The Dom Cathedral architectural ensemble in Riga

The Dom Cathedral ensemble in Riga is a widely known and remarkable work of architecture. Built on the level shore of the Baltic Sea in the thirteenth century, this mediaeval monument is the wellhead of an indwidual stream of development of Gothic brick architecture in the Eastern Baltic region. It combines features o f all the main styles and trends of European art from the Romanesque to the Jugendstil. The powerful architectural forms, the ingenious decoration, and the beautiful tone of one of the best organs in Europe together create a unique aesthetic experience. As museum and as concert-hall the Dom is the most popular tourist attraction in the Baltic region, visited by more than a million people every year.