Mentzendorff House

Built at the end of the 17th century, this was actually a family home and shop right up until 1939. Nowadays, the Mentzendorff House is a monument to the lifestyles of Riga's well to do merchants in a time when the port helped swell Latvia's coffers and enrich its culture. Inside the house, the curators have recreated a shop, saloon, kitchen, poet's room, family chapel, cellar, attic, ballroom, and a young lady's chambers. In all, the rooms contain some 2,000 artefacts which help to evoke the atmosphere of life up to 300 years ago. The museum is named after the last family to have occupied the house, the Mentzendorff's. At one time it was also home to a glass-maker called Jurgen Helm - so visitors can try their hand at the craft.