Historic Centre of Riga

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The Historic Centre of Riga: A Blend of Medieval Charm and Art Nouveau Elegance

The Historic Centre of Riga, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, offers a unique blend of medieval charm and art nouveau elegance, making it one of the most captivating cities in Europe. Situated in the Central District on the east bank of the Daugava River, Vecrīga (the historical center) is renowned for its old churches and cathedrals, architectural diversity, and rich history.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Riga was a major centre of the Hanseatic League, deriving its prosperity in the 13th–15th centuries from the trade with central and eastern Europe. The urban fabric of its medieval centre reflects this prosperity, though most of the earliest buildings were destroyed by fire or war. Riga became an important economic centre in the 19th century, when the suburbs surrounding the medieval town were laid out, first with imposing wooden buildings in neoclassical style and then in Jugendstil . It is generally recognized that Riga has the finest collection of art nouveau buildings in Europe.

UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site

The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (i) and (ii), considering that the historic centre of Riga, while retaining its medieval and later urban fabric relatively intact, is of outstanding universal value by virtue of the quality and the quantity of its Art Nouveau/Jugendstil architecture, which is unparalleled anywhere in the world, and its 19th century architecture in wood.

Encyclopedia Record: Vecrīga

Vecrīga is the historical center and a neighbourhood of Riga, Latvia, located in the Central District on the east side of Daugava River. Vecrīga is famous for its old churches and cathedrals, such as Riga Cathedral, St. James's Cathedral and St. Peter's Church.

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