Riga Castle is a building in the heart of Riga, with a rich and difficult history that began in the 14th century. It is currently the residence of the President of Latvia.
During its centuries-long history, the castle was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, survived more than one siege and was the administrative center of the rulers of several states. From the moment of its construction - from the middle of the 14th to the middle of the 16th - the castle belonged to the Livonian Order. After the Order ceased to exist, Riga Castle at various times became the residence of Polish, Swedish and Russian governors.
At first, the architecture of the castle was quite simple, as the building had a military character: it was a closed rectangle with an inner courtyard and two round corner towers. In the following centuries, the castle was completed.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the castle changed its appearance significantly due to the fact that the original defensive function began to take precedence over the representative function: a new wing was added in front of the castle, a castle square appeared nearby, and at the beginning of the 19th century in the northern part of the complex a garden was arranged.
The Riga Castle complex acquired its final modern appearance at the end of the 30s of the 20th century. Today, the castle houses the Museum of Foreign Art, the Museum of Latvian History, and the Rainis Museum of Literature and Art History.
During its centuries-long history, the castle was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, survived more than one siege and was the administrative center of the rulers of several states. From the moment of its construction - from the middle of the 14th to the middle of the 16th - the castle belonged to the Livonian Order. After the Order ceased to exist, Riga Castle at various times became the residence of Polish, Swedish and Russian governors.
At first, the architecture of the castle was quite simple, as the building had a military character: it was a closed rectangle with an inner courtyard and two round corner towers. In the following centuries, the castle was completed.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the castle changed its appearance significantly due to the fact that the original defensive function began to take precedence over the representative function: a new wing was added in front of the castle, a castle square appeared nearby, and at the beginning of the 19th century in the northern part of the complex a garden was arranged.
The Riga Castle complex acquired its final modern appearance at the end of the 30s of the 20th century. Today, the castle houses the Museum of Foreign Art, the Museum of Latvian History, and the Rainis Museum of Literature and Art History.
Translated automatically from Ukrainian. View original
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