Dome Square

Dome Square

A stop on the Riga audio-guided tour, Dome Square is the largest square in the old town and a very lively place. It hosts artistic installations, open-air concerts and, in winter, one of the most renowned Christmas markets in Europe.

A buried history

Beneath your feet hides a much older history: for centuries, this place was a cemetery. Excavations have revealed thousands of burials dating from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century, sometimes superimposed on several levels, bearing witness to the epidemics and difficult periods the city went through.

What to see

Today, everything rests under a thick archaeological layer, preserved, the excavations being limited so as not to weaken the foundations of the surrounding historic buildings. The ground is covered with traditional grey and pink granite cobblestones, restored after independence. Walk through this square with, in mind, the memory it holds.

Practical information

Dome Square is in the heart of Riga's old town. Freely accessible, it is lively all year round, with its Christmas market in winter.

What once lay beneath Dome Square ?

A cemetery; excavations revealed thousands of burials there from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century.

What happens on the square in winter ?

One of the most renowned Christmas markets in Europe is held there.