{"id":56888,"date":"2025-08-22T17:39:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T14:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/riga-travel-guide-the-paris-of-the-north\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T14:46:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T11:46:40","slug":"riga-travel-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/riga-travel-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Riga travel guide \u2013 The Paris of the North"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Riga: A refined capital woven with layers of history and culture<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Riga’s origins date back to 1201 when it was founded by the German bishop Albert. It quickly became a hub for trading ships and joined the Hanseatic League during the Middle Ages. The wealth generated during this time is still evident in the monumental buildings of Vecr\u012bga, the city\u2019s Old Town, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Riga is especially famous for its rich collection of Art Nouveau architecture, which is so abundant and well-preserved that it invites comparisons to cities like Vienna, St. Petersburg, and Barcelona. At the turn of the 20th century, the city experienced a construction boom, resulting in over 800 Art Nouveau buildings\u2014the highest concentration of this style in the world. It\u2019s easy to see why; these fa\u00e7ades with their flowing floral motifs, mythological figures, and ornate reliefs follow in the footsteps of Art Nouveau art.  Just stroll down Alberta or Elizabetes Street, and you\u2019ll find yourself constantly looking up in awe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riga\u2019s history reflects the influence of various empires throughout the centuries. In the 1560s, the city came under the rule of the Polish\u2013Lithuanian Commonwealth, followed by Swedish rule in 1621. After the Great Northern War in the 1700s, Riga became part of the Russian Empire. This succession of governments has left the city with a legacy of multiple languages, including German, Swedish, and Russian, as well as a distinctly multicultural character. The 20th century saw Riga briefly gain independence in 1918, only for the city to be occupied by the Nazis during World War II. After the war, it served as the capital of Soviet Latvia until the country regained its independence in 1991. One significant event leading up to this independence was the Baltic Way in 1989, when tens of thousands of people joined hands around Riga\u2019s Freedom Monument, reaching across borders to neighboring capitals. Today, if you walk past that monument, you will still see the inscription \u201cTevzemei un Br\u012bv\u012bbai\u201d (\u201cFor Fatherland and Freedom\u201d) and feel the enduring weight of a long struggle for independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Widen your world.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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