RIGA MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND NAVIGATION

In the heart of Old Rīga, this museum, one of the oldest in Europe, was opened in 1773. In just over two centuries, the museum has become the most important source of historical evidence about Rīga and Latvian shipping. The collection contains more than half a million objects.

The tour is spread over several floors, starting with the prehistory of the Rīga region and continuing through to the country's independence in the 20th century. Many stages in the history of the city and the country are revealed. The daily life of the inhabitants of the first villages of the 12th century through their beliefs and their travels (already numerous at that time), the past full of conflicts of the region is also explained: many wars of territories took place through the centuries with the Swedes, the Poles and more recently the Russians. Beautiful collections of costumes, art and objects through the ages show the rich cultural past of the Latvians. It is also here that the country's only exhibition on the life of Latvians during the first independence (from 1918 to 1940) can be found.

The port of Rīga also has a very rich past: models of ships and road maps tell the story of important voyages from the 20th century to the present day. This is something for ship and maritime history enthusiasts to enjoy. Information is available in English and German on each floor. On the ground floor there is a temporary exhibition room.