Museums in Latvia

Latvian War Museum Latvijas Kara Muzejs

The Latvian War Museum is one of the oldest and largest museums in Latvia. It was founded in 1916 as the Latvian riflemen museum. Since 1919 the museum is located in the Powder Tower (14th century), one of the former fortification towers of Riga. The museum’s aim is to reveal to the public the complex military and political history of Latvia, with particular emphasis on the 20th century, during which the Latvian nation had to fight for its independence twice. The largest and most significant part of the museum’s collection consists of objects about the military and political history of Latvia in the 20th century. The core of the museum’s collection holds more than 25 400 units, which are systematized into 22 individual collections. Permanent exhibitions about the art of warfare and Latvian soldiers, First and Second world wars, Latvian Army, Soviet occupation and the gaining of independence in 1918 and 1991 can be seen in the museum.

51 to 200 staff

Riga Last Thursdays

Riga Last Thursdays is a gallery evening, happening every last Thursday of the month. A number of contemporary art galleries stay open from 18:00 until 22:00 with free exhibitions, workshops, DJ nights, and more. This event is an opportunity to explore Riga's contemporary art scene in one day. Participants range from photography to commercial art galleries, to artist studios, cultural centres, and pop-up spaces.

1 to 10 staff

Rothko Museum

11 to 50 staff

Latvijas Nacionālais Mākslas Muzejs

The Latvian National Museum of Art is the largest depository of professional art in Latvia. Museum regularly holds art exhibitions and scientific conferences, diverse art and cultural events, takes part in international projects, as well as compiling and editsing museum publications. Alongside the permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Latvian National Museum of Art is known for its educational projects. Visitors are offered specialist-guided tours and educational programs.

51 to 200 staff

The Turaida Museum Reserve In Latvia Turaidas Muzejrezervāts

Muzejrezervāts izveidots 1989. gadā uz Siguldas novadpētniecības muzeja bāzes, kas savu darbību uzsāka 1948. gadā, lai saglabātu nākamajām paaudzēm vienu no senākajiem Latvijas valstiskajiem veidojumiem – Turaidas vēsturisko centru ar kultūras pieminekļu kompleksu. Muzejrezervātu veido trīs pamatelmenti: pieminekļi, kultūrvide, krājums, kas atspoguļo vairāk nekā tūkstošgadē radīto Turaidas vēsturiskā centra bagāto dabas, materiālo un nemateriālo kultūras mantojumu. Turaidas vēsturiskais centrs apvieno gandrīz visus Latvijas kultūrvēsturisko centru elementus: pilskalnu ar koka pils pamatiem, viduslaiku mūra pili, baznīcu un kapsētu, muižas, kolektīvās saimniecības centru. Arhitektūras un arheoloģijas pieminekļi atrodas vidē, kur tie ir radušies The Turaida Museum Reserve was established in the historical centre of Turaida and on the basis of the Sigulda Local History Museum, by virtue of Instruction No. 361 of the Soviet Latvian Council of Ministers ( 1989), “On the Establishment of the Turaida Museum Reserve.” The collection of the museum reserve is based on the rich environmental, tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the historical centre of Turaida, as developed over the course of the past millennium. The historical centre of Turaida includes nearly all of the elements of typical cultural and historical centres in Latvia – a hill fort with the foundations of a wooden castle, a Medieval stone castle, a church, a cemetery, the buildings of a baronial estate, the centre of a kolkhoz, a park, a system of ponds, green areas, roads, paths and routes, and a cultural and historical landscape to bring it all together. There are plenty of cultural and historical centres in Latvia, both in cities and in rural areas. This particularly applies to former baronial estates. The historical centre of Turaida, however, is particularly attractive, because it is on the banks of the ancient Gauja River Valley and is part of the territory of the Gauja National Park.

11 to 50 staff