City Hall

Riga Town Hall

A stop on the Riga audio-guided tour, the town hall stands at the administrative heart of the city. The building has known many transformations and functions, housing in turn the stock exchange and even a prison.

A modern reconstruction

Destroyed during the Second World War, then replaced by a Soviet building, the current town hall is a modern reconstruction inaugurated in 2003. Its facade reflects the historical appearance, while the interior, very contemporary and largely glazed, symbolises the city's openness to its citizens.

What to see

On the square stands a statue of Roland, nephew of Charlemagne, a symbol of justice and freedom. A small plaque on the ground commemorates a local tradition: it was here, in 1510, that one of the first decorated Christmas trees in Europe is said to have been raised, a custom Riga still celebrates each year.

Practical information

The town hall is on Town Hall Square, in Riga's old town. The square is freely accessible; conditions for visiting the interior should be checked depending on the season.

When was the current town hall inaugurated ?

In 2003; it is a modern reconstruction reflecting the historical facade.

What Christmas tradition does the square recall ?

One of the first decorated Christmas trees in Europe is said to have been raised there in 1510.