Meistaru iela 19
Līvu Laukums or Līvu Square is a popular destination for tourists.
In summers it contains restaurants and beer gardens. In winter it
gets a skating ring. A yellow house known as a Cat House (Meistaru
iela 19) is one of the famous structures here. It seems quite
unbelievable, but in the 16th century, at the place where the Livs
Square is now, the river Riga, which was once sailing, was flooded
along the "rye road" from the countryside. Later it was called the
river Rīdzene, but, narrowing it, it was Rīdzinieku. On the other
hand, nowadays countless soles of the Rigans and the guests of the
city are sewed cobblestones on this site, but the flower beds made
by the past show up.
Līvu Square is located between the Zirgu, Mistars and Kaļķu streets.
It was "created" by the Second World War - buildings destroyed
during that time were demolished thus clearing the area. In 1950, an
area was set up on this site, which was dubbed the Philharmonic
Square, bringing new sounds to the musical architecture ensemble.
Since 1941, the Great Guild Hall was constructed at this place that
was renamed into a Latvian Philharmonic Concert Hall, where music
continues to sound till nowadays.
There is also the Small Guild building and the peculiar Cat House,
the Riga Russian Drama Theater. In the summer, there is an outdoor
cafe, but the waves created in the caverns of flowers hold the
memory of the river, whose name continues to live in the name of
Riga. In the winter, you can go skiing on the Līvu Square - then
there is a skating rink running here. Moreover, this is the place
Riga, which, like New York, never sleeps. The youthful life of Old
Riga is always pulsating!
History
Līvu Laukums or Līvu Square was
arranged in 1950 (project by P. Seletsky) after the demolition of
the city buildings destroyed during the Second World War. Originally
it was called "The Square at the Philharmonic", since the building
of the Great Guild overlooking the square has occupied the concert
hall of the Latvian Philharmonic since 1941.
In 1974, the
Līvu Laukums or Līvu Square was reconstructed according to the
project of K. Ya. Barons: paths were laid, recreation areas were
equipped, a swimming pool with a fountain was arranged in the
central part.
In summer, the decorative lawn and paving
stones imitate the undulating surface of the Riga River that once
flowed here (along the line of Meistaru - Kaleju Streets). In
winter, a skating rink is poured on the square.
The Līvu
Laukums or Līvu Square received its modern name on February 29,
2000. The Livs are now a small Baltic-Finnish nation who in ancient
times inhabited a significant part of the territory of Latvia.