German

Up until 1860s  Riga was a fortified bastion, with its infrastructural and economic development determined by various military strategies. It was only after these strategies were revoked and the fortifications were dismantled, that this ancient trading town developed into an industrial centre with a multi-national population.
The Latvians who had gained prosperity in Riga learned German and often denied their ethnic roots. It was not easy to identify their compatriots in the city. The situation changed during the latter half of the 19th century following the abolishment of discriminatory legislation against farmers. Increasing numbers of Latvians came to Riga and their lifestyle changed. Latvian identity and intelligentsia developed, the level of national self-esteem raised, and Latvians found a need for a social organization to enable purposeful gathering and a venue for cultural recreation, exchange of information, furthering knowledge etc.

Following the national declaration of independence in 1918, the Riga Latvian Society transferred the museum collection to the government. In 1920 Museum was provided with rooms in Riga Castle. In 1924 the Museum was granted a national status and a new name - The State Historical Museum. Its function was to: “collect, preserve, exhibit and popularise the ancient and modern cultural heritage which is of significance to the history of Latvia”.

The period from 1920 till 1940 was a prosperous one for the Museum. Exhibitions of archaeology, ethnography, numismatics and religious art were opened. Museum opened branches in other Latvian cities. In 1939 the Museum’s collection contained 150 000 items.

Following the renewal of independence in 1991, the Museum experienced successful transition to the new conditions. It was accredited in 2000 and again in 2004 as complying to State level museum standards. The Museum’s collection comprising around 1 million items is a unique and comprehensive overview of the material and intangible heritage of Latvia and its people.

Museum has established a new permanent exposition covering the period from 8 000 B.C. till 1941. This exposition unites the “open collection” principle with the portrayal of the most important periods in Latvian history. There is a number of temporary exhibitions every year, based on the collections of the Museum.

The Museum is constantly improving its offer to the public. Since 2005 the permanent exposition of the Museum includes special stands for the visually impaired. Special educational programs are offered to pupils.
In March, 2008 Museum Park of Araisi joined to the National History Museum of Latvia. The Museum Park of Araisi is a cultural and historical landmark situated in Cesis region. It consists of reconstructions of buildings of Stone and Bronze Age, a lake castle – settlement of ancient Latgallians in 9th - 11th centuries and ruins of medieval Livonian castle.

In January, 2010 Latvian Culture Museum "Dauderi" was joined to the National History Museum of Latvia and became a department of the National History Museum of Latvia.

Visitors are offered exhibitions of Latvian and foreign artists, displaying installations, video art, photographs, paintings and other varied contemporary art works. Alongside the exhibitions kim? also organizes various lectures by art historians, curators and artists and cinema shows in collaboration with local and international organizations, as well as various educational programs for those interested in contemporary art and culture. With these activities kim? also participates in the programs of the biggest city and culture festivals of Riga offering a deepened view and participation in the processes of contemporary art.

The building of the Naval Port Prison was built around 1900 and until 1997 it has served as a place where military persons served their terms for breach of discipline.
Mysterious and inexplicable things are noticed in the prison – rumbling footsteps, self-unscrewing of electrical bulbs, inexplicable opening of closed doors of the cells, but the appearance of seemingly impossible images in the hallways of the prison has come as an unpleasant surprise to many visitors.
In 2009 the ghosts of the Naval Port Prison were even chased by a sophisticatedly equipped team of professionals - "Ghost Hunters International".  Sixteen ghost hunters spent a week in the prison looking for the White Lady and showed their work on the USA TV-channel “Sci-Fi”. They managed to both reveal the phenomena with help of their equipment and feel them themselves. One of the most possessed places in the world - was their conclusion.
The Naval Port Prison is not an ordinary museum. Tourists can experience a variety of shows – for instance, spend the “Extreme night” by stepping into the shoes of a prisoner. Or the VIP program – mind-blowing adventures in the Northern Forts with a possible arrest and interrogatory in the prison.
 
Guides are available in Latvian, English, German and Russian, price - Ls 2.50

A peculiar accent to the authentic environment is the first turbine of Kegums Hydroelectric Power Station installed in 1939, part of the work wheel of Plavinas Hydroelectric Power Station’s turbine, 110 kV and 20 kV outdoor commutation systems, all exhibited outdoors. The pumps, compressors, turbine regulator, assembly wrenches, control panels, low voltage equipments etc. have been set up in the pavilions.
Kegums exhibition has one of the oldest displays in the museum – “Siemens Schuckert” ammeter installed in Liepaja Direct Current Power Station in 1899.

Museum visitors can watch newsreels, videos on producing, transferring and distributing electricity as well as movies for pupils on electrical safety.
 

We’re ready to accommodate your wishes, whether you order traditional Latvian meals or international cuisine. We have a small wine cellar with rare and special treasures of the last 30 years. For those preferring beer, we have Lāčplēsis beer. We’ll be happy to plan and cater your special events: family celebrations, business lunches, conferences, meetings or excursions. We can also organise small concerts, and we have an excellent piano available. There are antique porcelain, glass, and silver and gold flatware collections at our disposal, which may be used on specific terms.
The entire building can be rented for a weekend including a chef and waiter to serve you and accommodate your wishes on a 24-hour basis.
Or you may wish to cook for yourselves, to spoil yourself and your loved ones. The kitchen is separated from the dining room by a transparent glass wall, which may be opened. The space is suitable for chef seminars or training courses on food items.
The kitchen is equipped with modern ovens and induction stoves. The preparation kitchen is located in the basement, where food may be stored, cooled, and chilled.
As you can see, your wish is our command!

