You are invited to someone’s home, but instead of traveling by car, you will journey by time machine. The destination? The year 1903, Art Nouveau era in Riga. Sounds impossible? Not at all. Because in Riga Art Nouveau museum a day in the life of a family from 1903 is frozen in time.
Looks like the owners may not be home today, but that’s actually a good thing. It means you can be a bit nosy and explore the pantry and bedroom—areas typically off-limits to guests. And the staff will share some interesting details too.
So let’s visit the Riga Art Nouveau Center!
Location: Riga Art Nouveau Center
Cost: There is an entrance fee. Check prices and working hours here.
Lenght: ~1h
How to get there: You can walk there from city center (~25 min). Or take public transport & then walk for a bit. Or take Bolt Taxi.
Expectations are set high before you even enter Riga’s Art Nouveau Museum
There are ordinary buildings and then there are buildings like THIS.
Of course, the Riga Art Nouveau Museum is housed in an Art Nouveau building that has all the charming details of that time.
My knowledge of Art Nouveau architecture is minimal. But when we walk down the street, I can immediately tell which house is the one we are looking for.
This one, thanks to its tower, stands out from the rest of the buildings. Although I must admit that the nearby building of the School of Economics also made me want to stop and take out my camera.
Same as when you visit someone – you have to ring the doorbell to get in.
After entering, you see a luxurious spiral staircase. It’s the one that appears in countless Instagram pictures. You have probably seen them if you have searched for images of the Riga Art Nouveau center.
As we later learn from the video, the lobby and staircase were like the business cards of the owner of the house.
What does this lobby say about him? I would say it screams money (laughs). And talks about good taste.
I guess we should have worn something more elegant for such a visit. But don’t worry, there will still be a chance to dress up later. At least for a pic.
Basement – Intro to The Story of Art Nouveau in Riga
When visiting someone, you need to know how to conduct conversations with the host, so before entering the living room, let’s learn a little more about Art Nouveau itself. The digital part of the exhibition will help us.
Get to Know Riga’s Art Nouveau Buildings In The Digital Exhibition
Let’s start with Art Nouveau architecture in Riga. A visual story tells you about all those gorgeous buildings you can spot in the streets of Riga. So challenge yourself – try to find houses you have seen by looking at pictures or addresses and learn a little more about them.
On the second screen, you can feel the bittersweet feeling of looking at what Riga once was. Do you know what the so-called “Bird meadow” was? It’s something related to gondolas in Riga. But I won’t tell you the answer. You will have to find it in museum.
Watch The Video To Learn More About a Typical Art Nouveau Apartment in Riga
Do you know which everyday things were new and considered luxury items in the Art Nouveau apartment? One of them is “the place where even the emperor walks by himself”. If you know what I mean. But to find out more, you will have to watch a video on one of the screens in the basement.
In addition, you also can learn about the typical layout of the Art Nouveau apartment, which serves as an excellent introduction to the tour. I definitely recommend watching it before exploring further.
Now that you know more about the period, you are ready for small talk. So let’s go to the apartment itself and see if the hosts are there.
The Heart of The Riga Art Nouveau Museum – The Apartment Frozen In Time
Time has truly frozen here.
You enter the room, and all the luxury of Art Nouveau opens before you – delicate decorations on the furniture, ceiling, curtains, and dishes. Everything is in its place – the chess pieces are arranged for the game, and the table is laid for dinner.
It is not difficult to imagine a young girl entering the living room and playing the piano. And a hostess that would invite you to sit on one of the fine chairs, because you have to kill time, as the maid haven’t finished cooking the dinner yet.
I visited the Art Nouveau Center during the Christmas season. During that time of the year you can enjoy a lot of beautiful holiday decorations, postcards, and a grand Christmas tree with all kinds of ornaments. There is everything from ballet shoes to an ostrich.
This is what holiday decoration dreams are made of!
But since the hosts are nowhere to be seen, it is a chance to look into those rooms where guests are not usually allowed, for example, the utility rooms. So let’s not miss out on that!
In Riga Art Nouveau Museum You Can Find Unusual Items On Every Step
Have you heard of a fridge that’s made out of wood? Yes, that’s a real thing.
The kitchen is one of the most interesting rooms in my opinion. You can find various unusual appliances in it. And funny dishes in the shape of animals. There is a squirrel, fish, and crab.
And, of course, there is the old stove with metal rings. Stoves like that forever remind me of my great-grandmother’s house, which was sadly bulldozed a long time ago.
What a fun adventure this has been! There are a couple of more rooms to explore in Riga Art Nouveau museum, but I will leave those for your imagination (or for your future visit).
Thoughts?
This place is one of my favorite attractions of Riga. I had a good time and learned a lot. If you are fascinated by old interiors, beautiful details, and people’s life many, many years ago, Riga Art Nouveau Center is the place to be.
Other things to see and do in Latvia