There have always been those who ruled, and those who were dissatisfied with the ruling ones. All the discontents, leading to uprisings and wars, were usually destructive in nature. However, some sublimated by creating magnificent architectural monuments, like the famous Town Hall in Riga. The fact that the founder of the city, Bishop Albert von Buxhoeveden, didn't like the government led to the creation of an independent Riga City Council and the construction of its building.

The first Town Hall was built near the Big Gate in the 13th century. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for regular popular uprisings to destroy the building. So it was replaced by a new Town Hall in the central market square (Town Hall Square now). The medieval Town Hall turned into ruins and became the foundation of the present-day Riga Town Hall.

The third building appeared at Town Hall Square in the middle of the 18th century. It took more than 15 years to build a magnificent architectural monument in the style of classicism. Its strict symmetrical forms were decorated with a portico with Tuscan columns and a tall slender tower in the style of solemn Baroque. In the 19th century, the stunning project of the architect Johann Daniel Oettinger was improved by the chief architect of Riga Johann Daniel Felsko. He added the third floor and simplified some elements. Modern travelers see an exact copy of this Town Hall in the heart of the Old Town, as a real architectural masterpiece was fired on by the German army during the Second World War, and then burned down.

People have different attitudes towards the copy of the Town Hall, but it's hard not to admire the architects' work. Today, it hosts the Riga City Council and attracts curious travelers from all over the world, who come here to admire the beautiful architectural monument in the picturesque square of Riga's historic quarter.