Flamboyant architecture from the turn of 20th century.

3,000 market stands in five former Zeppelin hangars.

This celebration of Latvia’s freedom and independence avoided demolition over half a century of Soviet occupation.

This enigmatic artifact remained buried in a churchyard for years.

A black cat protests the City Guild in Riga's Old Town.

The oldest housing complex in Riga is a mini timeline of architectural trends.

This charming Latvian lane doubled as Baker Street on the Soviet Union’s version of Sherlock Holmes.

A preserved oak tree about 3,500 years old found in Riga, Latvia.

A statue built to honor the elite soldiers who fought for Latvia during World War I.

A stone marker and sculpture in the city of Riga stake a claim for the very first community Christmas tree.

The reconstruction of this prominent building fulfilled a long-written command.

This micro-nation may be some sort of prank, but its constitution sure seems official.

Travelers who fall victim to this mermaid's charms are destined to stay in Užupis forever.

Rub it for a bit of good luck.

This former KGB building is now a museum memorializing the people who suffered during the Soviet regime.

Plaques celebrating Lithuanian writers freckle a wall of this picture-perfect path.

While this monument tile is shrouded in mystery it also marks the end of the longest ever human chain.

Legend has it that Napoleon Bonaparte fell in love with this Gothic church.

Special benches that play Chopin's music are scattered throughout his native city.

The giant statue and its model solar system honor the native Pole who declared that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

A merchant court dedicated to the fictitious King Arthur is heavily adorned with bizarre Renaissance art.

A huge wooden clock that is so beautiful its creator was forcibly blinded.

A mysterious emblem tucked in an small alleyway is actually the coat of arms of a heroic medieval family.

During the renovation of this bas-relief, the constructors added one unusual element.