“Let's meet at Laima...” — such a phrase may slightly puzzle an unsuspecting visitor to Riga. Who is Laima? Those who are better informed may assume that it is one of the shops of Latvia's largest sweets producer, “Laima”. In fact, it refers to the famous “Laima” tower clock, which stands in the very center of Riga and is the most popular place for meetings and dates. And yes, the tower beneath the clock is decorated with the confectionery company's logos. But it was not always so.
The history of the clock begins back in the 19th century. At that time, there was a wooden newspaper kiosk on this spot, and later a tram stop with a clock was also installed. In 1924, the old structure was moved to another place, and a new one appeared in its place — in Neoclassical style, with a colonnade. A separate clock tower was installed nearby so that the people of Riga would not forget the time on their way to work and would not be late.
In the 1930s, the clock changed to the Art Deco style, and advertisements for the “Laima” confectionery factory began to be placed on it. During the Soviet period, the clock was decorated with slogans like “peace to the world” and “glory to the CPSU”. The reconstruction of 1999 returned the clock to its original appearance and the name “Laima”.
The place by the clock is the most romantic in Riga. In the evening, pleasant lighting comes on, and the ultra-precise Swiss clock mechanism guarantees that lovers will not be late for their date.
