Jewish Museum of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

The museum “Jews in Latvia” was established in 1989 to research, popularize and commemorate the history of Latvia's Jewish community. The museum's exhibition is housed in three halls in the historical building of former Jewish theatre.

The visitors of the museum can get acquainted with different aspects of Latvian Jewish history and culture from the beginnings in XVI century and to 1945 – legal status and economic activities, education and religion, political and intellectual pursuits. The special section is dedicated to Holocaust and rescuing of the Jews in Nazi-occupied Latvia.

In the collection of the museum are stored close to 14,000 units – documents, photos, books and artifacts. Of special interest is wide range of XIX-XX century memoirs, the rich collection of family photos, as well as printed materials of different Jewish organizations from interwar era.

We will be grateful for help provided in broadening the collection of the museum with the documents and photos from your private archives and family albums.

References:

Jewish Museum of Latvia

User Reviews

Jeri Pliner (5 years ago)
Excellent source of information on the holocaust in Latvia as well as Jewish life and people if pre-WWII. Audio explanations in English, Russian, and Latvian. Numerous photos and artifacts, even German film footage of the atrocities.

Eyal Yablonka (5 years ago)
Its a small museum. The main gallery exhibits Jewish life in Riga and Latvia before it was exterminated. The Holocaust exhibition in the next room is very moving. There is a read diary of a girl that describes her experiences during June and July 1941, just as the Germans entered. In only a few months about 90,000 Jews were murdered in Latvia.

Stef L (5 years ago)
This is an extremely informative but obviously deeply moving museum with free entry, complimentary multi-language audio guides and very welcoming staff. Well worth a visit.

Christiaan Vos (6 years ago)
Interesting and free museum about the history of the Jewish people in Latvia. Offers a lot of information and insight. The visit includes a free audio tour which is very elaborate. Would recommend.

Zoe Miniconi Bouhassira (6 years ago)
Impressive exhibition and important work. A must do if you feel you want to get a better sense the Jewish history in this country

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright caminanteK

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians. The county became a privileged refuge for persecuted Cathars.

The castle, often besieged (notably by Simon de Montfort in 1211 and 1212), resisted assault and was only taken once, in 1486, thanks to treachery during the war between two branches of the Foix family.

From the 14th century, the Counts of Foix spent less and less time in the uncomfortable castle, preferring the Governors' Palace. From 1479, the Counts of Foix became Kings of Navarre and the last of them, made Henri IV of France, annexed his Pyrrenean lands to France.

As seat of the Governor of the Foix region from the 15th century, the castle continued to ensure the defence of the area, notably during the Wars of Religion. Alone of all the castles in the region, it was exempted from the destruction orders of Richelieu (1632-1638).

Until the Revolution, the fortress remained a garrison. Its life was brightened with grand receptions for its governors, including the Count of Tréville, captain of musketeers under Louis XIII and Marshal Philippe Henri de Ségur, one of Louis XVI's ministers. The Round Tower, built in the 15th century, is the most recent, the two square towers having been built before the 11th century. They served as a political and civil prison for four centuries until 1862.

Since 1930, the castle has housed the collections of the Ariège départemental museum. Sections on prehistory, Gallo-Roman and mediaeval archaeology tell the history of Ariège from ancient times. Currently, the museum is rearranging exhibits to concentrate on the history of the castle site so as to recreate the life of Foix at the time of the Counts.

Do you know an ancient castle or magnificent church near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com.

It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration!

Upload data

Jewish Museum of Latvia

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Migthy Cathar Castles

Hidden Gems of Finnish Archipelago

House of the Dragon Filming Locations

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

Looks like you are a history fan!