Riga Castle

Riga Castle (Rīgas pils) stands at Pils laukums 3 on the bank of the Daugava river in Riga's Old Town, Latvia. The Livonian Order built the present castle from 1330 as a seat of power after the citizens of Riga razed an earlier fortress, and the castle was a symbol of the order's control of the town. The building has been extended, damaged and rebuilt many times. It served as the residence of Polish, Swedish and Russian governors after the order's decline, and was later used as a barracks, an arsenal and a school. A major reconstruction in the 1920s and 1930s, after Latvia became independent in 1918, made it the residence of the President, a role it holds today. The castle is a mixture of styles: the late medieval courtyard and defensive tower, the Renaissance and Baroque additions and the 20th-century restoration are all visible. A fire in 1938 and later work have altered the fabric. The Latvian National Museum of History and the Museum of Literature and Music, among other state institutions, have been housed in the castle, and the Latvian National Museum of History has long shown exhibitions on Latvian archaeology and history, from prehistoric times to the 20th century. A restoration and renovation programme has kept parts of the castle closed to visitors for several years, and exhibitions have reopened in stages with the opening hours changing by exhibition, so visitors should consult the museum's ticket page. Because the castle is also the official presidential residence, public access is limited to the museum areas, while the courtyard and exterior can be seen from the surrounding square. Guards change at the entrance on set occasions. The castle forms part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Riga, and its position by the river makes it a convenient stop between the Old Town and the Daugava embankment.