Freedom Monument

The Freedom Monument rises between Riga's old and new towns, a slender column topped by a copper figure of Liberty holding three gold stars for the historic regions of Latvia. Raised in 1935 and quietly protected through the Soviet years, it remains the emotional centre of Latvian statehood, watched over by a changing honour guard.

Background

Kārlis Zāle designed the monument under the motto Mirdzi kā zvaigzne, "Shine like a star", chosen after several contests, and private donations paid for the work. It was unveiled on 18 November 1935 and stands 42 metres high in granite, travertine and copper. Thirteen groups of sculptures and bas-reliefs show Latvian culture and history. Stacked four-sided blocks narrow toward the top and carry a travertine column 19 metres high with the copper Liberty. The whole rests on a round platform 28 metres in diameter, reached by a red granite staircase of ten steps. The nickname Milda comes from a claim by the Lithuanian author Arvydas Juozaitis about the model, which the Riga Monument Agency says no records support.

Source: Wikipedia, "Freedom Monument"

Highlights

• Milda - the copper Liberty on top, holding aloft the three stars of the Latvian lands.
• The changing of the guard - soldiers stand and change on the hour by day.
• The reliefs - carved scenes of Latvian history around the base.
• Bastejkalns park - the landscaped canal park and mound just behind.

When to go

Year-round; national days such as 18 November and 4 May bring flowers, crowds and ceremony. The park behind is lovely in autumn colour.

Before you go

It is a monument on a busy boulevard, seen in a few minutes, though its meaning to Latvians is deep and worth understanding. The guard change is brief and low-key rather than a grand spectacle. Combine it with a walk through the canal park.

Nearby

The old town is a two-minute walk one way, the art nouveau district the other; the canal park and opera house are alongside.

Key facts