Historical Churches and Cathedrals (Self Guided), Riga

Riga Cathedral, formally known as The Cathedral Church of Saint Mary, is the Evangelical Lutheran cathedral located in Riga. It serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Riga. The cathedral is one of Latvia's most iconic landmarks, often featured in paintings, photographs, and television travelogues, and is noted for its weathercock, similar to other historic churches in the city.

The church was established near the River Daugava in 1211 by Livonian Bishop Albert of Riga, who hailed from Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany. It is recognized as the largest medieval church in the Baltic states and has undergone numerous modifications throughout its history. Notable figures associated with the cathedral include David Caspari, rector of the cathedral school in the late 17th century, and his son Georg Caspari, who also served at the cathedral.

In a 1923 referendum, the Lutheran Church was compelled to share the cathedral with the Roman Catholic Church. However, this decision was reversed in the 1931 Latvian Riga Cathedral referendum, restoring it solely to the Lutheran Church. During the Soviet occupation from 1939 to 1989, religious services were banned, and the cathedral functioned as a concert hall. The Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation was housed in the cathedral's southern wing during this period. Religious services resumed in 1991, and the cathedral is now actively used by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia.

A prominent feature of the Riga Cathedral is its organ, built by E.F. Walcker & Sons of Ludwigsburg, Germany, in 1882-83 and inaugurated on January 31, 1884. During World War II, a recording captured the sound of battle as Latvian composer Lūcija Garūta played the organ for a cantata.

The Anglican Church of Saint Saviour in Riga is a neo-Gothic architectural gem with a rich and varied history. It was built between 1857 and 1859 with support from the British community in Riga, specifically to serve British sailors and merchants who settled in the city to strengthen trade ties. Initially established as a parish in 1830, the Anglican community worshiped in borrowed spaces until a plot near Castle Square was granted in 1852 for the church’s construction.

The church’s architecture reflects its British heritage, with vibrant red bricks and sandstone elements, and even hundreds of tonnes of soil, imported from Britain. Its pseudo-Gothic design features a rectangular hall layout, an integrated tower, and distinctive flying buttresses. Inside, the single-naved hall is supported by a central column, with wooden vaults, oak furnishings, stained glass windows, and an altar painting by Italian artist Bellentini. The interior design, funded by Riga’s prominent Armitstead family, could accommodate 200 worshippers, showcasing the wealth and dedication of its sponsors.

Throughout its history, the church has faced periods of adversity and transformation. Confiscated by Soviet authorities in 1940, it was transferred to the Latvian Lutheran parish and suffered damage during World War II. For decades, the church was underutilized, serving as dormitories and a library for Riga Technical University. Despite these changes, significant restoration efforts during the Soviet era helped preserve its structure, with a repaired roof and abstract stained glass windows added.

In 1992, the Anglican parish regained the church, restoring it as a place of worship and cultural activity. By 1998, it resumed hosting services, concerts, and events, including English-language gatherings for the British Embassy. Today, the church is a spiritual and cultural hub, accommodating four parishes: Anglican, Lutheran, Russian Lutheran, and Christian meditation groups. This truly English church built on English soil continues to serve as a venue for worship, education, and cultural events, reflecting its enduring significance in Riga’s architectural and cultural landscape.

Located in the old part of Riga, on Klostera Street, Saint James' Cathedral (or Saint Jacob's Cathedral) is one of the oldest catholic temples in Latvia. The first mention of the church dates back to 1225, although the building itself is believed to have been in place since 1210, when Bishop Albert requested three churches to be built to serve rural parishes. In 1522, it became a Lutheran church, the first one to hold a Lutheran sermon in Latvian, although in 1584 it was given back to the Jesuits.

In the following centuries the church had changed hands several times, serving consecutively the Swedish, Russian and even Estonian Lutheran communities. In 1812, it was even used as a storage depot by the French troops. In 1901, Saint James' altar (oldest in Riga), built in 1680, was replaced with a new one. Since 1923, the cathedral has been in Catholic possession.

The church represents a mixture of Gothic and Romanesque architectural styles and is made of red brick and limestone. Art Nouveau motifs are also present in the decoration. The three floor Gothic tower is the only church tower left in Riga that has a spire. The cathedral forms part of the old Riga UNESCO world heritage site.

