Grīziņkalns



Grīziņkalns is a neighbourhood in Riga, the capital of Latvia. The Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral, Daugava Stadium and the Staburadze confectionery factory (a part of Orkla Latvia) are located in the area, and it is dominated by late 19th to early 20th century working class houses.

Latvian writer described the working-class area of Grīziņkalns in his 1928 adventure story Vārnu ielas republika ('Vārnu Street Republic' or 'Crow Street Republic'), which then was used as the premise of the 1970 Soviet Latvian film of the same name.

Grīziņkalns name comes from the wealthy merchant Griesen who bought a manor here in 1794. However, until the second half of the 19th century it was a quiet and secluded place dominated by sandy dunes and meadows. In the second half of the 19th century several big factories were opened along the newly built Pērnavas street, as a result many houses for workers were also built nearby. Since then this area became known as Griesenberg (Grīziņkalns in latvian). The highest spot in the neighbourhood is Grīziņkalns mound, a 24-meter high sand dune. Since 1903 there is public park in the neighbourhood.

For many years the neighbourhood was dominated by working class residents. They were very active during the Revolution of 1905 because many of its local leaders lived or worked in Grīziņkalns. Grīziņkalns park was later renamed Park of 1905, there is also monument dedicated to revolution in the park.