Exhibition “Livonian Castles”

The exhibition, featuring a contemporary design, is open to visitors in the vaulted cellars of Riga Castle and tells the story of the Livonian period (13th–16th c.) and the castles built during this time, revealing one of the most significant layers of Latvia’s medieval cultural and historical heritage.

The exhibition is housed in the vaulted cellars of Riga Castle, built in the 14th century, with an impressive architecture, covering an area of more than 530 square meters. In addition to the exhibition halls, there is also a room accessible from the exhibition featuring a 600-year-old hot-air or hypocaust furnace. The new exhibition is designed as a contemporary interior installation that clearly distinguishes the historical heritage from the present day. The masonry walls and vaults of the Riga Castle basement have been preserved intact, showcasing the authentic historical interior, while the polymer concrete has been used to create the exhibition—it is raised like a floating path that guides visitors through various themes of the story of Livonian castles. The latest technologies—including standard and touchscreen displays, video and light projections, as well as holographic projections—bring the exhibition’s message to life and allow visitors to explore the history of Livonian castles in an interactive and multifaceted way.