THE SOUL OF RIGA

The Riga Cathedral

History and Facts
The Riga Cathedral (Riga Dome), founded in 1211, is one of the oldest and largest medieval churches in the Baltic region. Its architecture layers Romanesque beginnings, Gothic expansion, and later Baroque accents, reflecting Riga’s long evolution as a city of faith and culture. The cathedral’s tower has long stood as a key landmark for river traffic on the Daugava and a symbol of Riga’s enduring soul.

Interesting Fact
The cathedral’s pipe organ, built by E. F. Walcker & Co. and inaugurated in 1884, was the largest and most modern organ in the world at the time. Its deep, powerful sound still defines Riga Dome as one of Northern Europe’s great organ-concert venues.

Author’s Note
When the sun sets behind the Dome, Riga’s silence becomes music.