This guide book is a must-have for all those who are interested in European architecture and its rich history of diverse cultures. Riga is famous for its unique mixture of styles and traces of war and political change: German origins, Art Nouveau at its highest level and Soviet Modernism. Latvia is a young European nation on its way to architectural prominence. In 1997, the central part of Riga was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Daugava embankment and numerous streets dating back to medieval times encircle this unique area. The authors selection provides descriptions of nearly 800 buildings and various places of interest in Riga and its vicinity. Buildings from every historic period and architectural style are described, ranging from centuries old monuments to buildings currently still under construction.

Janis Krastin (1943), Dr. habil. arch., member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (1994, holder of Grand Medal 1998), Professor of Riga Technical University, member of the Latvian Association of Architects (1970). He is the author of numerous projects for public and residential buildings and carried out investigations of historic structures. Janis Krastin has published over 680 scientific works, including 25 books on various aspects of architectural history.