House of the Blackheads. Riga, Latvia: description, history and reviews

Communities of interest or occupation accompany the entire history of mankind. Defending and defending their rights is easier in a group of like-minded people, where you can always find all kinds of support. If the guild, order, cooperative successfully coped with their tasks, then success was inevitable. During the period of growth, prosperity, the united communities actively work for the benefit of the place where the center of their interests lies. So ennobled, overgrown with legends and stories, Malta, thanks to the Knights of the Order of Malta, the whole of Europe, where communities could not be counted, developed rapidly.

Brotherhood

The Order of the Blackheads contributed greatly to the development and prosperity of Riga. Despite the strange name, the members of the community were united in the interests of trade, which, as is known, moved and moved everything. In Riga, every traveler inevitably gets to the city's Town Hall Square, where the building of unique architecture - the House of Blackheads - flaunts.

In the 14th century, there was already a community of merchants in Riga, united in the Great Guild. It included the movers of his time, who led a sedentary life, trade was mediated: the purchase was made from large wholesalers, and then organized retail trade was conducted. The time was restless, and it was unsafe for people to go shopping for goods, for a long time, without guarantee, even saving their lives, not to mention the profit from the goods. But there will always be those who want and will be able to take risks, as the profits from wholesale sales were many times greater.

So, to the sedentary traders joined the community of entrepreneurs who organized a successful, though risky business. They united in the Order, taking as their patron Saint Mauritius. By tradition, the Holy was portrayed as a black skin. The legend says that the warrior Mauritius had ancestry from Ethiopia, took Christianity and preached it, for which he suffered. The canonized Saint was painted on icons, guided by the true color of his skin, the images turned out unaccustomed to the European eye - a dark image on a light background. So the order of stray merchants got its name, which later became the official name of the brotherhood - the Order of the Blackheads.

House for the Order

In the conditions of his time, the Brotherhood was more like a military organization with a clear charter, a hierarchy and risky operations to transport cargo. Only unmarried young men, mostly foreigners of origin, could become members of the brotherhood. Gradually they assimilated in Riga society, acquired their families, houses. The order had its own fleet, successfully repulsed from pirates, caravans went to distant exotic countries, bringing rare and expensive goods. To conduct trade operations, meetings required a place, and the Blackheads in 1477 leased the upper floors of the New House, built by the Guild of Craftsmen.

Growing in connections, capital and gaining influence in society, the Blackheads invested considerable funds in building the building, gradually becoming the main tenants. This gave them a lot of preferences and freedom in using all rooms. After a short while, the house of the Riga City Council received a new name - the House of Blackheads in Riga. During the day the stock exchange worked in the upper floors, and in the evening balls, concerts, solemn city and medal events were arranged.

Active Activities

The Riga residence was the main one for the brotherhood, but the trading activity required one more representation. So, in 1517 the House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads was opened in Tallinn. Over the centuries of its existence, the building was rebuilt, reconstructed, adjoining neighboring buildings. But even today it is named after the best owners - the House of Blackheads. Tallinn carefully preserves the architectural monument. Currently, the building hosts chamber concerts and excursions.

But the main outpost, from where the whole policy of the community was conducted, was the Riga House of the Blackheads (Riga, Latvia). Making great donations to the temples of the city, developing the culture and infrastructure of the city, the Blackheads have worked hard over their residence, consolidating their position in society. Uniting with the Great Guild, until the middle of the 16th century, the Order played a leading role in the life of the city. Without his participation, neither the defense against the invaders, nor the political transformations of the times of the Reformation could do without. In the 19th century class communities lost their importance, and the order was reformatted into a German merchant club, which existed until 1939.

Destructive war

The house of the Brotherhood of Blackheads was completely destroyed in the Second World War. The exposition of the Museum houses several watercolors of 1945, where the destroyed Riga Town Hall Square is depicted. We know about the approximate time when the projectile hit the building - the dial of the big hours of the House, on which the time has frozen, is 8:30. On the morning of June 29, 1941, the employee of the House tried to save part of the historical heritage of Riga and handed over the dial of the ancient clock on his hands.

The House of Blackheads not only destroyed, but also plundered numerous looters. The property that once belonged to the brotherhood, and now to Riga, is still scattered all over Europe, but part of the collection was recovered. So, in the halls of the museum there is a collection of snuff-boxes, 118 pieces, made of different materials: gold, silver, bone. Exhibits at different times were manufactured in Russia, Germany, England and presented to the brotherhood.

