Sarkandaugava's Castle Ruin Tower: From a Brewery Owner's Whim to a Museum
The artificial castle ruins and tower in Riga's Sarkandaugava district began as a brewery owner's idea, later housed President Kārlis Ulmanis's study, and now hold a museum. The tower is open to visitors, who can see Riga from its top.
A tower and artificial castle ruins have stood on a dune in Sarkandaugava, a district of Riga, Latvia, since the end of the 19th century. They were created as a romantic idea of the owner of the "Waldschlösschen" brewery. Over the years the site went through several surprising turns.
A president's study and climbers
In the interwar period, the tower housed the work study of Kārlis Ulmanis, President of Latvia. After the war, it became a favourite spot of alpinists.
The museum today
Today the tower and the neighbouring villa form "Dauderi", a branch of the Latvian National History Museum. The museum tells the story of the lavish building, of Kārlis Ulmanis and of relics of the lost Latvia.
The tower is now open to anyone interested. From its top, visitors can look out over Riga, which makes the place appealing to both history enthusiasts and those who simply want a view of the city.
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