The House of the Blackheads in Riga: who the Blackheads were, how it was blown up in 1948 and rebuilt by 1999, and what to spot on the facade. Checked October 2026.

Riga Cathedral: founded in 1211, the Baltic states’ largest medieval church, with the 6,718-pipe Walcker organ of 1884 and the 1595 rooster. Checked October 2026.

Riga Castle, an imposing structure overlooking the Daugava River, stands as a testament to the city’s rich and complex history.

The Three Brothers in Riga: three houses from about 1490, 1646 and the late 1600s, the Soli Deo Gloria portal, the mask on No. 21. Checked October 2026.

The Swedish Gate in Riga: why it was cut through a house in 1698, the walled-up girl and executioner’s rose legends, and what to see nearby. Checked October 2026.

The Powder Tower in Riga: from the 1330 Sand Tower to the Latvian War Museum, the nine Russian cannonballs in its walls and what is nearby. Checked October 2026.

The Laima Clock in Riga: from the 1924 ‘Big Clock’ to Laima’s name in 1936, the 2017 redesign and why Latvians meet ‘at luck’. Checked October 2026.

The Freedom Monument in Riga: who Milda is, what her three stars mean, how it survived Soviet rule and when the guard changes. Checked October 2026.

The Latvian National Museum of Art stands as a cornerstone of Latvian culture, a testament to the nation’s rich artistic