Riga Castle | Rīgas pils (Pils laukums 3)

Riga Castle (Rīgas pils) was firstly built around 1340. It was the seat of Livonian Order who ruled Latvian territory back then. The castle is not the first and original castle of Riga city - that one was demolished by Rigans themselves when they rebelled against Livonian Order and started a war (around 1300). Rigans lost the war and in result, as a term of peace agreement had to build the new castle for Order in behind town borders, in new place. Riga castle has experienced several destructions and architectonic changes throughout the history, it has been severely damaged also in the Latvian Independence War (1918-1920). Last destruction was done by fire in the process of castle reconstruction, in 2013. The reconstruction is still on-going, but castle is again functioning as the residence of the president of Latvia.