St Peter's Church
St. Peter's Church is a landmark and one of the oldest buildings in Riga. According to ancient tradition, the tower clock has only one hand. And for the ears of the city, the bells of the bell tower ring five times a day in the melody of a Latvian folk song. The church is the highest building in the city and also a popular vantage point, with a wonderful view over the Old Town and the Daugava River all the way to Riga Bay.
An eventful history
St. Peter's Church was built in 1209 as a large, three-nave basilica in the brick Gothic style. In the Middle Ages it was used as a parish church, but for a short time it was also used as an armoury and watchtower. Unfortunately, from the 13th century only the outer walls of the side aisles of the present building and some pillars in the interior have been preserved, because the church has had a very eventful history over the centuries. The architect I.Rummelschotel from Rostock built a new altar part in the building in 1408-1409. Renovation continued in 1456 and lasted until 1473. During the beginnings of the Reformation movement and the subsequent "religious image changes" in the 16th century, much of the church interior was destroyed. The tower of the church itself was severely damaged a total of three times over the years. In 1666 it collapsed, in 1677 a town fire destroyed the new tower, and most recently, on June 29, 1941, artillery shells struck the church, which subsequently burned out and the tower collapsed again. Today, the height of the church tower is 120 meters from the former 130 meters.
In any case worth a visit
Today, St. Peter's Church is considered a unique cultural and art centre that gives visitors a sense of the craftsmanship and art of the former builders, as well as a picture of the development of architecture and art. The program of regular art exhibitions and concert events in the church, can be found on the official website. A platform has been attached to the tower at a height of 70 metres, which can be reached via a lift. From here you can enjoy the magnificent view over the city.
