LARGE AND SMALL GUILDS

During German rule, the Gothic-style Grande Guilde and Petite Guilde were the strongholds of the city's economy and the place where all merchants transacted business. The Grande Guilde was home to wealthy merchants and tradesmen, while the Petite Guilde was a haven for the city's craftsmen and artists. Renovation work in the 1990's was based on archives that enabled the building to be restored to its original state in 1384. The Grand Guild is home to the Riga Philharmonic. The Petite Guilde is dedicated to events.