Cities
Latvia Riga Centra rajons Museum

House of the Blackheads

House of the Blackheads
About

The House of the Blackheads is one of Riga’s most iconic landmarks, located in the heart of the Old Town on Town Hall Square. Originally built in 1334 as a guild house for merchants, it became the headquarters of the Brotherhood of Blackheads, an association of unmarried foreign traders known for their influence and lavish celebrations. The building’s ornate façade, adorned with sculptures, coats of arms, and an astronomical clock, reflects its rich Hanseatic heritage and Mannerist style. Though destroyed during World War II and demolished by Soviet authorities, it was meticulously reconstructed between 1996 and 2000, with only the original cellar surviving. Today, the House of the Blackheads functions as a museum and event venue, hosting exhibitions, concerts, and official receptions. Its grand halls, historic artefacts, and symbolic legacy make it a testament to Riga’s resilience and cultural continuity, offering visitors a vivid glimpse into the city’s mercantile past and architectural splendour.

Riga Latvia
Location

The House of the Blackheads is located at Rātslaukums 7, in the very heart of Riga’s Old Town, directly on the historic Town Hall Square and facing the Riga City Council. Originally built in 1334 as a meeting and celebration venue for merchants and later the Brotherhood of Blackheads, this opulent building is one of Riga’s most iconic landmarks, renowned for its ornate Dutch Renaissance façade and rich history. The House of the Blackheads now functions as a museum and cultural venue, with grand ballrooms, exhibitions, and the only surviving medieval cellar from the original structure. Nearby, visitors can explore the lively Town Hall Square, the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, St. Peter’s Church, and the Daugava riverbank, all within a short stroll. The central location places it amidst the bustling shops, cafés, and historic streets of Old Riga, making it an essential stop for anyone interested in the city’s architectural and cultural heritage.

Museum of the Occupation of Latvia Museum of the Occupation of Latvia Riga Art Nouveau Museum Art Nouveau Museum Riga Riga Motor Museum Riga Motor Museum Riga Latvian National Museum of Art Latvian National Museum of Art Riga Latvian National Opera and Ballet Latvian National Opera and Ballet Riga Daile Theatre Daile Theatre Riga New Riga Theatre New Riga Theatre Riga Riga Castle Riga Castle Riga Bastejkalns Park Bastejkalns Park Riga Vērmanes Garden Vērmanes Garden Riga Esplanade Park Esplanade Park Riga Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia Riga St. Peter's Church Tower St. Peter's Church Tower Riga Riga Cathedral Tower Riga Cathedral Tower Riga Rātslaukums Rātslaukums Riga Dome Square Dome Square Riga Freedom Monument Square Freedom Monument Square Riga Riga Old Town Riga Old Town Riga Rīgas Centrāltirgus Rīgas Centrāltirgus Riga Three Brothers Three Brothers Riga Riga Ghetto and Latvian Holocaust Museum Riga Ghetto and Latvian Holocaust Museum Riga Latvian Academy of Sciences Observation Deck Latvian Academy of Sciences Observation Deck Riga Laima Clock Laima Clock Riga Art Museum Riga Bourse Art Museum Riga Bourse Riga Museum of Decorative Arts and Design Museum of Decorative Arts and Design Riga Romans Suta and Aleksandra Beļcova Museum Romans Suta and Aleksandra Beļcova Museum Riga Museum Storage Facility and Forest of Sculptures Museum Storage Facility and Forest of Sculptures Riga Art Museum Arsenāls Art Museum Arsenāls Riga Latvian War Museum Latvian War Museum Riga Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation Riga The Corner House The Corner House Riga Andrejs Upīts’ Memorial Museum Andrejs Upīts’ Memorial Museum Riga Pauls Stradiņš Museum of the History of Medicine Pauls Stradiņš Museum of the History of Medicine Riga Latvian Museum of Pharmacy Latvian Museum of Pharmacy Riga Latvian Film Museum Latvian Film Museum Riga The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia Riga Krišjānis Barons Memorial Museum Krišjānis Barons Memorial Museum Riga Latvian Museum of Architecture Latvian Museum of Architecture Riga Latvian Museum of Natural History Latvian Museum of Natural History Riga Latvian Museum of Photography Latvian Museum of Photography Riga Latvian Railway History Museum Latvian Railway History Museum Riga Riga Aviation Museum Riga Aviation Museum Riga Riga Porcelain Museum Riga Porcelain Museum Riga LOOK! Art Gallery LOOK! Art Gallery Riga Art Platz Art Platz Riga Digital Art House Digital Art House Riga MuseumLV Gallery MuseumLV Gallery Riga Planetarium at Science Centre Tehnoannas pagrabi Planetarium at Science Centre Tehnoannas pagrabi Riga

User attributes