Riga is the largest city in the Baltics and the capital of Latvia. Once called the ‘Paris of the North,’ it is an architectural gem of medieval houses with Gothic gabled roofs, Renaissance guild houses, Baroque homes of the wealthy and Art Nouveau housing by Jewish architect Mikhail Eisenstein rivalling that of Vienna or Barcelona. One may visit the Peitav Shul – the one synagogue to survive the Nazi period which is still in use today – and hear how the Torah scrolls were saved. Passing the Parliament building, one can learn about how Jewish democrats were involved in the creation of the first independent Latvia in 1920 and of the Jewish parliamentarians at work today.
The Maskavas suburb with its u-nique wooden housing is the historical Jewish quarter. Never a ghetto until the Nazi years, Maskavas became the main area of Jewish settlement in the 19th century. The first Jewish secular school is used today as a private Jewish school. Likewise the historical Jewish hospital Bikur Holim is still in use. The sites of the Great Choral Synagogue and old Jewish cemetery are now places of contemplation of the Nazi inhumanities. Two roads from Riga lead to the Rumbula and Bikernieki forests where mass murders were carried out. Both are now important memorial sites.
Stories of those who survived and also of the Righteous Among the Nations who helped save lives can be found in the excellent museum Jews in Latvia. This comprehensive museum is housed in the Jewish Community Center and is a must for any visitor. Have a tasty kosher meal next door at Lehaim restaurant or chat with a community member.
Tour Options
- Package for cruise ship passengers
(Baltic Sea cruise)
- Other destinations in the Baltics
are available upon request
- 4-hour driving tour of Jewish sites (within the Old City and Maskavas suburb)
- 6-hour driving tour of Jewish and general sites (including the Old City and Maskavas suburb)
- The Peitav Shul; the only synagogue used historically and today.
- Alberta Street--an absolutely stunning street in Riga for Art Nouveau architecture with Latvian Jewish architect Mikhail Eisenstein houses & the Isaiah Berlin house (Latvian / British political philosopher)
- The Maskavas suburb (former Jewish quarter and Riga ghetto)
- The first Jewish Secular School now the Chabad School
- The Big Choral Synagogue memorial site (Latvian 'Crystal Night')
- Old-New Synagogue / Beit Midrash
- Jewish Hospital Bikur Holim
- Old Jewish Cemetery
- Memorial Sites Rumbula or Bikernieki Forest -- sites of the mass execution of Riga's Jewish community; now very moving memorials by Jewish architect Sergejs Rizs.
- Salispils concentration camp memorial site
We suggest ending at:
- The Museum ‘Jews in Latvia' at the Skolas St. Jewish community
center.
- Café Lehaim or Shalom Café - one could eat a light lunch here.
The 6 hour tour would add to the above sites, the World UNESCO Heritage site of Old Riga. On an easy walking tour one could see:
- medieval houses dating back to th 15th century topped with Gothic gabled roofs; the 'Three Brothers' (houses from the 15th - 17th centuries)
- Renaissance guild houses and the famous House of the Black Heads
- St. Peter's Church, 13th century and the Doma Cathedral
- Riga castle
- Powder Tower and part of the medieval city wall
- The 'Cat House'
- Museum of the Occupation
- More fabulous Art Nouveau housing
Where it is appropriate, the Jewish perspective on these sites will be discussed as well.