Konstantīns Pēkšēns and Riga

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Itinerary

A complete 4-hours half day walking tour about the life and work of Konstantīns Pēkšēns, the architect who designed more than 250 buildings in Riga.

Pēkšēns embraced all of the styles of the time and moved on from the eclecticism so popular in the mid to late-1800s Riga to the Art Nouveau and its later offshoot, national romanticism. Our private tour is unique because it will give you a deep understanding of this master figure. Especially for people who are history and architecture enthusiasts.

We will start the Art Nouveau tour visiting an early project of the architect, Berga Bazars. After, you will enjoy the view of the Houses of Arveds and Edgars Bergs and especially relevant you will get introduced to these buildings by our specialised guide.

After discovering The Building of Mutual Credit Union, a nice example of Perpendicular Art Nouveau, in addition you will learn about the School in Tērbatas Street, one of the symbols of the early 20th century architecture in Rīga.

To make your visit unique in summer we will go up to the top of a building located in the Art Nouveau Center (the Quiet Center, as is often called this area of the city) from where you will have a great view to the roofs of exquisite art nouveau buildings of the beginning of the 20th century. Buildings of Art Nouveau represent nearly 40% of the whole inventory of the city centre.

We will continue our tour discovering the highlights and hidden gems in Dzirnavu Street and Alberta Street, two main streets in Riga’s Belle Époque.

Finally we will head into The Museum of Art Nouveau, a must place for art nouveau lovers.  Pēkšēns designed this iconic building at Alberta 12, which the architect called home until 1907. We will visit the flat of the architect and learn some curiosities there.

If you feel artistic we will take a photo of you and your private group in the art nouveau saloon dressed up with art nouveau hats. This picture will be the perfect souvenir to remember how you enjoyed 4 hours being told about Peksens’ life and works.

The impressive house was also home to the illustrious painter Janis Rozentãls and the writer Rūdolfs Blaumanis to whom another museum is dedicated on the top floor.

Highlights of the city tour are: Houses built by the architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns along Dzirnavu Street, Alberta Street and The Museum of Art Nouveau.

About National Romanticism and Konstantīns Pēksēns

There were three main trends or schools of art nouveau in Riga: National Romanticism (main representative, Konstantīns Pēksēns), Eclectically Decorative (main representative, civil engineer Mikhail Eisenstein) and The Perpendicular (main representative, architect Jãnis Alksnis).

Konstantīns Pēksēns is the most outstanding master of National Romanticism, a style that reflects the attempt of Riga  architects to create a specific Latvian architecture. This trend of art Nouveau flourished between 1905 and 1911. It was inspired by applied folk art and vernacular architecture. Latvian architects insisted on using natural building materials. Buildings in the National Romanticism vein are characterized by a solid appearance, a monumental dignity, steep roofs, window apertures with a tapered upper plant, ornamentation utilizing ethnographic motifs presented in a rather restrained manner and sometimes reproduced according to the principles of the Art Nouveau aesthetic, that is, with rounded, sinuous patterns. Every third or fourth Art Nouveau building in Riga can be categorized as belonging to National Romanticism.

Tailored to your interests

Your tour will will be guided by an experienced tour guide that is an art nouveau expert because we want you to discover the beauty and history of art nouveau in the city of Riga in the best of the ways. Our guide will also be flexible to alter the route according to your wishes. The time to start the private tour and route will adjust to the visitors’ interests.

Our passionate local expert guide will captivate you with engaging storytelling tailored to your group’s interests, making Riga’s rich history and culture come alive. This personalization guarantees a unique and memorable experience shaped around your preferences. Once your private tour is booked, we’ll gather information on your interests to customize the tour just for you.

Each group has unique interests, and we adapt this private tour accordingly. Popular themes in our Riga tours include: Historic city exploration, Latvian folklore, local cuisine, hidden gems, and more.

We’ll also ask about any mobility needs or special requirements to help you access Riga’s local treasures, often hard to find on your own. On the day of the tour, we stay flexible to adjust the itinerary and timings as needed, ensuring an experience that is truly tailored to you.

