Palaces, manors and town halls in Latvia
House of Blackheads
House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju nams) is a building situated in the old town of Riga. The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga. Major works were done in the years 1580 and 1886, adding most of the ornaments. The structure was bombed to a ruin by the Germans June 28, 1941 and the remains demolished by ...
Founded: ca. 1334 |
Location:
Riga, Latvia
Laidi Palace
The neoclassical Laidi Palace was completed in 1810 by a nobleman von Manteifel, who aqcuired the estate to his daughter Johanna von Lambsdorff. The history of estate began however from the 16th century, when it was owned by the bishop of Courland. The palace has housed the Laidi primary school since 1921.
Founded: 1808-1810 |
Location:
Laidi, Latvia
Jelgava Palace
Jelgava or Mitava Palace is the largest Baroque style palace in the Baltic states. It was built in the 18th century based on the design of Bartolomeo Rastrelli as a residence for the Dukes of Courland in their capital - Mitava (today Jelgava). The palace was founded by Ernst Johann von Biron in 1738 on an island between the Lielupe river and its branches. The site had borne the residence of the former Courland dukes of th ...
Founded: 1738-1772 |
Location:
Jelgava, Latvia
Ivande Manor
Īvande Manor, also called Lielīvande Manor (Schloß Groß-Iwanden) was built in the second half of the 19th century according to a design by architect Teodors Zeilers. It was severely damaged by fire in 1905, but later repaired in 1912-1913. Unusual to estates in Latvia, an earlier 18th century manor house still stands nearby.
Founded: 19th century |
Location:
Īvande, Latvia
National Opera House
The National Opera House was constructed in 1863 by architect Ludwig Bohnstedt from St. Petersburg, for the then German-speaking City Theatre. It has been refurbished several times; 1882-1887 (following a fire in 1882), 1957–1958, 1991-1995 (following independence). A modern annex was added in 2001 with a 300-seat New Hall.
Founded: 1863 |
Location:
Riga, Latvia
Cere Manor
Cēre Manor (Cēres muižas pils) was established in 1352. The current manor house was converted into its present form in the 1860s according to a design by architect Teodors Zeilers. Since 1921 the building has housed the Cēre primary school.
Founded: 1860s |
Location:
Cēres, Latvia
Latvian Academy of Sciences
The Academy of Sciences edifice was built after World War II, between 1951 and 1961, collecting the necessary financing from the newly established kolkhozes in Latvia and - as further expenses increased, collecting the finances as 'voluntary donations' deducted from the salaries of the Latvian rural population. The building is decorated with several hammers and sickles as well as Latvian folk ornaments and motifs. The sp ...
Founded: 1951-1961 |
Location:
Riga, Latvia
Small & Great Guild Hall
During the centuries of German economic domination, the guilds were Riga's power brokers. The former, dating from 1384, was the home of the merchants, while the latter held the city's artisans. These slightly different audiences are reflected in the respective usage of the buildings today: while the Great Guild is home to the Latvian Symphony Orchestra, its smaller cousin hosts conferences and the occasional disco. The ...
Founded: 1384 |
Location:
Riga, Latvia
Latvian National Theatre
The Latvian National Theatre (Latvijas Nacionalais teatris) was built between 1899-1902 by the design of architect Augusts Reinbergs, becoming Riga's second (Russian) theatre. It closed during the First World War; on the 18th of November 1918, Latvia's independence was declared in the theatre building. In 1917 the first shows in Latvian were held in the theatre. The Latvian National Theatre was founded 30 November, 1919, ...
Founded: 1899-1902 |
Location:
Riga, Latvia
Rundale Palace
Rundāle Palace is one of the two major baroque palaces built for the Dukes of Courland in what is now Latvia, the other being Jelgava Palace. The palace was built in two periods, from 1736 until 1740 and from 1764 until 1768. It was constructed to a design by Bartolomeo Rastrelli as a summer residence of Ernst Johann von Biron, the Duke of Courland. Following Biron's fall from grace, the palace stood empty until the ...
Founded: 1736-1768 |
Location:
Rundāle, Latvia
Snepele Palace
Snēpele Palace was originally built at the beginning of the 19th century as a baronial hunting lodge with two room apartments for guests on the second floor. The building has housed the Snēpele primary school since 1924. The building has decorated columns on both sides of the portico, and the wrought iron railing dates from the first half of the 19th century. The exterior doors are from the second half of the 1 ...
