Baltic Vacations in Riga
Tags: Baltic vacations in Riga, bars in Riga, history of Riga, Latvia, Must Do in Riga, night life in Riga, Occupation museum in Riga, Riga, Riga architecture, Riga bars, Riga in Hansa, VicrigaBy
Riga, as the capital and biggest city of Latvia, had a very interesting history. The city was grounded in the XIIth century by German immigrants and soon became a full member of Hansa, a German association of the most important Baltic ports ( other members were Hamburg, Rostock, Bremen etc). Riga continued its ascension and blossomed again by the end of XIXth century, due to a strong German and Jewish community.
Cathedral Square in Riga
The XXth century was not good at all for Riga, as the city was almost uninterruptedly under foreign occupation. First came the Germans during the WWII and destroyed the Jewish minority to extinction. Then came the Soviets, which have brutally ruled for 50 years. Through mass deportations, planned economy etc they reached an unprecedented record: the Latvian majority of population became actually a minority! More amazing: they still preserved a national conscience and they claimed an independent Latvia, which they get today!
