European Heritage Days in Latvia

At the EHL Site The Three Brothers: A Conversation on Architecture at Saint Peter’s Church

On 11 September, renowned Latvian architect Pēteris Blūms, also representing the National Heritage Board of Latvia, shared his expertise on the renovation of historic buildings. His lecture explored how values shift over time, how authentic materials can be recovered and reused, and how modern functional and technical innovations inevitably reshape historic structures.

Through comparative illustrations, Blūms demonstrated how buildings transform before, during, and after renovation, offering participants an in-depth understanding of the balance between preservation and innovation. Due to high public interest, the lecture was moved from the EHL site the Three Brothers to the iconic Saint Peter’s Church in Riga, itself a monument blending architectural elements from different eras.

At the EHL Site Turaida Historic Centre: Paul Einhorn and Cultural Memory

On 13 September, the Turaida Historic Centre, an EHL Site, hosted a special event focused on Paul Einhorn, a 17th-century theologian whose writings provide invaluable insights into Latvian society of the time. Visitors explored a rare collection of books from the 16th to 18th centuries, highlighting their symbolic role in Latvian cultural history and their impact on the preservation of cultural heritage.

Both events attracted a wide audience — from heritage professionals to curious citizens — showing the enduring ability of the European Heritage Days to open up cultural heritage for all. By linking architecture, literature, and living traditions, this year’s activities offered windows to the past while pointing towards doors to the future.