Riga - City Information

Riga info

Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia, one of the major industrial, commercial, cultural and financial centres of the Baltics, and an important seaport, situated on the mouth of the Daugava. Riga is the largest city in the Baltic States, whose population is 706,413 inhabitants (2010 census).

Riga history starts with the foundation of the ancient Finnic settlement. It's modern history though begins in early Middle ages when the city served as the centre of Viking trade. In 1158, German merchants established an outpost for trading with the Balts and built the first monastery. Riga officially became a city in 1201 under the auspices of the Holy Roman (German) Empire. It functioned mostly as a gateway to trade with the Baltic tribes and with Russia. Between 1561 and 1581 Riga gained the status of a Free Imperial City, but that was short-lived as soon Riga came under the influence of the mighty Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. For some period it was under the rule of the King of Sweden and as a result of Russo-Swedish War Riga capitulated to Russia and in 1710 Peter the Great annexed the city into the Russian Empire. It remained an industrialized port city under Russian rule until World War. World War I brought the Russian Revolution and the German Army to Riga. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed in 1918, gave the Baltic countries to Germany. Because of the Armistice with Germany of November 11, 1918, Germany had to renounce that treaty, as did Russia, leaving Latvia and the other Baltic States in a position to claim independence. Latvia, with Riga as its capital city, thus declared its independence on November 18, 1918. Between World War I and World War II (1918–1940), Riga and Latvia shifted their focus from Russia to the countries of Western Europe. During World War II, Latvia was occupied first by the Soviet Union in June 1940 and then by Nazi Germany in 1941-1944. The Baltic Germans were forcibly repatriated to Germany. The city's Jewish community was forced into the Riga Ghetto. In October 1944 Latvia was once again occupied by the Red Army. It was developed industrial center within the Soviet Union until dissolution of the Soviet Union after which in 1991 Latvia restored its independence

Riga, with its central geographic position and concentration of population, has always been the infrastructural hub of Latvia. Several national roads begin in Riga, and European route E22 crosses Riga from the east and west, while the Via Baltica crosses Riga from the south and north. Riga International Airport is the largest airport in the Baltic states, which was renovated and modernised in 2001 on the occasion of Riga's 800th anniversary. The Freeport of Riga facilitates cargo and passenger traffic by sea. Riga is connected to the rest of Latvia by trains operated by the national railway company Passenger Train, whose headquarters are in Riga.

Almost all important Latvian financial institutions are located in Riga, including the Bank of Latvia, which is Latvia's central bank. Foreign commercial trade through Riga has been on the increase in recent years and received new impetus on May 1, 2004 when Latvia became a member of the European Union. Riga accounts for about half of the total industrial output of Latvia, focusing on the financial sector, public utilities, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, wood processing, printing and publishing, textiles and furniture, and communications equipment manufacturing. More than 50% of Latvian companies are registered in Riga region.

Riga's historical centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city is particularly notable for its extensive Jugendstil (German Art Nouveau) architecture, which UNESCO considers to be unparalleled anywhere in the world. Most popular Riga sights and attractions include Freedom Monument, is a memorial in honor of soldiers killed in action during the Latvian War of Independence; House of the Blackheads, errected in the 14th century; St. Peter's Church; Riga Castle, built in 1330 as a residence for Livonian order; Great and Small Guilds, Powder Tower, architectural ensemble Three Brothers; St. John's Church.

More about Riga at Wikipedia

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