Roland's Statue, Riga, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Roland's Statue stands on Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums) in the Old Town of Riga, Latvia. It is a figure of the knight Roland, a symbol of justice and civic rights in Hanseatic cities. In Riga he stands in the middle of the old civic centre, facing the City Hall.

The story behind it

Roland statues were common in the trading cities of northern Europe that belonged to the Hanseatic League, and they stood for a town's right to hold its own court and govern itself. Riga was one of these cities, so Roland has a natural place in its main square. The square has long been a place where the city gathered, and it is full of stories about the people who passed through it.

Riga's Roland carries the city's coat of arms, which shows two crossed keys. The keys refer to St. Peter, the patron saint of Riga. Roland looks toward Riga City Hall, which has been rebuilt and changed over the centuries, so the statue now watches over a square that looks different from the one its first versions knew.

What to look for

• The shield in Roland's hands carries Riga's coat of arms, so look closely for the crossed keys of St. Peter.
• Notice which way he faces: Roland looks straight at Riga City Hall, a pairing of justice and city government.
• Beside the statue is the elaborate facade of the House of the Blackheads, one of the most photographed buildings in the Old Town.
• Look up from the square to spot the spire of St. Peter's Church, a good reminder of the saint whose keys appear on the shield.

Tips for your visit

• The statue is outdoors in a public square, so you can see it at any time, and there is no need to go inside anything.
• Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for the statue and the square itself, longer if you want to photograph the surrounding buildings.
• Early morning is usually the quietest time for photos without crowds, while evening light is softer on the facades.
• St. Peter's Church and the narrow streets of the Old Town are a short walk away, so it fits easily into a wider stroll. Check current opening hours for any building you want to enter.

See it on a quest

The quest Medieval Riga passes through this square as one stop on a longer walk through the Old Town. You reach Roland on foot, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It is a good way to look properly at the statue and the streets around it rather than just walking past. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.