Vecrīga
| Historic Centre of Riga | |
|---|---|
| Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List | |
 | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, ii |
| Reference | 852 |
| UNESCO region | Europe and North America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1997 (21st Session) |
Vecrīga (Latvian: Old Riga) is the historical center of Riga, Latvia, located on the east side of Daugava River. Vecrīga is famous for its old churches and cathedrals, such as Riga Cathedral and St. Peter's church.
History
Origins
Vecrīga is the original area of Riga and consists of the historic city limits before the city was greatly expanded in the late 19th century. In the old days, Vecrīga was protected by a surrounding wall except the side adjacent to the Daugava river bank. When the wall was torn down, the waters from Daugava filled the space creating Riga City Canal.
Heritage
In the 1980s Vecrīga's streets were closed to traffic and only area residents and local delivery vehicles are allowed within Vecrīga's limits with special permits. Vecrīga is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site listed as "Historic Centre of Riga".[1]
Gallery
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The House of the Blackheads in Vecrīga
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Reconstructed section of the medieval city wall
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Riga Castle in Vecrīga
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Riga Town Hall in Vecrīga
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Houses and streets in Vecrīga, with an aerial view of the town hall
References
- ↑ "World Heritage List — Riga (Latvia); No. 852" (PDF). unesco.org. pp. 3 (67). Retrieved 2009-07-25.
External links
Media related to Vecrīga at Wikimedia Commons- Multimedia virtual tour of Old Riga
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Coordinates: 56°57′0″N 24°6′30″E / 56.95000°N 24.10833°E