Bremen Musicians Statue, Riga

Located in the Old Town of Riga, the Bremen Musicians Statue illustrates the famous tale by the Grimm Brothers, featuring the donkey, the dog, the cat and the rooster who stand atop each other. The statue captures the moment when the four form a pyramid to peek into the house that they intend to free from the highwaymen.

The monument was a gift to Riga made in 1990 (when Latvia was still part of the Soviet Union) by the fraternal city of Bremen, Germany. It wasn't, however, the copy of the monument in Bremen, but the original work which some people suspected of having a subtle political undertone. One interpretation was that the animals peep through the iron curtain (represented, in this particular case, by the frame) with much surprise, hence the look on their faces. Another interpretation is that the four animals represent four types of politicians.

Regardless of them both, the statue remains one of the top tourist sights in Riga. It is said that rubbing the donkey’s nose three times may bring luck. Locals, however, believe that rubbing it four times may considerably increase one's lucky chances.