The Riga Northern District Orthodox Church of St Peter and St Paul, built within the fortress known as the Riga Citadel, is one of the outstanding Classical style monuments in the Baltic region. Catherine II, Empress of Russia issued an edict in 1776, which allowed the church its establishment.
In 1780, George Brown, Governor of the Livonian Province, sought permission for this Orthodox cathedral in the Citadel after the model of the new church in Daugavgriva Fortress.
New Cathedral
With the new cathedral, completed in 1785, the exquisite bell tower became the architectural focus of the whole Citadel complex. In the years of the Soviet occupation, the church turned into an ammunition dump for the Civil Aviation Institute. It became abandoned and vandalized later.
Between 1980 and 1987, reconstruction work was undertaken, and the building became a concert hall for the Riga Chamber Choir Ave Sol.
The Daugavgriva White Church is at Vecmilgravis. A wooden church was on the land of Mangali Manor already in 1640, and in 1786, a new stone church emerged half a mile closer to Riga, on the former bank of the River Daugava. The bell tower collapsed because its foundations were weak, and was rebuilt in 1788.
The composition and proportions of the building are traditional for 18th-century Baroque and Early Classical Lutheran churches of the Vidzeme region. The spire acquired a bacon. It still serves as a landmark for fishing vessels entering the harbor of Rinuzi.
The White Church suffered almost no damage during the two wars of the last century or the Soviet occupation. Major repairs were undertaken in 1926.
Address: Baltāsbaznīcas iela 50, Riga Northern District
Mezaparks is one of the most beautiful, greenest, and one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Riga. It’s a popular recreation area as well.
Kaiserwald
After the Swedish king set up a military camp here in the 17th century, the area became known as Keninu mezs (the Forest of Kings). Later on, the name transformed into Kaiserwald (German for the King’s Forest). The neighborhood acquired its present name (Forest Park in Latvian) only in 1923.
Residents of Keninu mezs
The earliest records of residents living in the area go back to the 14th century when there were some small manors, farms, and fishermen’s homes in the neighborhood, who also sold their produce in Riga. The environs of Lake Kisezers were a popular place with Riga residents in the summer.
Farmers lived in the area until halfway through the 19th century, when construction of summer houses began there, continuing into the 20th century. Several hundred villas emerged in Mezaparks during that time.
Riga Zoo
Situated next to the recreation park at Lake Kisezers is one of the most popular recreation places with city dwellers, the Riga Zoo. It’s a true friend of nature with traditions spanning several centuries. It offers modern-day opportunities for exploring nature all year round, all the while enjoying the experience.
The zoo presents captivating insight into living nature’s diversity and features exciting guided tours. Riga Zoo opened its doors in 1912.
| Address | Meža prospekts 1, Riga |
This small Lutheran church is in Mežaparks, where in 1911 the Baugesellschaft Joint-Stock Company purchased the land and buildings of the former Grāvji Manor, on the shore of Lake Ķīšezers.
The director of the company proposed altering a disused manor building to serve the needs of the local German congregation. Funding came from the Baltic German Gustav Adolf Society.