The "Three Brothers" in Riga are a fascinating ensemble of three historic buildings that offer a unique insight into the architecture and urban life of past centuries. As a city traveler, you can literally feel how everyday life in the Middle Ages mixed with the vibrant trade of modern times.
The oldest of the three buildings, number 17, dates back to the 15th century, making it one of the oldest secular stone houses in Riga. With its simple exterior and Dutch Renaissance style, it tells of a time when craftsmen and traders played a central role in the city. It is also interesting that traces of a guild coat of arms were found behind the plaster, indicating that a master baker once lived and worked here.
Right next door, at number 19, you can see a mannerist facade with ornate decorations that give the house an almost ostentatious character. And finally, house number 21, which completes the architectural diversity of the “Three Brothers” with its baroque gable.
The narrow plots and the well-thought-out construction of the houses with the wooden ceilings and the clever rope system for storing and transporting goods reflect the pragmatism and creativity of the time. Although the buildings were badly damaged in World War II, they now shine in new splendor thanks to reconstruction in the 1950s and house the Museum of Latvian Architecture.