Powder Tower

Yet another 14th century relic of Riga (surely the Latvians were building stuff in other centuries, right?), the Powder Tower (Pulvertornis) is, well, a tower that used to hold, wait for it... gunpowder! You would have thought a more creative name might draw more crowds (we'd definitely go and see the Unicorn Tower or the Hangnail Tower... ok, maybe not the last one). Boring name's aside, the tower's powder has long since blown away and the building is part of the Museum of War. If fine art bores you but guns and swords make you cream, this is the museum for you. Open 10-18.

These towers were far more important than you might think. They could hold the key to the city, defensively.