to Tallinn, Kaunas, and Warsaw. Open now. It is said that Latvians are very proud of their country. The 14th-century House of Blackheads, damaged during World War II and razed in 1954, was rebuilt in 2000. Radisson Blu Latvija Conference & Spa Hotel, Hotels with Complimentary Breakfast in Riga. It was captured by Sweden in 1621 and then taken in 1709–10 by Peter the Great, with Sweden formally ceding the city to Russia by the Peace of Nystad in 1721. A large community of Russian refugees made Riga a critical listening post for Western intelligence regarding the Soviet Union. Riga International Airport is the hub of the national airline, airBaltic, and is served by daily flights to most European countries. The list of these countries is available on the website of the Latvia’s Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC). Riga, the country’s capital and largest city, is the cultural hub, housing several museums, concert halls and art nouveau buildings. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. In its 800 years of turbulent history, everyone from German knights to Swedish kings and Soviet commissars have left their footprints, and today Latvia’s capital is an exciting European metropolis at the crossroads of eastern and northern Europe. The population vacuum created by war deaths, emigration, and deportations was filled by Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians who settled the Baltic region as part of a Soviet internal immigration policy that continued through the 1980s. An ancient settlement of the Livs and Kurs, Riga emerged as a trading post in the late 12th century. Find locations. Associate Professor of Baltic Studies and Head of the Baltic Studies Program, University of Washington. Nazi Germany occupied the city from 1941 to 1944 during World War II, making it the administrative capital of Ostland, a territory encompassing Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Belarus. The Old Town of Riga, Latvia, astride the Daugava (Western Dvina) River. Telegraph (1852) and telephone (1882) connected Riga’s citizens to the world, and modernizing infrastructure, such as gasworks (1862) and a centralized electrical supply (1905), improved the quality of life for Rigans. Since Latvia's independence in 1918, it has been referred to as one of the Baltic states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Latvia due to COVID-19. Latvia has recently adopted the Euro single currency and is a full European Union member. Updates? Explore Riga's sunrise and sunset, moonrise and moonset. Biotechnology and information technology are growing economic sectors, and services, notably tourism, are increasingly important. LATVIJAS PASTS. Numerous world-class performers began their careers at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. The historic centre of Riga was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - Holocaust Encyclopedia - Riga, Latvia, Riga - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Riga - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). More than 25,000 of the city’s Jews were imprisoned in the Riga ghetto, shot in the Rumbula forest, and buried in mass graves on November 29–30 and December 8–9, 1941. For security purposes, it is recommended that visitors use ATMs located inside major hotels or shopping malls. Riga’s hydroelectric power station went online in 1974. Sort by: Distance; Name A-Z; 1 – 15 of 85. Pop. Monuments near Riga’s canal mark the spot where five civilians were killed by Soviet soldiers during the independence struggle. With a national population of almost 2 million, Christianity is Latvia’s largest religion. Riga, Latvian Rīga, city and capital of Latvia. Latvia is bordered by 4 Nations: by Estonia in the north; Lithuania in the south; Belarus in the southeast and Russia in the east. A mix of the charming, modern, and tried and true. Yes, so on your first visit to the country, when … Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. If a passenger has arrived from a country with a Covid-19 cumulative 14-day incidence over 50 per 100 000 inhabitants, this person is subject to 10-day self-isolation when entering Latvia. Riga’s factories, many of them now affiliates of transnational corporations, build and repair ships, machine tools, rolling stock, diesel engines, and streetcars. Latvia’s independence was declared in Riga on November 18, 1918, and the city became the new republic’s capital. Search country. #everythingboats Its capital and largest city is Riga; other notable major citiesin Latvi… Riga is also the biggest city in the Baltic states, which also include Estonia and Lithuania. The city of Riga, founded in 1201, was the seat of Albert’s bishopric (archbishopric in 1253) and a base for conquering the lands of Livonia to the northeast, Courland to the west, and Semigallia to the south. Scroll right to see more Conditions Comfort Precipitation Sun; Day Temperature Weather Feels Like Wind Humidity Chance Amount UV Sunrise Sunset; Sun Jan 10: 24 / 17 °F: Afternoon clouds. Latvia Coronavirus update with statistics and graphs: total and new cases, deaths per day, mortality and recovery rates, current active cases, recoveries, trends and timeline. Create a Trip to save and organize all of your travel ideas, and see them on a map. Many of the reports revolve around pubs and clubs, and nightlife situations in general. Enter ZIP/Postal Code or City. The city was made a Soviet leader in metalworking as well as in the production of railroad cars and electronics. Can you identify the world’s