Museums in Riga
Riga, the capital city of Latvia, has become an increasingly popular location for city breaks. Visitors are drawn to the nightlife, atmosphere and history of this sparkling place. If it’s culture that you’re seeking then the museums in Riga will certainly help to make your stay enjoyable.
The first thing to say is that you’ll be surprised by just how many museums are to be found in this splendid city. Compared to other Eastern European cities, Riga seems to have an amazing range of these visitor attractions.
One that you’ll frequently see mentioned in guides to the city is the Andrejs Upits Memorial Museum, which is dedicated to the writer of the same name. He died in 1970 and the museum opened in his former home two years later, dedicated to his life’s work. There are still some 30,000 pieces of literature to be found on the extensive shelves of his former home, while the museum also discusses more controversial aspects of his life, such as his time as a leading Latvian politician.
The Jekabs Primanis Anatomy Museum was founded back in 1920 and provides a very extensive collection of all items relating to histological and anthropological findings. You’ll also see that the museum building contains an operating theatre where future doctors and others looking to enter the medical profession can learn more about human anatomy.
The Natural History Museum of Latvia remains one of the best known museums in Riga, being the only large museum of natural sciences in the Baltic states. Since its foundation back in 1845, the holdings have grown to more than 170,000 different exhibits. At present, these holdings are separated into 6 distinct exhibitions: Geology; Botany; Zoology and Entomology; Anthropology; Paleoentology and People and the Environment.
Other museums in the city include those devoted to subjects as diverse as Latvian War, Fire Fighting, Culture, Photography, Foreign Art and Architecture. That’s not to mention those devoted to the memories of other renowned local figures. The key point to make here is that you should allow yourself plenty of time to make the most of these collections when planning your stay in the cultural hub that is Riga.
Related Links: Visiting Riga, Getting Around Riga
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