Brīvības iela


Brīvības iela is the central street of Riga, the capital and most populous city of Latvia. It is more than 12 km long, cutting across all of Riga, from the historical centre to the outskirts and the city limits.

Composition

Today, Brīvības iela is officially divided into three parts:
  • Brīvības bulvāris is the traditional name of the part from its beginning at the Freedom Monument to Elizabetes iela ;
  • Brīvības iela from Elizabetes iela to the Gaisa tilts bridge ;
  • Brīvības gatve from the Gaisa tilts bridge to the city border.
The street runs through the neighborhoods of Centrs, Brasa and Grīziņkalns, Teika, Jugla, Berģi and Bukulti.

History

The street was the beginning of an important trade route - the road to the region of Vidzeme and the Russian city of Pskov. It began with what is today Smilšu iela and went through Riga's suburbs. The city entrance next to the Powder Tower was initially the main entrance to Riga from the countryside. As the city expanded, the city gates moved more towards the east and the street was extended further.
In the late 19th century and early 20th various Art Nouveau buildings were erected on what now is Brīvības iela.
Throughout its history, the street and its three main parts were known as Große Sandstraße, Aleksandrovskaya ulitsa /''Alexanderstraße, Brīvības gatve, Adolf-Hitler-Straße and Ļeņina iela''.

Notable buildings

Brīvības iela