Excursions with a visit to the Yokaba Barracks

Riga's architectural heritage

• Yakovlev Barracks, also known as the Jekaba Barracks, is a long two-storey building with a yellow facade on Tornyu Street in Riga. This building was built at the end of the XVII century for the Swedish legionnaires who defended the city of Riga from the northeast, from the Gulf of Riga. Yakovlevsky barracks were originally wooden, and after the capture of Riga by Russian troops in 1710, Tsar Peter I ordered the old barracks to be demolished and new ones built in the Dutch style.
• These barracks stretch for 237 meters and are the longest building in old Riga. Located between the Yakovlevsky and Sandy bastions, they were part of the defensive system developed by Dahlberg.
• During the 19th century, the Yakovlev barracks housed various educational and public institutions, such as the statistical bureau, the labor exchange, the Polish school, and in Soviet times — the Bureau of Military Projects under the Ministry of Defense of the USSR and training facilities at the Yakov Alksnis flight School.
• In 1997, after a competition and extensive restoration work, the Yakovlev Barracks were transformed into a modern business center. Now the American Chamber of Commerce and diplomatic missions of Latvian cities are located here. The side facade is decorated with the coats of arms of Latvian cities.
• On holidays such as Ligo (Latvian national holiday celebrated on June 23) or Christmas, this place becomes especially picturesque. People gather here to celebrate the holidays, and during the League they come to this place to enjoy the atmosphere and participate in traditional Latvian festive events.