CATHEDRAL OF RĪGAS (RĪGAS DOMS)

To the north of the old town, another bell tower dominates the skyline, that of the Dome(doma baznīca). Archbishop Albert laid the foundation stone in 1211, and it remains one of the most remarkable monuments of 13th- to 20th-century architecture. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is an integral part of a cloister, forming the inner court. After the Reformation, the entire building was returned to the city. It also contains within its walls the Dome School, which became the first higher secular school in Rīga. One of the wings of the monastery housed the municipal library, which has now disappeared. Originally built in the Romanesque style, the church now has a lighter Gothic appearance, with larger windows and more impressive vaults. The Baroque style of the tower and gable are from the 18th century, and the magnificent Art Nouveau vestibule of the church from the 20th century. The cloister is still one of the most beautiful parts of the Dome complex. The 118-metre long cloister passage, decorated with arcades opening onto the inner courtyard, is one of the few examples of medieval architecture in the Baltic region. The few remaining stained glass windows in the church date from the early 20th century and come from the twin workshops in Rīga, Munich and Dresden. The Dome, the largest religious building in the Baltic States, is particularly famous for its oversized organ with 6,768 wooden and metal pipes. Made in Germany, it has been enthroned in the cathedral since 1884. It was the largest and most modern instrument of its time. After a long period of closure for renovation and "heritage protection", Rīga Cathedral hosted occasional concerts, as well as rare Lutheran religious celebrations, in 1988, at the time of Perestroika. After years of Soviet-style atheism, the resumption of religious services in the Dome was seen as an event. In the south and west wing of the cathedral, one can visit the Museum of Rīga History and Navigation. The vast Dome Square(doma laukums), which stretches out at the foot of the cathedral, came into being in the 1860s-1880s when the medieval quarter was demolished. But it was in 1936 that the square began to show its present face with the destruction of the northern and north-eastern pediments of the Dome. The square is one of the most lively in the city.