You will be accompanied all the time by a local guide who is an expert in Art Nouveau. Your guide for this private tour works in the Art Nouveau museum.

If there is time and interested, a visit to the Riga Synagogue is possible. The temple is open every day except on Saturdays and Jewish holidays. If you are visitors are practicing Jews they can visit inside during the service on your own.

Where the private tour Begins and Ends

Your private guide will meet you at your your accommodation (within Riga old town or Art Nouveau district) or at the cruise ship terminal in Riga Passenger Port (near Old Riga). If you require transport from/to Krievu Sala cruise port, contact us to know quotation for transfer into the city.

The guide will leave you at the other side of the city compared to where you start the private tour (if you started at Old Riga, the tour will end at Alberta street, and opposite). If you need to start and end the tour at the Riga Passenger Port, we can do that.

Exclusions

Tickets to the Museum of Art Nouveau: Price is 9€ per adult and 5€ per student or senior. Closed on Mondays.

Entrance fee to the Jans Rozentals an Rudolfs Blaumanis Museum, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Entry ticket tis 2€ per adult.

The entrance fee to the Synagogue is 3€. Visitors are welcome every day except Saturdays and Jewish holidays. Practicing Jews may attend services independently during worship times.

Food and drinks.

Additional Information

Languages – This tour is typically conducted in English, but if you need a guide in another language, please let us know, and we’ll do our best to make arrangements.

Unexpected Changes – Major events or site-specific restrictions may impact the itinerary. We remain flexible and will adjust the schedule to include as many works by Pēkšēns as possible, such as his masterpiece buildings on Alberta iela, the Riga Art Nouveau Museum, and other architectural highlights. In the event of site closures, we may add related sites and other buildings showcasing Pēkšēns’s impact on Riga’s architectural landscape. Flexible cancellation and date change options are available, and we’ll provide the details along with your quote.

Selection of Guides – Our knowledgeable guides specialize in Riga’s architectural history and can share extensive knowledge of Konstantīns Pēkšēns’s life, influence, and artistry. Their expertise makes this tour ideal for architecture enthusiasts and anyone interested in Pēkšēns’s legacy. Early booking ensures you’ll secure a guide well-matched to your group’s interests.

Focus on Pēkšēns’s Legacy – While this tour primarily covers Pēkšēns’s works, we are happy to include other architectural influences in Riga or explore different Art Nouveau interpretations. Additional options, such as a chauffeured tour of further sites or a private discussion with a local architectural historian, can be arranged on request.

Have something specific in mind for Riga or Latvia? Share your ideas on our Riga city page, and we’ll design a private experience just for you.

Art Nouveau – Secession Style

Riga is a city that holds a very important place within the history of Jugendstil in Europe and Pēkšēns is one of its leading architects. Over a third of all buildings in the Central part of the city belong to this art style because Art Nouveau was at the height of its popularity when Riga was at the zenith of an unprecedented financial boom.

If you and your group love Art Nouveau and want to discover about the exceptional Konstantīns Pēkšēns, this walking private tour is for your group

Stroll through Riga’s downtown accompanied by an expert private guide to find some of the architectural gems you might not stumble upon on your own, listening to architecture-focused commentary from your guide.

Visit as many of the 800 art nouveau buildings as possible in your tour time; efficient travel is made possible with a private tour. Flexibility to customize your itinerary to your own preferences Private guide tailors itinerary to you and your group Focus on Riga’s art nouveau architecture through site visits and commentary Convenient hotel or port pickup and drop-off.

The early 20th century was the golden age for the development of Riga. Its population doubled over the course of 15 years, surpassing 500,000 on the eve of World War I and becoming one of the major centres of industry, trade and culture on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.

Local architects were employed to enlarge the city in a new style that was inspired by the German, Austrian and Finnish architecture of the time and also by local traditions. Nowadays more than one third of all buildings in the Central part of the city have art nouveau style, making Riga a paradise for art nouveau lovers. Art Nouveau – Jugendstil at its best.

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A perfect day exploring Riga's historic center with a friendly and knowledgeable guide.

Sarah Miller, Toronto, Canada

The Riga Cathedral was a unique and memorable experience. The guide's explanations were clear.

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