Riga Cathedral (Doma Cathedral)

Riga Cathedral, known in Latvian as Doma baznīca, stands on Dome Square (Doma laukums) in the heart of Riga's Old Town in Latvia. Bishop Albert of Buxhoeveden laid its foundation stone in 1211, only a decade after founding the city, and the church became the seat of the Archbishop of Riga and the spiritual centre of Livonia. It is the largest medieval church in the Baltic states, and its fabric records eight centuries of change: the earliest sections are Romanesque, the long nave and vaulting are Gothic, and the tower received a Baroque copper cap in the 18th century. The cloister, a rare surviving Romanesque and Gothic ensemble, now holds architectural fragments and sculpture from the cathedral and the city's churches. Inside, the stained glass windows depict episodes of Riga's history, from the arrival of Bishop Albert to later benefactors, while the carved pulpit of 1641 and the wooden choir stalls are among the notable furnishings. The best-known object is the Walcker organ, built in 1884 by the German firm of E. F. Walcker of Ludwigsburg and long among the largest in Europe, with more than 6,700 pipes. It was inaugurated with a concert that included Franz Liszt's Legend of St Elisabeth, and organ recitals still take place regularly. The cathedral survived the Reformation, when it became Lutheran in 1522, and later periods of fire and occupation. Under Soviet rule the building was used for secular purposes, and the organ was kept as a concert instrument rather than for worship. Restoration work after Latvian independence in 1991 returned the building to its congregation, and major conservation campaigns have addressed the roof, tower and facades. Today it remains an active Lutheran church and a concert venue, with worship, tours and music scheduled around visiting hours. Visitors typically enter through the cloister courtyard, where a small museum-style display and the church interior can be seen on one ticket. The cathedral is part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Riga.