Recovery

After 1945, the House of Blackheads did not restore. There is no exact information about how he looked before his destruction. The place was empty for a long time, the building was reconstructed after Latvia gained independence in 1996. Fortunately, the interior layouts, not too clear photo images, drawings of architects and artists of the 19th and 20th centuries were preserved. Archaeological research allowed to determine the exact location of the building and the restoration work began.

The modern House of Blackheads coincides in size with its historical area, which is confirmed by the foundation of the old house and the basement floor, which was preserved from the original construction. Masonry in this room coincides with the samples of masonry of the 14th century found in the territory of Latvia.

Unique facade architecture

According to the reviews of tourists who visited Riga, the House of Blackheads makes a great impression. The whole composition of the Town Hall Square shades out the main city landmark - the House of the once influential brotherhood. The building has long been one of the symbols of the city and the pride of Riga. The restored facade of the House invites you to recall the early European architecture. In the evening, the artfully illuminated facade calls to look into the mysteries of history and the depth of centuries, and invites you to go inside to immerse yourself in the world of another era.

The sculptural composition on the pediment includes four figures: Neptune - the ruler of the seas, Mercury - the patron of merchants and travelers, Unity and Peace. In the upper part of the facade there are clocks, they, as well as sculptures, were adorned on the facade until 1941. Now the watch is electronic, but it does not detract from the value of a lovingly restored architectural monument. Sculptures on the facade of the building are personified not only by deities - they combine time and values; The big clock counts not only minutes, they circle planets and signs of the Zodiac, and the inscriptions keep a secret meaning, which only the connoisseurs of the language of hermetic bondage can learn. Many secrets are hidden in signs on sculptures, coat of arms of the facade, all of them are stored by the House of Blackheads. The city of Riga invites to take a closer look and unravel each of them.

Internal arrangement

To consider the luxurious facade of the House and not to go inside is impossible, this is said by all visitors. There, inside, new knowledge opens: the past and the present are woven together, they give a complete idea of what the House of Blackheads is, about the role of brotherhood in the development of Riga. The decoration of each room is unique and restored with the utmost precision.

On the first floor there are administration rooms, and on the second floor there are several spacious rooms. One of them is the Lübeck Hall, the name of the room was received during the celebration of the 800th anniversary of Riga. Here you can admire the placed four-meter canvas with a panorama of Lubeck, it is the hall that owes its name. There, on the second floor, you can visit the Small Salon, the Latvian Hall with ethnic exhibits, go up the stairs connecting the lobby and the second floor with the exit to the Holiday Hall. According to the visitors, everyone is drawn back to the House of Blackheads in Riga. The history of the building is unique and attracts to come here for a new portion of secrets.

Festive hall

The most extensive room in the House is the Festive Hall. It hosted dance balls, distinguished guests, sovereigns of all European countries were received. Here Peter I visited with the prince Alexander Menshikov, in honor of Catherine II was given a magnificent carnival. In the Festive Hall the King of Prussia Wilhelm III with his wife Louise was honored.

The decoration of the hall is excellent even today, it repeats the historical interior. Heavy crystal chandeliers give solemnity and crumble with sparkles of sparks on the walls of a large hall. On the southern wall it is impossible not to notice the large coat of arms of the Order of the Blackheads, it also adorns the ceiling composition. The painted ceiling, executed in the Rococo spirit, includes the symbols of the brotherhood, the image of Saint Mauritius, who receives the laurel wreath of eternal glory. Furniture items are exact copies of models of the past centuries, when in the Festival Hall concerts of world celebrities of the time were given.

Refuge of Arts

At different times in the walls of the House of Blackheads were famous composers, whose concerts were very popular among the grateful public. Rihar Wagner conducted and ran the House Orchestra from 1837 to 1839, and some of his works were performed here for the first time. As a conductor, some time later, another well-known composer, Hector Berlioz, appeared.

The walls of the Festive Hall are decorated with portraits of the distinguished guests of the House. Original portraits belonged to the brush Vigil Eriksen and Alexander Roslin, earlier portraits were painted by the artists of the Swedish school of the 17-18 centuries. The lost originals were replaced by replicas, over which the artist Andris Zachests worked. Eight busts of great composers adorn the staircase of the Holiday Hall. They returned to their places after the restoration of the interior of the House of Blackheads.

The city of Riga is rightfully proud of the restored appearance of the Town Hall Square, where the historical site was occupied by a monument of history and architecture - the House of the Order of the Blackheads.