Got your free time in Latvia’s capital Riga? Don’t miss the great opportunity to discover Europe’s most beautiful Art Nouveau buildings in stunning Alberta, Strelnieku and Elizabete streets.

Admired by tourists both locals Riga’s beautiful Art Nouveau architecture upgrades your city tour with elegant memories. Learn about the Riga’s architectural history from Baltictours.com blog.

Magnificent Art Nouveau heritage in Riga

Strelnieku area located in central Riga and is considered one of Eastern Europe’s most beautiful streets. It’s an evidence of elegance both artistic expression why Riga became one of the World’s centers of Art Nouveau architecture.

Art Nouveau style existed from the last decade of the 19th century until the beginning of World War II. The direction of Art Nouveau expressed in architecture and arts, it was popular both in Europe and US. It perfectly reflected the spirit of fin de siecle. Art Nouveau created stylistically unified environment and merged applied and performing arts. It has stilization, naturalism properties, engages to the search of symbolic meanings. Beloved and funded by burgeois. Brightest examples are found in Nansi (France), Great Britain (London, Glasgow), Belgium (Brussels), Austria (Vienna). After WWII Art Nouveau became Art Deco. This term arrises from Parisien shop by Eiffel Tower owned by Samuel Bingo. In other countries the term too forms of Jugend (Germany), Modernism (Catalonia), Modern (Russian), Secession (Austria), Paling Stijl (Belgium), Gaudi (Spain), Stile de Nouille (Italy) or Stile Liberty or Stile Floreale, Tiffany – in the US.

What to expect in Art Nouveau Riga

Elegant neighborhoods of central Riga has been known to have one of the world greatest collections of Art Nouveau architecture. The Art Nouveau arose in the late 19th century in Brussels (Belgium), at a time when Riga in general was at the peak of economic prosperity. The Art Nouveau architectural style due to its elegance and luxury quickly became so popular and left the heritage of over 800 Art Nouveau buildings still decorating Riga, the capital of Latvia.

Take your inspiring walk across eclectically decorative examples of early Art Nouveau designed by M. Eizenšteins, H. Sels, F. Sefels, R. Cirkvics, J. Alksnis and other Latvian architects. Perpendicular Art Nouveau is one of the most characteristic trends of Riga Art Nouveau. It widely spread after first years of the 20th century when romantic stylized motifs slowly disappeared from building facades. There appeared shapes of vertical elements on the façade (windows, reliefs, doors).

When Art Nouveau was at the height of its popularity and adoration, Latvia just happened to be at the top of the financial boom. That’s how so many examples of original Art Nouveau architecture was build in the firs decade of the 20th century.

A must tour during your stay in Riga. Baltictours.com recommends:

• Alberta Street #2, 4, 6, 8, 13 – designed by M. Eisenstein, #11 designed by E. Laube
• Alberta street #12 (entrance from Strelnieku Street) – Riga Art Nouveau Museum
• Elizabetes Street #10a and 10b – two most iconic masterpieces by M. Eisenstein
• Strelnieku Street #4a – another M. Eisenstein

And many other examples open for your imagination and exploring. Enjoy Riga.

EXPLORE RIGA NOW