Brīvības bulvāris
| Brīvības iela | |
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View of Brīvības iela towards the city centre
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| Former name(s) | Große Sandstraße Aleksandrovskaya ulitsa / Alexanderstraße Brīvības gatve Ļeņina iela |
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| Length | 12 km (7 mi) |
| Location | Riga, Latvia |
| Other | |
| Known for |
Dailes Theatre St. Gertrude New Church, Riga St. Alexander Nevsky Church, Riga |
Brīvības iela is the central street of Riga, the capital of Latvia. It is more than 12 km long, going through all of Riga from the historical centre to the outskirts.
The street was the beginning of an important trade route - the road to the region of Vidzeme (Southern Swedish Livonia) and the Russian city of Pskov. It began with what is today Smilšu iela and went through Riga's suburbs. The city entrance next to the Powder Tower was initially the main entrance to Riga from land. As the city grew on, the city gates moved towards the east and the street was extended further.
In the late 19th century and early 20th various art nuveau buildings were erected on what now is Brīvības iela.
Throughout its history, the street was known as Große Sandstraße (before 1818), Aleksandrovskaya ulitsa/Alexanderstraße (1818-1923), Brīvības gatve (1923-1949) and Ļeņina iela (1950-1991).
Today, Brīvības iela is divided into three parts:
Freedom Monument - monument to Latvia's independence erected in 1935
Nativity Cathedral, main Russian Orthodox cathedral in Riga
Palace of Justice, seat of the Government of Latvia
Number 56 - St. Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church, built in 1825
Number 61 - the Corner House, former building of the KGB of the Latvian SSR during the second Soviet occupation of Latvia; initially built as a living house in 1911
Brīvības iela 33
Brīvības iela 137, former bicycle works
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Wikipedia