Āgenskalns (historically known also as ''Hāgenskalns'' or ''Hagensberg'') is a district in

Riga Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...

, located on the left bank of the

Daugava The Daugava ( ), also known as the Western Dvina or the Väina River, is a large river rising in the Valdai Hills of Russia that flows through Belarus and Latvia into the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea. The Daugava rises close to the source of ...

, an old neighbourhood, mainly built in the late 19th to early 20th century. The total area of Āgenskalns is 4,6 km², which is a lot less than other districts of

History

First known building of Āgenskalns and whole

Pārdaugava Pārdaugava (literally means "Trans" or "Over" -Daugava area, formerly ) is an area most often associated with Riga, composed of several neighbourhoods on the west (left) bank of Daugava River. The name is literally translated as 'over Daugava ...

was the fortified

Māra Māra is the highest-ranking goddess in Latvian mythology, the ancient Dawn-goddess, previously called Austra, and, not at all, although often stated, the same as Zemes māte ( Mother Earth, pace). Names Alternative names: Māre, Mārīte (d ...

mill, which was mentioned already in 1226. As evidenced by maps of the 17th century, the village of Āgenskalns started next to crossroads of current Meža, Sētas and Nometņu Street and continued to develop alongside Nometņu Street. During the 17th century, Āgenskalns was sparsely populated. Most of the non-auxiliary members of the Latvian trade house dominated there and also mercenaries - fishermen, anchors, wine barrel carriers, boatmen and others. Name “Āgenskalns” came from the manor of Henrih fon Hagen, who was a judge in the 17th century (from

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

''Hagenshof'', nowadays known as Švarcmuiža), and who was the owner of lands alongside Rankas dam and Kuldīgas Street. During the

Great Northern War In the Great Northern War (1700–1721) a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in Northern Europe, Northern, Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the ant ...

, Āgenskalns was destroyed, but later restored. During the

French invasion of Russia The French invasion of Russia, also known as the Russian campaign (), the Second Polish War, and in Russia as the Patriotic War of 1812 (), was initiated by Napoleon with the aim of compelling the Russian Empire to comply with the Continenta ...

, in fear of Napoleon's troops, all the buildings of Āgenskalns were burned down, so the buildings that are there nowadays started to develop in the first half of the 19th century. The layout of buildings was made without a certain plan and that is why street network between Nometņu and Eduarda Smiļģa Street is quite chaotic. Nowadays this territory is a national monument of urban construction and is known for its great wooden architecture.

Architecture

Oldest building in Āgenskalns is the Hartmann manor, located in Kalnciema street 28/30. Āgenskalns is a vivid example of

Art Nouveau Art Nouveau ( ; ; ), Jugendstil and Sezessionstil in German, is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and ...

and German Balts architectural symbiosis. One of the best examples of this is the water tower of Āgenskalns, which was projected by

Wilhelm Bockslaff Wilhelm Ludwig Nikolai Bockslaff (, ; , Riga – 9 March 1945, Poznań) was a Baltic German architect working in Riga. He is considered one of the most important representatives of Eclecticism, Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles in the city. He i ...

and built in 1910. – entrance of the water tower is decorated with various geometric ornaments that end with a triangular timpanon; other Art Nouveau features can also be seen there (stylized imperial eagle etc.). In the nearby Margrietas street you can find one of

Mikhail Eisenstein Mikhail Osipovich Eisenstein (, ; – 2 July 1920) was a civil engineer and architect working in Riga, the present-day capital of Latvia, when the city was part of the Russian Empire. He was active as an architect in the city at a time of great ...

projected buildings, which shows a strong influence of

historicism Historicism is an approach to explaining the existence of phenomena, especially social and cultural practices (including ideas and beliefs), by studying the process or history by which they came about. The term is widely used in philosophy, ant ...

. In Āgenskalns there are many residential and commercial houses, which have been built in the 19th and 20th century, where you can find the influence of

. One of the most prominent

complexes is the Market of Āgenskalns, which was built after a project of Reinhold Schmaeling, current Market building was built from 1911 until 1924. Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital was also built after one of his project and is located in Āgenskalns, Pilsoņu Street 13. Other mentionable

features can be found in Arcadia Park (), made after a project of

Georg Kuphaldt Georg Friedrich Ferdinand Kuphaldt () (6 June 1853 in Plön, Holstein – 14 April 1938 in Berlin, Germany) was an influential German landscape architect, gardener and dendrologist of the Russian Empire. At the age of 27, Kuphaldt was promo ...

in 1910.

Notable places in Agenskalns

* Āgenskalns Market - Built in 1911 – 1914 *Railroad Museum *

Eduards Smiļģis Eduards Smiļģis (23 November 1886 – 19 April 1966) was a Latvian and Soviet actor and theatre director. He became a People's Artist of the USSR in 1948. Smiļģis founded the Dailes Theatre in Riga in 1920 and was its chief director until ...

Theatre Museum * Uzvaras Park *

Jānis Akuraters Jānis Akuraters (13 January 1876 – 25 July 1937) was a Latvian poet, writer, playwright and politician. He founded the Latvian National Theatre in 1919 and was director of Radio of Riga between 1930 and 1934. Biography Akuraters was born ...

Museum *

Ojārs Vācietis Ojārs Vācietis (born November 13, 1933 – November 28, 1983) was a Latvians, Latvian writer and poet. He is often considered one of the most famous and influential poets in the Latvian SSR. Biography Ojārs Vācietis was born on November 1 ...

Museum * Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital - built in 1908 - 1910 ;Schools *

University of Latvia University of Latvia (, shortened ''LU'') is a public research university located in Riga, Latvia. The university was established in 1919. History The University of Latvia, initially named as the Higher School of Latvia () was founded on Se ...

Faculty of Physics and Mathematics *

Riga Technical University Riga Technical University (RTU) () is the oldest technical university in the Baltic countries established on October 14, 1862. It is located in Riga, Latvia and was previously known as Riga Polytechnical Institute and Riga Polytechnicum. In 1 ...

Faculty of Engineering Economics and Management; Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology * University of Business, Arts and Technology * Emīls Dārziņš Music School

Notable people

Lived in Āgenskalns: *

(1876–1937), Latvian poet *

Johann Georg Hamann Johann Georg Hamann (; ; 27 August 1730 – 21 June 1788) was a German Lutheran philosopher from Königsberg known as "the Wizard of the North" who was one of the leading figures of post-Kantian philosophy. His work was used by his student J. G ...

(1730–1788), German Lutheran philosopher *

Johann Gottfried Herder Johann Gottfried von Herder ( ; ; 25 August 174418 December 1803) was a Prussian philosopher, theologian, pastor, poet, and literary critic. Herder is associated with the Age of Enlightenment, ''Sturm und Drang'', and Weimar Classicism. He wa ...

(1744–1803), German philosopher * Viesturs Kairišs (b. 1971), Latvian opera, movie and theatre director * Andra Neiburga (1957–2019), Latvian writer * Katrīna Neiburga (b. 1978), Latvian contemporary artist *

(1886–1966), Latvian actor and theatre director * Pauls Stradiņš (1896–1958), Latvian professor, physician, and surgeon *

(1933–1983), Latvian writer and poet

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agenskalns Neighbourhoods in Riga