national capitals? Location map of Latvia Destination Latvia, one of the three Baltic states, situated on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania. The mayor of Riga is Nils Ušakovs. Across the border, Latvia awaits: scenic wetlands, country palaces, and Saturday’s chef-led tour through the converted zeppelin hangars of Riga’s food market. The city’s manufacturing sector expanded to include foundries and machine works, shipbuilding yards, and factories that produced railroad cars, electric appliances, chemicals, and, from the early 1900s, automobiles and airplanes. The Reformation gained a foothold in Riga in the 1520s; the Livonian Order was secularized, and, along with the Livonian Confederation, dissolved in 1561. It’s not often that there are more highlights outside of a small country’s capital city than there are in it. 641,007. Among Riga’s Germans was Paul Schiemann, a leader of the European minorities movement and framer of Latvia’s laws on cultural autonomy for minorities. On the eve of World War I, Riga was the Russian Empire’s third largest city, with a population of 517,000. Latvia has 1,957,200 inhabitants and a territory of 64,589 km (24,938 sq mi). Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? The Latvian capital, the largest city in the Baltics, is a fascinating mixture of proud Latvian tradition and influences of the various countries that have occupied it. A. Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. It’s called Paris of the North.Riga is located in the central part of the country north of the country and on the coast of Riga Bay. Corruption Perceptions Index. Neighborhoods, Points of Interest & Landmarks, Architectural Buildings, Observation Decks & Towers, View of Riga from St Peter's Church Tower. In the late 18th century the city was a haven of Enlightenment thought; the publisher Hartknoch printed major treatises by philosophers Johann Georg Hamann, Johann Gottfried von Herder, and Immanuel Kant as well as German translations of the work of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Riga’s municipal government is typically formed by a coalition of diverse political parties. Riga is the capital city of Latvia, and the country’s most populous city. Opened up to mass tourism with the advent of budget air travel, Riga's Old City and its abundance of bars and restaurants can be explored on foot. Ice hockey, followed by basketball, is the most popular sport in Latvia. The country is also bordered by Russia and Belarus, and it shares maritime borders with Sweden. Learn about the architecture of Riga, Latvia. Omissions? Tim Sestito (43) of Dinamo Riga controls the puck in KHL game between Dinamo Riga and Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk played on DECEMBER 10, 2015 in Arena Riga. The removal of Riga’s medieval fortress walls began in 1857 to speed business, and a railroad bridge across the Daugava was built in 1872. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 0.76 km. Get Riga's weather and area codes, time zone and DST. It is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, Belarus to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Sweden to the west. Riga, the most cosmopolitan city of the Baltic States, has a long history. Riga, being both the capital and most popular city, is the home to much of the tourist scam reports. 58. Telephone connections with the United States are reliable; however, U.S. toll-free numbers cannot be accessed from Latvia. Today Riga’s port facilitates export and transit trade from Russia and Belarus to European ports and beyond; a daily ferry carries passengers and cars to Stockholm. Riga, Latvia Economic Outlook. Industry shifted to consumer goods, among them the world’s smallest camera, the VEF Minox. Latvia lies along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga. Riga. 57. Brivibas Bulvaris 32. Among Riga’s best-known institutions of higher education are the Riga Stradiņš University, Riga Technical University, and the University of Latvia. The University of Latvia, the Art Academy of Latvia, and the Latvian Conservatoire (now the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music) were established in 1919–22, and the Latvian Open-Air Ethnographic Museum (1924) was just one example of the repositories of national history and culture to appear in the 1920s. Tens of thousands of people converge on Riga’s Meaparks choral stage every five years for a celebration of Latvian heritage in song. Learn more about Riga in this article. From 1915 to 1917, however, one of the war’s front lines lay along the Daugava, resulting in heavy damage on both shores; hundreds of thousands were relocated into Russia, and 400 factories were evacuated with all their machinery, never to return. A Latvian constituent assembly, elected in April 1920, met in Riga on May 1; and on August 11 a Latvian-Soviet peace treaty was signed in Riga, the Soviet government renouncing all claims to Latvia. Latvia is positioned both in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth. Riga was briefly an independent city-state but passed to Poland in 1581. Places to see, ways to wander, and signature experiences. Use current location. Latvia is a very safe country to travel, whether you're a solo woman, traveling with friends, as a family or as a couple. With the Russian border closed to eastern trade, the port’s transit role declined, but its agricultural and timber exports became the core of the national economy. ... Scams in Latvia: how to avoid them. Riga, Latvia Lat Long Coordinates Info.