The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum was founded during Latvia's first period of independence, between the World Wars, in 1924. The goal of the project, as originally envisioned, was to bring together historic homesteads and public buildings of past centuries from the "four corners" of Latvia: Kurzeme, Zemgale, Vidzeme, and Latgale. The first building, a threshing barn from the 18th century, was set up in 1928. The museum opened in 1932 with a total of 6 buildings. By 1939, 34 more had been added. Today, there are 102 buildings on display, as they existed during their use, containing more than 3,000 household objects. Bornes Baznica (Church) is the oldest, dating to 1537.
The museum's grounds cover 97 hectares (nearly a kilometer squared, or 240 acres), just off of Brivibas Iela, on Juglas Ezers (Lake), easily accessible on the bus from the center of Riga. Nearly a quarter of a million tourists visit each year.
Our album shares some of our favorite pictures of the museum. Plan for two days to see everything without rushing.
- Discovering Latvia's Treasures - ABOUT
- Basilica of Our Lady of Aglona
- Bauska's castle ruins
- The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia
- Nature at home in Bolderaja
- Jaunmokas Manor
- Jelgava Palace
- Liepāja's past: faded, excised, under restoration, and Contius' organ
- Rundāle Palace, Rastrelli's Latvian masterpiece
- Rīga, around the old and new town