A century-old prison in the heart of Vilnius is now a lively bar, dance club, and artist residency.

Plaques celebrating Lithuanian writers freckle a wall of this picture-perfect path.

Travelers who fall victim to this mermaid's charms are destined to stay in Užupis forever.

This micro-nation may be some sort of prank, but its constitution sure seems official.

An abandoned masterpiece of Soviet Brutalist architecture.

While this monument tile is shrouded in mystery it also marks the end of the longest ever human chain.

Legend has it that Napoleon Bonaparte fell in love with this Gothic church.

A 300-kilogram egg sculpture that embodied a neighborhood revival.

3,000 market stands in five former Zeppelin hangars.

A Latvian rescuer who saved countless lives during World War II.

A monument to the grand synagogue that stood in this space before Nazis burned it down.

A map store filled with original Cold War era Russian maps of the world.

A former Latvian headquarters of the brutal KGB secret police is now open as a grim reminder of their atrocities.

The oldest housing complex in Riga is a mini timeline of architectural trends.

This celebration of Latvia’s freedom and independence avoided demolition over half a century of Soviet occupation.

The former Field Marshall and Minister of War to the Russian Imperial Army.

Flamboyant architecture from the turn of 20th century.

With a design inspired by traditional Latvian textiles, this monument honors the Latvian people who suffered under Soviet occupation.

A statue built to honor the elite soldiers who fought for Latvia during World War I.

Latvia's symbolic mountain-shaped national library is home to millions of cultural tomes.

The statue of a legendary giant who carried Christ and shouldered the world's sins.

This enigmatic artifact remained buried in a churchyard for years.

A preserved oak tree about 3,500 years old found in Riga, Latvia.

A stone marker and sculpture in the city of Riga stake a claim for the very first community Christmas tree.