A huge contribution in the building of the church was made by the Duke’s wife Anne from Mecklenburg who financed construction work as well as the interior design.

The main church building and part of the tower were built from 1574 to 1575. During these years the tower’s bells and the first clock were installed. The construction of the tower was completed in 1688 by the architect Martin Knoch. The tower reached 49.68 meters and it was covered with a pyramidal roof.

In 1862, the tower was raised under the guidance of the architect Emil Strauss, and its height together with a gilded cross reached 80.5 meters.

During World War II the city of Jelgava was almost destroyed including the Holy Trinity Church, which suffered heavy damage. In 1954 the Soviet army blasted the ruins of the church building, leaving only the tower for military needs.

The tower was covered with a glass roof in 2004. It currently stands 50.17 metres high, and the original design of the architect Martin Knoch has been preserved in its shape. Since 1998, the Holy Trinity Church tower has been included in the list of culture heritage monuments protected by the state.

After more than 60 years the church tower was reborn on November 16, 2010, financed by the European Union. Right now it attracts local people and visitors as a place to discover many new things, enjoy delicious meals and relaxation.

9th floor – Exhibition hall and sightseeing platform
Various art pieces are presented in the exhibition hall. The sightseeing platform offers a panorama of the whole city of Jelgava.

8th floor – Restaurant
Exquisite meal – prepared in the best tradition to be enjoyed in a historical atmosphere.

5th floor - History display “Zemgale folk costume”
The display shows the history of the national costumes of Zemgale. Visitors are invited to discover the richness of colors and ornaments in costumes and to have an insight into the costume making process.

4th floor - History display “Jelgava and the Holy Trinity Church in the change of epochs”
The historical display presents Jelgava over five time periods and archaeological materials from the tower’s reconstruction in 2009 and 2010. Visitors can travel through the old Holy Trinity Church with the help of touch screens, appreciating it from inside and outside.

3rd floor - History Display “Zemgale – a cradle of Latvian presidents”
The display is dedicated to the first four Latvian presidents that all were born here in Zemgale as well as to the city’s residents that have received Jelgava City and Latvia State awards.

1st floor - Tourist information centre
Comprehensive information about tourism possibilities in Jelgava city, Jelgava and Ozolnieki counties – brochures, tourism routes, consultations etc. Here you can find a wide selection of Jelgava souvenirs.

The Holy Trinity Church Tower yard
There is a fountain sculpted by Jānis Aivars Karlovs in the former central nave of The Holy Trinity Church. The fountain “Trinity” is a symbol of the most important core values in Christianity – the union of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

It was close to the Mangaļi farm that the front line ran During World War I and the legendary Christmas Battles took place. The museum features a reconstruction of the first line of German field fortifications, the so-called German Wall, which is the only site of this type in the Baltic.

The manor house was built from 1783 to 1789 for the Count of the Holy Roman Empire, Michael Johann von der Borch, who was a distinguished person in the 18th-19th centuries - a member of the Polish Sejm and Quartermaster General, as well as an outstanding natural scientist. The house is a rectangular, 100 m long three-storey building. The facade bears Count von der Borch's motto: ’Virtute duce - Deo favente - Comite fortuna’’ or, "Guided by valour, by God's favour, accompanied by good fortune".
The manor park was laid out at the end of the 18th century, alongside the building works. This is one of the first documented romantic style landscape parks in Latvia. In the park, on the bank of the Kažava rivulet, there sits a huge fieldstone which people call "Love Boulder". A number of legends and tales are related to the Borch manor and the boulder.
Since 1997, the Varakļāni manor house has been home to the Varakļāni District Museum. The museum has on display several exhibitions and themed expositions.


  

The permanent exposition tells about the life and work of the Skrinda family.There is also an exposition about the history and nowadays of Liksna and Vabole parish, as well as over a century old furniture and various household objects.The museums collection has books, magazines and newspapers, as well as photographs from early 20^th century.Skrinda family museum offers:Expositions:  - “The life and work of Skrinda family”, “The cultural history of the district".

Hotel is a unique complex of 19th century stone building and contemporary conference centre. 43 rooms can accommodate 85 guests, but conference halls and recreation centre with sauna, steam bath and pool can take in seminars, weddings and other enterprises up to 100 persons. Hotel restaurant, which is named after the nobleman Kropotkin, will delight every gourmand with delicious dishes and professional service.

Hotel “Sigulda” was built in 1889, when the Riga-Petersburg railroad was created, which encouraged more people take holidays away from Riga. The nobleman Nikolaj Kropotkin (1872-1939) developed Sigulda as popular tourism destination among Russian and German noblemen.  Since reconstruction in 1998 the historical building has began to function again after a break of many years. In 2001 the hotel was extended with the building of hotel rooms, a seminar-conference centre and recreation centre.