Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
About This Museum
Tucked into Rīga's historic center, just a stone's throw from the city's bustling core, the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia occupies a space that is both geographically and emotionally central. It’s not an easy visit, but it’s an essential one, chronicling a devastating period when foreign powers systematically dismantled Latvian sovereignty. You'll find yourself moving through dimly lit rooms filled with poignant personal artifacts—a worn-out suitcase, clandestine press clippings, and simple household items that whisper stories of resilience and terror. The weight of this history is palpable, making the experience more of a pilgrimage than a simple museum tour.
Collection Highlights
The main exhibition powerfully narrates the Soviet and Nazi occupations through personal diaries, prisoner artwork from the Gulag, and chilling KGB interrogation room reconstructions. Don't miss the symbolic 'Suitcase of a Deportee,' packed with the few precious belongings one could carry into exile.
Visitor Information
Entry is by donation, which feels appropriate for a place of such profound public memory. Check their website before you go as they often host powerful temporary exhibits and documentary screenings that delve deeper into specific stories.
Architecture & Building
Housed in a low-slung, somber black building that resembles a bunker or mausoleum, its stark modernist design stands in solemn contrast to the ornate architecture surrounding it in the city center.
Contact & Location
Address: Latvijas Okupācijas muzejs, 1, Mazā Grēcinieku iela, Vecrīga, Latgales apkaime, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvija
Phone: +371 67 229 255
Website: Visit Website
