Swedish Gate (“Zviedru vārti” in Latvian) is part of the Old Town walls that went around Riga during the medieval times, serving as both fortification wall and as an important border for trade purposes.

The Swedish Gate was also as one of the few entrances to the town, providing access to barracks outside the city wall and was built in 1698 after the Polish-Swedish War was over and Swedish Kingdom took over the city, starting a reign which was called as the Swedish Times (“Zviedru Laiki“) over 1629-1721.

Like many other medieval buildings, this one has a legend too:

Back in the days in the place of the Swedish Gate, there was a house that belonged to a rich merchant. Like any other merchant at that time he had to pay a tax to bring goods into the town of Riga. As he was a clever merchant, he though “instead of paying, I’d rather get rid of the house and build a gate”. And so he did. And that’s how the Swedish Gate got erected…

Since the wall has been gradually falling apart, several restoration works took place over 80s and 90s. This is visible by the colour of the bricks that you can easily notice. However, the Swedish Gate is the only structure in the Old Town of Riga that preserved its original looks.

Swedish Gate is one of the most popular places where tourists are going for a genuine experience of the old Europe and to some great pictures. We can’t agree more with them – the place around definitely has a spirit.

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