Museum of the Barricades of 1991

Top choice


Latvia's independence came after enormous struggles. One of the most remarkable stories involves the barricades built by thousands of citizens around important public buildings in Rīga. In January 1991, Latvians from every walk of life came together to prevent the Soviets from taking over the capital, a stunning display of heartfelt commitment to a greater cause. This excellent museum is run by the organisation of barricade veterans. It's a moving – and professionally curated – account of this pivotal time.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Town Hall

0.05 MILES

Rīga's historic town hall was destroyed in WWII and rebuilt from scratch in 2003. A statue of St Roland, the city’s patron, takes pride of place on the…

2. Rīga Cathedral

0.06 MILES

Founded in 1211 as the seat of the Rīga diocese, this enormous (once Catholic, now Evangelical Lutheran) cathedral is the largest medieval church in the…

3. Rīga History & Navigation Museum

0.06 MILES

Founded in 1773 and situated in the old Rīga Cathedral monastery, this engaging museum presents the sweep of local history, from the Bronze Age all the…

4. Statue of St Roland

0.08 MILES

A statue of St Roland, the city’s patron, takes pride of place on the square in front of the town hall.

5. Art Museum Rīga Bourse

0.08 MILES

Rīga’s lavishly restored 1852 stock exchange building is a worthy showcase for the city's art treasures. The elaborate facade features a coterie of…

6. Blackheads House

0.11 MILES

Built in 1344 as a veritable fraternity house for the Blackheads guild of unmarried German merchants, the original house was bombed in 1941 and flattened…

7. Museum of Decorative Arts & Design

0.12 MILES

The former St George’s Church houses a museum devoted to applied art from the art nouveau period to the present, including an impressive collection of…

8. Latvian Riflemen Monument

0.13 MILES

Latvian Riflemen Sq, on the west side of the future home of the Occupation Museum, is dominated by the imposing and controversial statue honouring Latvia…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "latvia/riga/old-riga/attractions/museum-of-the-barricades-of-1991/a/poi-sig/1630962/1342833",
      "position": "superzone"
    }