Exhibition “500 Years of Latvian Books. The Elements of Riga”

The exhibition “500 Years of Latvian Books. The Elements of Riga”, a changing one-showcase exhibition created by the National Library of Latvia will be on view throughout the year 2025, inviting visitors to get to know the ancient and close connections between Riga and the book publishing industry.

500 years ago, in 1525, the first book was printed in Latvian, and this launched the development of Latvian book culture. A word written in Latvian and printed in a book is one of the cornerstones for Latvia and Latvians. We especially emphasize and celebrate it in the year of the 500th anniversary of Latvian books.

The exhibition “500 Years of Latvian Books. The Elements of Riga” will highlight four basic elements of Riga related to the book publishing industry – stone, water, fire and light – by changing the exhibits every quarter. This will mark a symbolic path from the first public library of Riga, Bibliotheca Rigensis, founded in 1524 and located in Riga Cathedral, to the National Library of Latvia, known today as the Castle of Light of Riga.

The building of the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation at Palasta Street 4 and the surrounding quarters of the Old Town are associated with many significant events in the history of Latvian book publishing, starting with the original location of the Riga City Library, Bibliotheca Rigensis, in Riga Cathedral, to the Nikolaus Mollyn’s printing house opened in 1588 on Krāmu Street, which was the first printing house in Livonia. The Museum’s Column Hall was built for the Riga City Library in the end of the 18th century under the leadership of the master builder Christoph Haberland, who is included in the Latvian Culture Canon.