Flickr, out0fwave

Elizabetes Street (Latvian: Elizabetes iela) is a street in Riga's Central District.It crosses Krisjanis Valdemars Street, Antonijas Street, Brivibas Street, Terbatas Street, Krisjanis Barons Street, and Aleksandra Caka Street. The total length is 2230 meters. Kronvalda Park and Vermanes Park adjoin Elizabetes Street.The street was laid out after an urban development plan was created following the burning of the wooden buildings in Riga's suburbs during the Patriotic War of 1812. A new project for tracing Riga's streets was created, during the implementation of which Aleksandrovskaya Street (now Brivibas) was laid out, named in honor of Tsar Alexander I, as well as Elizavetinskaya Street, which received its name in honor of Alexander's wife, the Russian Empress Elizaveta Alexeyevna. The suburbs were successfully reconstructed during the rule of Riga Governor Philip Osipovich Paulucci.

dorogimira.livejournal.com

Alberta Street (Latvian: Alberta iela) is a street in Riga. Alberta Street was laid out in honor of the city's 700th anniversary and named after Riga's founder Albert of Buxhoeveden. Alberta Street was built in 2 years[1]. Alberta Street is considered the pearl of Jugendstil[2]. 8 houses have been recognized as architectural monuments. Most of the houses on Alberta Street were built according to the designs of Mikhail Eisenstein[3]. In the Latvian SSR the street was named after the revolutionary Fricis Gailis.Above the entrances to the building you can see two female sculptural figures (conventional opera singers) with torches (one of the torches has fallen off over time), dressed in "wet garments," fashionable at the turn of the XIX and XX centuries. At the same time, the sculptural images are symbols of purification and the unlimited power of fire. A wide passage leads deep into the building, into the inner courtyard, in accordance with the designs of Leipzig apartment houses. The entrances are framed by two sphinxes, sketched by Sergei Eisenstein at the age of ten.

Flickr, Drew at large

Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, modern - all these words denote an elegant and romantic style of art and architecture popular at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. The main trend of Art Nouveau is a departure from the severity of sharp corners and straight lines. Rounded forms, an abundance of decorative elements, plant and floral ornaments - all this gives Art Nouveau incredible charm. It is no wonder that the flourishing period of this style in Europe is called 'Belle Epoque' - the "Beautiful Era".

Riga is known as the cradle of Jugendstil; about 800 buildings adorn the city's streets, giving it a fairy-tale appearance.

Alberta Street is the quintessence of Riga Jugendstil; practically every house on it is a masterpiece, and many buildings are among the monuments of national significance.

House No. 12 on Alberta Street has managed to fully preserve the atmosphere of the Belle Epoque, because this is where the Jugendstil Museum is located. In the house-museum, consisting of 13 rooms, the interior and furnishings of 1903 have been fully restored, when the outstanding Riga architect Konstantin Peksens lived there.

The museum is beautiful outside and inside, from the corner tower crowning the building to the exquisite painting on the walls and ceiling. The magnificent spiral staircase of irregular shape is known far beyond Latvia. Is it conceivable - steps as an object of art? Yes, if it is an Art Nouveau staircase, for it is truly beautiful - with graceful painting, ornate railings, luxurious chandeliers.

In the dining room, the table is set with porcelain and crystal, in the study there is an abundance of books, the gramophone is ready to play a foxtrot, and a lace parasol has been casually thrown onto an armchair… It seems the owners have just left the house and will soon return.

You will experience the feeling of complete immersion in the reality of the early XX century and will even be able to try on a ladies' hat from those times for a photo - with feathers, flowers, and ribbons.