House Of The Black Heads, Riga

Discover why House Of The Black Heads used to be called the "grandest adornment of Riga." You can see carvings, reliefs, and embedded statues on its facade, then head for the arched entrance flanked by a virgin and child, plus the patron saint himself. The city built this house in the 14th century as a meeting venue for different social organizations. In the 17th century, its sole occupants were the Brotherhood of Blackheads--a guild of unmarried German merchants. Nazi Germans and Soviets destroyed the building during and after World War II, but it was completely restored in 1999. Notice the portal engraving, which states, "Should you ever see me falling, raise me up, 'tis your calling." A visit to House Of The Black Heads represents just the start of the adventure when you use our Riga holiday planning app to plot your vacation.