Founded: 19th century |
Location:
Snēpele, Latvia
Gaujiena Manor
In 1818 the estate of Gaujiena was bought by Baron Adolf von Wulff. Gaujiena remained the in the possession of the von Wulff family for 100 years, during which more than 16 buildings were put up and the park laid out over an area of 12 hectares. The complete manor ensemble took shape during the 19th century and in the early 20th century, and consisted of 30 buildings and structures, 17 of which have been retained in good ...
Founded: 18th-19th century |
Location:
Gaujiena, Latvia
Kabile Manor
Kabile manor lands was originally owned by Heinrich von Soblech (around 1580). Duke Wilhelm gave this feud to Matthias II von der Recke in 1619. Manor became the property of Jochan Ditrich von Behr in 1687. Since 1810 it was owned by Count Heinrich von Keiserling, who sold this property to Otto von Lieven in 1854. After the death of his son Kabile manor was managed by widow Baroness von Wolf born von der Recke. She lost h ...
Founded: 1734-1740 |
Location:
Kabile, Latvia
Sigulda New Castle
The Sigulda manor center began to develop in the fore-castle area of Sigulda Medieval Castle during the 17th century. There are still a few remaining 18th and 19th century buildings built during the ownership of the Von Borghs and Kropotkins. These are the Summer Castle, the New Castle, the White Castle, the vagar's (supervisor of serfs) house, the servants' house, a barn, a laundry house and a vegetable and fruit basemen ...
Founded: 1878-1881 |
Location:
Sigulda, Latvia
Ezere Manor
Ezere Manor (Ezeres muižas pils), also called Lielezere Manor,was originally built in 1750, it has been remodeled several times by a series of owners. Since 1922 the building has housed the Ezere secondary school. Capitulation of Courland Pocket was signed here on 9 May 1945.
Founded: 1750 |
Location:
Ezere, Latvia
Durbe Manor
Durbe as was first mentioned in written sources as Šlokenbeka manor in 1475. Built in 1671, the manor was reconstructed in classical form between 1820 and 1823 according to the project of architect Johann Gottfried Adam Berlitz who rebuilt the façade with a wedding-cake portico and Ionic columns in the 1820s. From 1789 to 1808, Ernst Karl Philip von Groth used the property as a summerhouse. From 1818 to 1838 ...
Founded: 1820-1823 |
Location:
Tukums, Latvia
Cesvaine Palace
Cesvaine Palace was built in 1896 for the German baron Emil von Wulf (not to be confused with the von Wolf baronial family). Authors of the project were architects Hans Grisebach and August Dinklage from Berlin. The palace is built in the late Tudor Neo-Renaissance style. It is located next to the old medieval castle ruins, remains from the old bishops castle. At the end of the 19th century, Germany abandoned the reprodu ...
Founded: 1896 |
Location:
Cesvaine, Latvia
Burtnieki Manor
The Burtnieki Manor ensemble was built in the 18th-19th century when, after several changes of owners, the estate became the property of the Schroeder family. Around 1860, the Schroeders set about laying out a park. The park is remarkable for its grand staircase each step of which has been hewn from a solid block of granite brought to Latvia from Finland. Another attraction is a vase named "Seasons", decorated with sculpt ...
Founded: 1860s |
Location:
Burtnieki, Latvia
Kazdanga Palace
The first manor house was made out of wood and the new palace was built in 1800-1804 in the late classical style, designed according to the project by the German architect J. G. Berlitz. There is stone bridge, leading to the palace. On the other side of the river there are remnants of the manor buildings; house of the servants, stables, house of the steward and barns. The palace was burned down by local peasants during th ...
Founded: 1800-1804 |
Location:
Kazdanga, Latvia
Blankenfelde Manor
The first written record of the Blankenfelde manor dates from 1689 when the owner was Ernst von Medem. The estate changed owners several times and was part of the von Hahnide family from 1840 until 1920. Between 1804 and 1805 the manor belonged to the Russian imperial house of Andreas von Königfelsile. Louis XVIII, King of France, lived in Blankenfelde manor for a while when he was in exile. The complex structure of ...
Founded: 1743 |
Location:
Blankenfelde, Latvia