Rainis Monument

The monument to Rainis

A place of remembrance on the Riga audio-guided tour, the monument to Rainis pays tribute to Janis Plieksans, known as Rainis, one of the greatest Latvian poets and thinkers, closely linked to the national awakening and the building of the country's cultural identity.

A poet of independence

Lines from his play Daugava, censored at their first publication in Moscow, became a rallying cry for Latvian independence. Inaugurated in 1965 for the centenary of his birth, the pink granite statue underlines his role as an intellectual and moral figure. Author of poems, plays and many translations, Rainis deeply marked the Latvian language and culture.

What to see

Engaged in politics after independence, Rainis remains a major figure of the country. Today, the monument is a place of memory and gathering, notably during the Poetry Days held each year around his birth date. Observe with respect this statue, a symbol of Latvian identity.

Practical information

The monument to Rainis is in the Esplanade park, in the centre of Riga. Freely accessible, it can be discovered at any time.

Who was Rainis ?

One of the greatest Latvian poets, a figure of the national awakening and of the country's cultural identity.

When was the monument inaugurated ?

In 1965, for the centenary of Rainis's birth; the statue is of pink granite.