Page 155 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

RĪGA  153

20th century. Extensively
restored in the 1980s and 90s,
the building is now a museum
devoted to the life of Rīga’s
merchant class in the 17th and
18th centuries. Each room is
decorated in period style. One
highlight is the wall paintings,
influenced by the work of
French artist Antoine Watteau,
depicting the wealthy relaxing.

a St Peter’s Church
Pēterbaznīca
Skārņu 19. Map 2 D4. Tel 6718 1430. Vera Viduka’s 1977 textile at the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design
Open 10am–6pm Tue–Sun. 7
except tower. & for tower for Rīga’s original Livonian Order f St John’s Church
∑ peterbaznica.riga.lv
castle in 1208, and became a Jāņa baznīca
First mentioned in 1209, St Peter’s separate church after the castle
Church was, unlike other was destroyed in 1297. After Jāņa 7. Map 2 D4. Tel 6722 4028.
churches, largely built by the Livs the Reformation it was used as Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sat.
5 6:30pm Wed, 10am Sun.
(see p176) and not by foreigners. a warehouse, and traces of
None of the original wooden sacred and profane uses have Built as the cloister chapel for a
church remains, but parts of the been retained in the building. Dominican Order mona stery in
walls date from the 1200s. The The museum gives an over- 1234, St John’s was devas tated
semi-circular apse and its five view of decorative arts from by 15th-century fighting
chapels were built in the 15th the 1890s to the present day. between the Livonian Order
century, while the three Baroque Temporary exhibitions are and the city. Only the main
dolomite entrance portals shown on the ground floor, door and porch remain, with
were added in the late while the first floor, the rest rebuilt in Gothic style,
17th century. The covering the 1890s to including a web-vaulted red-
church, which had the 1960s, is the most brick nave with an apse, choir
become Lutheran in inter esting part of and tower. In 1582, the Polish
1523, was dam aged the main collection. king Stefan Bathory gave the
by fire in 1721, when Highlights include church to the Lutherans, and it
Peter the Great is said painted ceramics from was further expanded in the
to have headed the the Baltars studio and Mannerist style. The interior
failed efforts to rescue it. Lenin plate, carpet designs by includes a Baroque altar
The church’s steeple Porcelain Museum Jūlijs Madernieks. dat ing from 1769 and a
has been rebuilt several painting, Krustā sistais (The
times over. The current one was d Porcelain Crucified, 1912), by Janis
built in 1973. Reaching a height Rozentāls in the sacristy.
of 123 m (403 ft), it provides Museum
excellent views across the city. Rīgas porcelāna muzejs
Kalēju 9/11. Map 2 D4. Tel 6701 2944.
s Museum of Open 11am–6pm Tue–Sun. &
∑ porcelanamuzejs.riga.lv
Decorative Arts
and Design Situated in the Convent
Dekoratīvās mākslas un dizaina Courtyard, this museum reflects
the history of porcelain manu-
muzejs
facturing in Latvia, which dates
Skārņu iela 10/20. Map 2 D4. Tel 6722 back to the late 19th century.
2235. Open 11am–5pm Tue & Thu– The 6,000 exhibits include a
Sun; 11am–7pm Wed. & 8 = wide range of dinner services,
∑ lnmm.lv
as well as a huge red-and-gold
vase made to celebrate the
This museum is housed in the city’s 700th anniversary in 1901.
former St George’s Church, Rīga’s Of historic importance is a
oldest surviving stone building. display of vases and sta tues Impressive ceiling and nave of
It was constructed as the chapel portraying Soviet leaders. St John’s Church

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