The history of the National History Museum of Latvia is closely linked with Riga castle, where the museum was located from 1920 to 2014. The museum currently works in temporary premises, but after the reconstruction in 2018 the museum will return to Riga castle. This year the historical building celebrates its 500th anniversary. Over the centuries the appearance and functions of Riga castle have changed. The visitors of the exhibition are able to follow the building history of Riga castle during five centuries, get acquainted with ancient plans, pictures and photographs Riga castle. The items found during archaeological excavations and household and interior items from the funds of the museum are exhibited.
The Castle of the Order in its current place is situated since 1330. The oldest knights’ castle in Riga, called St. George’s or the White Stone Castle, was built for the Order of Swordbrothers in the beginning of the 13th century (now – the region of Konventa sēta (yard), the chapel of St. George has survived on Skārņu street). In 1297 the citizens of Riga bombed the castle with stone balls.
After the defeat of the citizens of Riga in the war, a place for building a new castle was assigned on the bank of the Daugava River next to the Tower of the Holy Spirit, where also were the horse stables and a shelter for the poor or the hospital. The Master of the Order Eberhard von Monheim laid the foundation stone of the new (the second knights’) castle in June, 1330, the building was finished around 1340. The castle was the residence of the Master, the archive, silver, gold, jewellery, and the whole treasury of the Livonian Order was held there, meetings of Commanders (komturs) and Procurators (vogts) were often held there. When a new war broke out between the citizens of Riga and the Order, in 1484 the citizens of Riga occupied the castle and pulled it down.
The third Order castle in Riga was built from 1497 to 1515. It is a convent-type castle – irregular building block of four sides with quadrangular courtyard and towers at the corners. The main towers were round cannon towers, which in the 19th century received their names – The Lead tower (in the south-east) and The Holy Spirit tower (in the north-west) and two staircase towers.
The castle had three floors: the ground floor – for the household needs, where there was the dining room of the Order’s brothers (remter), kitchen with mantel chimneys, premises for storing corn, storehouse of powder and weapons, premises for storing silver, brewery, premises for baking bread; the first floor, the main – for living, where there was a church or chapel with sacristy, premises for the Master, hall of meetings (chapter hall), premises of the Commander (komtur), bedroom of the Order’s brothers (dormitory). On this floor the windows were large, to provide plenty of light. The ceilings were 7 metres high and the rooms had groin or net vaulting, and even elaborate stellar vaulting; the second floor – for defence, the floor of weapons, it was not furnished and uninhabited. It was used only for defence.
Riga castle was simple and ascetic in appearance, befitting its military role. The only decorative elements were the reliefs of Madonna and Master Wolter von Plettenberg, created in the first half of the 16th century. The well was in the middle of the yard. All the blocks of the castle had a stone gallery facing the yard. At the end of the 16th century the gallery was built over with timber-frame walls and divided into two floors. Along the eastern edge of the yard to the gallery and the main floor led an open staircase. In the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century there was another – wooden gallery. The current stone gallery was built in 1842-1844 instead of the wooden gallery. The total height of the castle walls has remained unchanged – approximately 18-19 meters. The castle was located in the north-west part of the city. In the north of the castle the forepart of the castle (now – the residence of the President of Latvia) was built.
After the Livonian War (1558-1583) Riga castle was under the Polish rule and it became the residence of the administrators of the Duchy of Livonia (Inflanty). King Stephen Bathory stayed in Riga castle in 1582, while visiting Riga from March to May. The Polish Vicegerents, the best-known of them, Jan Chodkiewicz, Duke George Radzwill and Count Jan Karol Chodkiewicz have lived in Riga castle.
After the Polish-Swedish War (1600-1629) Sweden annexed Vidzeme and Riga, the castle became an important administrative and military centre in the Baltics and the residence of Riga or the Swedish Livonia (Swedish Vidzeme) Governor (since 1629 Governor General). Governor Generals Gabriel Oxenstierna, Gustaf Horn, Claus Tott, Eric Dahlberg have lived here and left their names in the history. The rebuilding was done that changed the appearance of the knights’ castle, the Bay tower was built in the north-east part.
After the capitulation of Riga in the Northern War and coming under the Russian power (1710) the castle became the house of Russian crown (state) and was called Tsar’s, after 1725 – the Imperator’s castle, the residence of the Governor General of Livland (Vidzeme) was in the castle. Grand Duke Anikita Repnin, Grand Duke Alexander Menshikov, Count Peter de Lacy, Count George Browne, Peter Ludwig von der Pahlen lived and ruled there. Since 1801 the residence of the Baltic Governor General was located in the castle. Massive reconstruction works in the castle were done during the reign of Fillippo Paulucci, Carl Magnus von der Pahlen, Grand Duke Alexander Suvorov-Rimniksk, Grand Duke Peter Bagrationi. In 1818 during the reconstructions in the forepart of the castle luxurious “imperial premises” and the White hall were created. To the eastern attachment of the castle, built in the 18th century, the fourth floor was added. In 1876 Tsar Alexander II abolished the post of the Baltic Governor General. Riga castle became the administrative centre of the Livland (Vidzeme) province.
During World War I and later the owners of the castle often changed: in August, 1917 the German army settled in the castle, from December 1918 to May, 1919 the offices of the Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic were there, from May to July, 1919 the German Landeswehr settled there. Since 3 July, 1919 Riga castle became the property of the state of Latvia, Prime Minister, the State Chancellery worked there. In 1921 architect Eižens Laube and artist Ansis Cīrulis were invited for the decoration of the premises.
From 1922 to 1940 Riga Castle was the residence of the President of Latvia. Since 1920 the State Historical Museum (now the National History Museum of Latvia), the State Museum of Art and other cultural institutions were located in the castle.
During the soviet regime the Pioneer palace and the museums – History Museum of the Latvian SSR, Foreign Art Museum, Rainis Literature and Art History Museum – worked in the castle.
The museums – National History Museum of Latvia, the department of the Latvian National Museum of Art – Foreign Art Museum, the reading-room of the funds of the Literature, Theatre and Music Museum continued working also after the restoration of the independence of Latvia. From 1995 till the beginning of the reconstruction of the castle in 2012 the castle was the residence of the president of the state. The fire of June, 2013 restricted the work of the National History Museum of Latvia, the temporary premises of the exposition and exhibitions are located on Brīvības boulevard 32 and the funds are located on Lāčplēša street 106/108.
After finishing the reconstruction of the castle, the Chancellery of the president and the National History Museum of Latvia will resume the work in the castle.
The exhibition is opened until 13th September.