Old Riga still attracts lovers of medieval antiquity. Its narrow streets, ancient buildings, an unusual layout - a magnet for many, many travel lovers. The aroma of antiquity is preserved in many ancient buildings and structures. In the narrow and crooked streets of the amazing Latvian capital there are many of them.
Old Riga
Until the 12th century, local Baltic tribes settled at the mouth of the Daugava River . At the beginning of the century, crusaders led by Bishop Bertold came to the lands of the Daugava. And almost a century later, another bishop - Albert founded a new city. And after six years, he gives 2/3 of the lands of the Livs of Germany to the possession of the Order. 1/3 part Albert left to himself. Riga was located on this territory.
The new city was repeatedly attacked by external enemies and burned in fires. In the XIII century. Riga joined the Hanseatic League and became a recognized wealthy trading and port center. From attacks wishing to profit from its wealth, Riga decided to defend the city walls. The thickness of the towers was about 3 m. They were located from each other at a distance of about 70 m.
In the XIV century. firearms were invented, and most of the fortifications had to be rebuilt in connection with a new word in military art. And in the XV century. The fortified Riga fortress had to confront the Order, which was actively fighting with Riga.
Powder Tower in Riga - one of its architectural dominants
In the XV-XVI centuries, a horseshoe-shaped defense tower was erected in Riga, the purpose of which was to defend the city from shelling from firearms. This tower was built on the site of an older tower, known by documents? like sand. The tower got its name for its location - near the Great Sandy Road. The sand tower was one of the 28 towers of the city fortress and the only one preserved. Then the tower had a tetrahedral shape. And after its restructuring in the XV-XVI centuries. became a horseshoe-shaped, deployed "horseshoe" to the city.
The horseshoe-shaped structure was given a new name in the middle of the 17th century, during the years of the war with the Swedes and Poles, because it contained a warehouse of gunpowder and ammunition. Around the same time, it became rounded.
The photo of the Powder Tower of Riga clearly shows its interesting feature, which makes the structure more impregnable - the lack of a traditional entrance. To get inside the tower, it was necessary to climb the rope ladder to the level of the fifth tier. On the top floor of the tower was a trap for cores.
In 1621, the tower was besieged by the troops of the Swedish king Gustav Adolf. From the time of the siege to our days, a memory has survived: several cannonballs in the wall. In the XVII century. weathercocks were installed on the tower, the first of which was invented back in the 15th century. Jürgen Helln, and in the XVII century he implemented a project based on the found drawing by Nikolaus Molin. Another vane belongs to his authorship.
Legend or true story?
The residents of Riga recall the amazing story that one of the townspeople (monk) looked up at the gold, supposedly hidden in one of the underground passages, which led from the Powder Tower of Riga to the Town Hall Square. He was caught and imprisoned in the same dungeon. In his dungeon, the unlucky treasure hunter served eight years and was then quartered on Town Hall Square.
Another legend says that students who rented a tower had no money. In an abandoned building, they found a large number of pigeon droppings. Having collected it, they sold "fertilizer". The proceeds were enough for the reconstruction of interiors and the restoration of the tower, and even for the opening of a student "club" there.
Tower in modern times
In 1710, the tower, like the city itself, was captured by Russian troops during the Northern War. And during the years of the Polish-Swedish war, the Powder Tower of Riga was badly damaged, and for a long time stood in a dilapidated form. Only in the XIX century. It was restored and received a conical roof.
In the XVIII-XIX centuries. The powder tower of Riga was empty and began to collapse. And at the end of the XIX century. the tower was rented by a student corporation, which completely transformed not only the appearance and interiors of the structure, but also its aura and purpose. They glazed wall openings, made doors, organized dance and fencing halls, a bar. The tower was decorated with comfortable balconies.
In the 20s of the XX century. a Nazi circle was organized at the student pub. It was here that the idea of the Reich was formulated. And her ideologists were Alfred Rosenberg, Arno Schikedants and M.E. Scheibner-Richter.
Museum of the Powder Tower
The museum opened in the Powder Tower of Riga at the address: ul. Smilsu, d. 20, in 1916. His first exhibition was dedicated to the history of the Latvian shooters, the medieval period and the events of the First World War. The War Ministry, coordinating the work of the museum, set an important goal for its employees: educating fighters for the freedom and independence of the Latvian people, fostering love for the motherland and feelings of patriotism. The museum collection included a large number of unique documents and photographs, as well as an excellent collection of weapons.
Before the Great Patriotic War an additional building was attached to the tower for museum collections.
And after the war, the Nakhimov Naval School was located in the tower. In the 60s, Soviet power influenced the opening of the Museum of the Revolution in the Powder Tower of Riga . Only in the late 90s museum collections were returned to the building. And again, the goal of the Latvians was the revival and preservation of national identity and the struggle for the freedom of the people.