The Swedish gate is a cultural monument, an architectural complex located in several houses on the street Torna in Riga, Latvia

In 1621 Riga was under the rule of Sweden. Swedish occupation lasted until 1711. Naturally, the Swedish rule has left its mark in Riga history. At this time in the city there are new buildings architecture: Yakovlevsky barracks or barracks Jacob and the Swedish gate, which are currently among the most popular attractions of Riga.

Peter I ordered to destroy Jacob's barracks. Later in their place were built new. The Swedish gate is the only gate of the city, which have survived almost unchanged.

Legend tells that the Swedish gate was built in the late XVII century. One enterprising and adventurous Riga merchant decided to cut through the gate in the house № 11 along the street Torna. In this way he wanted to evade the payment of duties on goods that were officially imported through Sand city gates. Since the gate was located in his house, the merchant decided to charge for passage through them.

However, there is a more realistic version of the Swedish education gate. Most likely, the city authorities it was decided to equip close the passage to the buildings, located on the street of Torna. So were cut and a new gate.

Swedish steel gate is so called for two reasons: first of all, their appearance coincided with the time of the occupation of Riga by the Swedes, and the second reason is that most Swedish soldiers used these gates. Soldiers were billeted in Yakovlevskoe barracks, which was not far from the gate. Therefore, the Swedish gate are a kind of symbol of the era of the Swedes. On the night of the Swedish gate was locked with a powerful force, and guard closely watched that no living soul could penetrate through them.

There is a legend that speaks of the midst of a terrible plague. At this time the city was "quarantined". One young girl tried to break through the Swedish gate, to see her lover. But guards managed to catch it. The girl was treated very cruelly. She was bricked up alive in a wall. Since then at night from the side of the wall heard the terrible cries and groans of the unfortunate.

But not only this poor girl has been taken hostage by the Swedish gate. According to another legend, in the wall next to the gate were immured two lovers: Latvian girl and a Swedish officer. Their love was doomed. Because in Sweden it is the officers could only marry with the girls, Swedish women. The lovers ignored the rules, for which he paid with their lives.

Nowadays this ancient legend allows lovers to test the sincerity of their feelings. You need to go through the Swedish gate together with your partner. And if their feelings are as strong as the feelings of star-crossed lovers, then at midnight, the pair hear the coveted "I love you! "coming out of the wall.

And rumor has it that some time in the apartment located above the Swedish gate, lived the city executioner. He had a habit of "to warn the residents about the impending execution. The night before he always put on the box, a red rose, and all the residents knew about the upcoming bloody action.

In 1926, the Society of architects of Latvia rented from the authorities of the town house with the Swedish gate, which was rebuilt in accordance with his new appointment. The building acquired a Baroque appearance, completely coinciding with the time of its appearance. The interior of the house (furnace from category XVII-XVIII centuries, classic and Baroque ceiling lamps and so on) was a Riga architect and artist A. I. Trofimov.

Currently the ensemble of the House of architects includes house No. 11, No. 13 and No. 15 in the Swedish gate. In addition to the Latvian Union of architects here is the library to which you can access and enrich the knowledge about the history and culture of the country.