You can trace the history of this beautiful church back to 1209. Having such a long story to tell, it's not surprising that the tales are traced to the building styles of various periods. The church has Gothic, Romanesque, and Baroque elements.

Little remains of the original Gothic construction. Only the central section of the church, including the outer nave walls and a few pillars, remain from those early years.

The second construction period was overseen by master builder Johannes Rumeschottel from Germany. This was in 1409, but work was interrupted by wars and the plague. Nevertheless, by the late 15th century, the church had a mighty basilica with three aisles and vaulted ceilings. It also sported a new bell tower, 136 meters (446 feet) tall, with a steeple.

The final construction period occurred in the late 1600s when the western facade and new bell tower were built after a devastating fire in the city. Many of the furnishings and the vaulted ceiling were refurbished as well. When finished, the new tower and steeple was the tallest wooden structure in Europe.

The church was reconstructed after artillery fire destroyed it during World War II. The bronze candelabrum--a standing lantern--was taken from the church to Wloclawek, Poland. It was displayed there until 2012 when it was returned to Riga.

The steeple was completed in 1970, and the clock tower in the early 1970s. The rooster atop the steeple weighs 158 kilograms and includes 140 grams of gold plating. The bell plays the Latvian folk melody "Riga Resounds" five times a day, and the bell chimes hourly. There is an elevator that takes guests up the tower, where you can take in the view of Riga from a height of 72 meters (236 feet).

Today, the church is owned by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia. Services resumed here in 1991. In addition to the view from the tower's top, strolling through the art collection and seeing the beautiful nave are must-dos in Riga.

Saint John’s Church is a 13th century temple presumably built by the Dominicans. Its original shape and location are unknown and may only be assumed. Legend has it that two monks were immured in the church's southern wall when it was built and were fed through a hole, which in the Middle Ages was considered a supreme form of asceticism.

After the Dominicans had been expelled from Latvia, the building was passed into private hands and turned into a stable; later on it was even used as a weapon workshop. In 1582, the church was sanctified again and returned to the Latvian parish. Five years later, it underwent major reconstruction and an altar was added.

Today, Saint John’s serves the local Lutheran community and forms part of Riga's Old Town area, remaining one of the top tourist sights in the city. Its Gothic interior, ascetic medieval outside appearance and rich history are equally appreciated by tourists and locals.

The Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ, also known as simply the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, is a Neo-Byzantine church designed by architect R.Phlug. The cathedral is considered to be the largest orthodox temple in the Baltic region and was erected with the blessing of Alexander II, the Tsar of Russia, between 1876 and 1883. The church features five domes with florid decorations on the exterior, while its interior is embellished with traditional icons, painted by Vasily Vereshchagin, and numerous gold plated items.

Two world wars had their toll on the building. During WWI, when Latvia was under the German occupation, the cathedral was converted into a Lutheran church. In 1918, it was given back to the Russians and, even though the local government wanted to impose Latvian as the main language for religious rituals, the cathedral’s masses were still held in Russian. During World War II, the cathedral was damaged both on the outside and inside, and in the 1960s it was closed down completely, transformed into a planetarium, with its interior refurbished and split into two levels. The upper floor held a scale model of the universe, while the lower was taken up by a conference hall and café.

In 1991, the cathedral was returned to its rightful owners, the Orthodox Russian Church. Since then there has been a profound restoration performed. Today, the building fully resembles the original 1883 look and is used for religious services again.

Located on Ģertrūdes Street, Old Saint Gertrude is one of the oldest churches in Riga. It is named after Saint Gertrude of Nivelles who lived between 626 and 659. Before the current, red brick building was constructed, the site was occupied consecutively by seven wooden churches, each named Saint Gertrude and burnt down by invading barbarians.

The present, Neo-Gothic style edifice was designed by J.D. Felsko, a prolific local architect. Works on the temple started in 1864 and continued until 1869. The brick walls were left uncovered on purpose, whereas the façade and the spire got embellished with concrete decorations.

The building has the shape of a cross, featuring a nave, incorporating three segments, and a shorter cruciform nave. The church organ was custom bought in 1906 at a cost of 8,000 roubles. The instrument is still functional and is a great pleasure to the ears of multiple worshippers and tourists who come to the church every day.

Old Saint Gertrude Church is surrounded by a number of Art Nouveau buildings which are also well worth seeing.