House of Blackheads

The House of the Blackheads in Riga’s old town dates back to 1334 and has been called one of the grandest buildings in the city. Originally built for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga, the Gothic building with a Dutch Renaissance facade has been rebuilt on several occasions, including in the 16th century when lion figures were added above its entrance. It was then completely destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in the 1990s, fulfilling the words engraved above the entrance: “should I ever crumble to dust, rebuild my walls you must!”

Practical Info

The House of the Blackheads sits on Riga’s town square, within easy walking distance of many central Riga hotels. Unfortunately, it is currently closed to the public while the president of Latvia has moved his offices to the building during renovations to Riga Castle.