View of the City of Riga, Latvia from "Saint Peter's Church Tower"
Come and Join ''TheCelotajs'' and his view of the City of Riga, Latvia from Saint Peters Church Tower. As we look out across the city, we will see a great view of City of Riga. Looking northwest we first see the Daugava River, west bank of the Daugava and the Akmens ''Stone'' Bridge looking down, we can see the roof of the House of the Blackheads, part of the Occupation Museum, statue of the Latvian Red Riflemen, Latvian Technical University. Moving to the right, we will see a better view of the Technical University and the Rigas Doma City Hall. Looking out across the city and the Daugava, we can see the Swedbank Tower and the Vansu ''Cable'' Bridge. Still moving right, we can see from left to right, Saint Saviours Church, Doma Cathedral, Riga Castle, Doma Square, Mara Magdalenas Church, Saint Jacobs Cathedral. Still moving right, we see The Guilds Small and Large, Jacobs Barracks, The Latvia War Museum, and The Powder Tower. As we look far out over the city we can see the Rigas Ports. Looking down, we can see Livu Square, The building known as the Cat House because of the figure of a Cat on its roof. Looking far out across the city we can see more builds. Moving to the right more, we can see the Monument of Freedom, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, and German Embassy. Still moving right, we can see the Latvian National Opera, and another view of the city. Looking down we can see the roof of Saint Johns Church. Moving to the right more, we can see the Riga Railway Station, its railway yard and Riga Clock Tower. In the foreground are more old buildings. Now looking south, we can see the Central Market buildings. In the foreground you can see Reformers Church. Looking to the left a bit, and located behind Central Market we can see the Academy of Science or better known as Stalin's Birthday Cake. Still looking south, you can see from left to right the Academy of Science, Central Market, Daugava River, its inlets flowing into the Daugava River, Salu ''Islands'' Bridge and Rigas Radio and Television Tower. Moving to the right again, we can see the Daugava River, Rigas Television Studio, and Rigas Radio and Television Tower. Here we can see the east half of the famous Iron Bridge, Rigas Railway Bridge crossing the Daugava. View of the center and west end of the Iron Bridge and the north end of Zakusala Island. As we looking across the Daugava River to the west bank of the Daugava River. In the foreground we see the Akmens ''Stone'' Bridge. Looking across the Daugava River and far in the background we can see Victory Monument, Looking down, we can see the Statue of Roland. Now that we have returned to our starting point, I hope you enjoyed the view of the City of Riga from Saint Peters Church Tower. Please feel free to return as many times as you like. BRIEF HISTORY OF TOWER -- The tower, originally of wood, was rebuilt a number of times. It once collapsed in a storm, totally destroying a nearby house and killing 8 people. It then it burned down for the first time in 1721, and it is said that the Emperor Peter the Great himself helped fight the fire, and then immediately issued the orders for its reconstruction. He ordered the chief architect to sit on top of the weather vane at the completion of the work, drink a glass of wine, and throw the glass to the ground. The shattered pieces were to be counted, and the number of pieces would show how many centuries the spire would survive. The glass landed on a passing hay cart and survived, with only the stem breaking -- two pieces. Sure enough, the spire was destroyed by fire again -- two hundred years later, on Saint Peter's Day, 1941. For many years it was thought that the church was accidentally hit in the crossfire of battle; however it has since been discovered that it was deliberately set on fire by retreating Soviet troops as a propaganda move to blame the Germans for its destruction. There is now an elevator to an observation platform from which you get by far the best view of Riga City.
