Viewpoint over the National Library

Take a moment to contemplate the calm waters of the Daugava and feel free to sit down on the steps while I tell you the legend of the Great Kristaps, whose figure you can see just behind you. According to tradition, this benevolent giant once lived on the banks of the river and helped travellers cross by carrying them on his back. One stormy night, he struggled to carry a child who grew heavier and heavier as they moved through the water. Exhausted but finally reaching the opposite bank, the giant asked who he was, saying he had never felt such weight before, as if he had carried the whole world on his shoulders, before realising it was Christ himself. As a reward, he received a treasure said to have been used to found the city of Riga. Over time, Kristaps became a protective figure, a symbol of courage and devotion, and even today, locals place flowers at his feet before setting off on a journey to ask for his protection. His image is also linked to the National Library that you can see on the opposite bank. Nicknamed the Castle of Light, it immediately catches the eye with its silhouette shaped like a mountain of glass. This modern architecture was not chosen at random: it is directly inspired by ancient Latvian legends according to which a castle filled with knowledge and culture sank into the waters, destined to reappear the day the people would regain their freedom and identity. Its shape also recalls another popular story, that of a glass mountain that had to be climbed despite its slippery and almost impossible slope, a metaphor for the obstacles to overcome in order to reach knowledge, freedom, and fulfilment. These two giants, on either side of the river, protect the city and its memory.