http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34640 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34640 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32011 Museum of the Occupation of Latvia housed in a black communist-era building -
.detailing events of Latvia's recent history, from the World War II occupations to the
events of independence in 1991, the museum is definitely worth a visit, in order to
gain a clearer understanding of Latvia.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32011 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32010
A German merchant club the Brotherhood of Blackheads existed here until the middle
of the 20th century. On the top of the building you see a blue astronomical clock and inside the
building in the basement there is an exhibition about the history of the building. Its rooms and halls are rich with golden decorations, 19th century furnishings, paintings, the Latvian State highest award - the Three Star Order
- and the medal collection. Rooms of the building are also rented for cultural and private
events/celebrations, different concerts and exhibitions.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32010 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32009 as you walk through The Old Town. And you don’t want to miss it because it’s what you see on postcards from Riga. You need to take your own picture at this place.
With stalls, workshops and various feasts The Town Hall Square used to be the centre of public life during The Middle Ages. Historians believe it
was originally a market place, but after expansion of the city in 1211 the Town Hall square was formed here. Punishments were executed and pageants used to be arranged here
as well. During World War II the luxurious development of the square was completely destroyed. Thanks to grand reconstruction works in this century the main buildings - the Town Hall and Blackheads House - have been restored.

Today at the Town Hall Square you will find a renovated House of Blackheads, souvenir shops, City Hall and the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia. In the centre of the square you can see a figure of Roland which is a symbol of judicial
power, freedom and independence of many European cities.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32009 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31831 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31831 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31512 42 meter high monument helps people orient themselves.
On the left side of the monument stands The National Opera House with it’s garden, on the right side is Bastion Hill and in front of it lies the Old Town. All roads in Riga eventually lead to it – the highest freedom monument in Europe.
It is dedicated to 'Fatherland and Freedom' and is topped by a Liberty Statue - a woman with three stars symbolizing regional parts of Latvia:
Kurzeme, Vidzeme and Latgale. At the base of the monument are several sculptural groups symbolizing different values - Labor, Strength of the Nation, Spiritual Strength, Freedom, Family. On the lowest block you can read historical events showed by the help of sculptures. The Monument was created by Kārlis Zāle (1888-
1942), a well-known Latvian sculptor and erected in 1935 during the first period of Latvian independence between 1918 and 1940.

Nowadays everyone is free to place flowers there and people really do it, but during the Soviet era, a running joke, not completely untrue, was that the monument was a travel agency, because anyone who dared to place flowers at its base got a free one- way ticket to Siberia ... The occupation authorities did not remove the monument fearing protests, but there was an unwritten law not to film and take pictures of the
monument. This is the monument Latvians really respect and take care of and now it is as important as it was during the time Latvians didn’t know the freedom.

Nowadays you will find there different cultural events, national holidays, song and dance
festivals celebrated near the monument. Sometimes you will see here a brass orchestra
playing, you will hear the National Anthem or folk songs, you will hear the heads of
the country with their speeches during national celebrations talking to people at this place. On a daytime there are also guards standing at the monument. If you want to see the changing of the guard come at 10am or 5pm. Every morning there are people watching them coming and taking pictures of this small performance.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31512 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26557 www.fm1721.com/experience/riga]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26557 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16405
A third of buildings in the centre of Riga were built in this style. These date between 1896 and 1913, with the most striking examples being found around Albert St. If you’re in Riga, we really recommend you take in some of this stunning architecture.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16405 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14242
I first heard about the tour in a story I read in easyJet's in-flight magazine about a crazy underground nuclear bunker in Latvia's countryside.

The bunker is in the middle of nowhere and is absolutely the most strange place I've ever been to. Plan to go back and do it again in the winter for the full-on Soviet winter vibe.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14242 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6519
As you walk through the glass entrance that provides the only natural light to the restaurant, you enter a warm world of wood, stone and glass. The potential unfriendliness of bare brick and rough plastered walls is successfully offset by exposed wooden beams, ventilation running through polished wooden conduits, and locally hand crafted stained glass lampshades.

A carved wooden partition separates the smoking and non-smoking areas and provides some intimacy for those who end up with tables in the center of the restaurant. The overall effect is of a warm and comfortable environment.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6519 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/1567 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/1567