1st highlight: Hill of Crosses
Today we drive to the last destination of our trip: the largest city in the Baltic States - Riga. On the way we stop at the famous "Hill of Crosses". There used to be a castle at this location, which was destroyed by crusaders in 1348. Even at that time, the hill was probably a place of prayer and sacrifice Nowadays, one can find over 100,000 crosses in various designs and sizes there.The place is considered an important Catholic pilgrimage site in Lithuania andinternationally..
2nd highlight: Riga
The old Hanseatic city of Riga is famous for its Art Nouveau buildings and its well-preserved old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Riga got its name from the river, which once flowed at this point and was later diverted. At that time, various merchants gathered near the river and gradually created a small, fortified settlement from a simple trading point. In 1201, the German priest Albert from Bremen built the first stone church here, which as an important monument - the foundation of the future city. Nowadays, Riga's city center is famous for its stucco houses that were built before the First World War. The cost of such facades often reached the value of about half of the total construction costs of the houses.
After breakfast we explore Riga's old town together and stroll through winding medieval streets. Here you can see how ancient and modern, rich cultural heritage and old legends intertwine. We visit the many sights of the city, including the famous House of the Blackheads.
Then we visit the Mentzendorff House, a historic residential and commercial building with an exhibition on everyday life and the life of the people in Riga.
Overnight in Riga