Neighbourhood · UNESCO
Riga Old Town
Riga, Latvia
A medieval and Hanseatic old town of narrow lanes, guild halls, church spires and café squares.
Historic site · Latvia · Riga
House of the Blackheads
An ornate gabled guildhall on the Town Hall Square, rebuilt after wartime destruction.
about 45 min
For storytellers
Why House of the Blackheads matters
This decorative building with a dazzling gable was the home of a guild of unmarried merchants called the Blackheads, named after their patron saint. It stands on the Town Hall Square next to the statue of Roland, a symbol of Riga's trading rights. It was destroyed in the Second World War and rebuilt after Latvia regained independence. Look at the clock and the ornate carvings.
Talking points
- The Blackheads were a guild of unmarried merchants.
- The building was destroyed in the Second World War and rebuilt in the 1990s.
Free to read aloud or adapt in your video. Check facts that matter to you against an official source before you publish.
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Also nearby
Within about 40 km, closest first.