Alberta Iela (Albert Street) 1, Riga
Albert Street 1 is one of the first ever Art Nouveau buildings constructed in Riga. This house dates back to 1901 and marks a transition from Eclecticism to Jugendstil. The architects, Heinrich Karl Scheel and August Friedrich Sheffel, of the legendary “Šēls un Šefels” (Scheel & Scheffel) construction firm, were among the city's Art Nouveau pioneers.
Lately, the building has regained its original splendor – the decorative elements in both the apartments and stairwells, as well as on the façades, have been carefully restored.
The tasteful refinement and testimony to the affluence of the façade – richly adorned with multiple reliefs, featuring Art Nouveau ornamental expression, complete with the ceiling ornaments and cut glass – form one of the most beautiful monuments to the residents of Riga at the dawn of the 20th century. Among those who lived here once was the Latvian writer Zenta Mauriņa.
Today, the property is included in both the UNESCO World Heritage list and the State Architectural Monument list.
Lately, the building has regained its original splendor – the decorative elements in both the apartments and stairwells, as well as on the façades, have been carefully restored.
The tasteful refinement and testimony to the affluence of the façade – richly adorned with multiple reliefs, featuring Art Nouveau ornamental expression, complete with the ceiling ornaments and cut glass – form one of the most beautiful monuments to the residents of Riga at the dawn of the 20th century. Among those who lived here once was the Latvian writer Zenta Mauriņa.
Today, the property is included in both the UNESCO World Heritage list and the State Architectural Monument list.
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Alberta Iela (Albert Street) 1 on Map
Sight Name: Alberta Iela (Albert Street) 1
Sight Location: Riga, Latvia (See walking tours in Riga)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Riga, Latvia (See walking tours in Riga)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Riga, Latvia
Create Your Own Walk in Riga
Creating your own self-guided walk in Riga is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Riga Old Town Walking Tour
The area that is home to present-day Riga has hosted inhabitants since the days of the Vikings. With a sheltered natural harbor nearby, the River Daugava made Riga a stop on the Vikings' Dvina-Dnieper trade route to Byzantium.
Trade allowed the area to flourish, and the Livs, a Finnic tribe, settled it. In the early Middle Ages, the town's economy revolved around fishing, trading, and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Trade allowed the area to flourish, and the Livs, a Finnic tribe, settled it. In the early Middle Ages, the town's economy revolved around fishing, trading, and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Art Nouveau Architecture Walk
An architecture lover in general and that of Art Nouveau in particular will find plenty to look at in the quiet center of Riga. Jūgendstil (Latvian: Art Nouveau) architecture makes up roughly one third of all buildings in the heart of Latvia's capital. In fact, the city boasts the highest concentration of Art Nouveau structures anywhere in the world.
Constructed during a period of rapid... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Constructed during a period of rapid... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Historical Churches and Cathedrals
One great thing about Riga is that the majority of its religious sites are concentrated in the historic center. A variety of faiths found in the Latvian capital is fairly broad for such a small country and includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Lutheran, to mention but a few.
The 13th-century Riga Cathedral is perhaps the most significant house of prayer in the city. The imposing mix of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
The 13th-century Riga Cathedral is perhaps the most significant house of prayer in the city. The imposing mix of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Traveler's Choice of 12 Uniquely Latvian Souvenirs from Riga
Reemerged after regaining independence in the early 1990s, Latvia is anxious to reveal its beauty to the outside world. The country's capital Riga is a good showroom for the country's cultural riches and traditions. Here's the list of the unique Latvian products to look for while in...