Page 162 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

160  LA T VIA REGION B Y REGION

5 Aviation Museum
Aviācijas muzejs
Rīga Airport. Tel 2686 2707.
Open 10am–4pm Mon–Fri, Sat & Sun
by arrangement. & 8 - =
∑ aviamuseum.org
Located just beside Rīga’s
airport, this private open-air
museum claims to have the
largest collection of Soviet
air craft outside the Common-
wealth of Independent States.
The impressive array of aero-
planes and helicopters is the
legacy of the Young Pilot’s Neo-Gothic façade of Dauderi mansion dating from the 19th century
Club, an organization founded
in 1956 which was granted periods of time. The Soviet army whom later returned to Germany
used military aircraft for later occupied the building, at the beginning of World War II.
training purposes. After the and in turn the Germans placed During the war a concentration
break-up of the Soviet Union, anti-aircraft guns in the grounds. camp was set up in the area by
funding dried up, but in 1998 The mansion has also been the Nazis, housing Jews brought
the equipment was moved used as a kinder garten and as from liquidated ghettos across
onto airport territory. In tasting rooms for the Ministry Eastern Europe. The camp was
addition to the aircraft, both of Food. closed when the Red Army
military and civilian, there is Now converted into a invaded in 1944 and nothing
a small exhibition of uniforms museum, the rooms are remains of it today. During the
and other equip ment. Opening decorated and furnished Soviet period many of the
hours can be erratic so visitors in the style of the suburb’s buildings fell
should call ahead. 1920s and 30s. There into disrepair. Since
are displays dedi- independence,
cated to the life however, property
of Ulmanis, the prices in Mežaparks
nation’s first period have risen, and the
of independence area is now predo-
and the cultural minantly Latvian
activities of Latvian with a significant
exiles during World Cherubs decorating the ceiling number of foreign
War II and the of Dauderi mansion owners including
subsequent Soviet several embassies.
occupation. The collection Some of the new residents are
is eclectic and includes building homes which are
photographs, medals, puppets grand, if not always tasteful,
and folk costumes. The mansion while others are restoring older
is surrounded by a park buildings. The area is fascinating
containing sculptures and to walk around for its mix of
artificial ruins. contemporary, Modernist and
M16 airplane, on show at the Art Nouveau buildings, with
Aviation Museum Hamburgas Street a particular
7 Mežaparks highlight of the area.
Another reason to visit
6 Dauderi v 11. the area is Rīga Zoo (Rīgas
Previously called Kaiserwald zooloğiskais dārzs), a well-
Sarkandaugavas iela 30. Tel 6739
1780, 6739 2229. v 5 or 9 to Aldaris. (German for “Emperor’s Forest”) maintained site which is popular
Open 10am–5pm Wed–Sun. & in reference to its use as a base with families. It is known for its
∑ history-museum.lv by the invading Swedish king bears and has an excellent
Gustav Adolphus in the 17th tropical house, although the
This late 19th-century Neo- century, this part of northeast zoo’s star attraction is a pair of
Gothic mansion, 6 km (4 miles) Rīga became Europe’s first rare Amur tigers. Rides in a
from Rīga’s city centre, was the garden city in the early 20th horse-drawn carriage are
summer resi dence of Latvian century. Renamed Mežaparks, available during the summer,
president Kārlis Ulmanis from mean ing “Forest Park”, it was and special events take place
1937 to 1940, although he only designed as a suburb for throughout the year, including
ever stayed here for short wealthy Baltic Germans, most of the weighing of the zoo’s
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp300–301 and pp320–22

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