Latvijas Universitātes Muzejs
University museum with history, astronomy, geology, zoology and botany collections; visits by prior registration.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The idea of collecting, preserving and popularising museum objects at the Latvijas Universitāte (University of Latvia) arose together with the founding of the university itself. From 1919 the individual faculties built up collections of objects and teaching cabinets, among them the anatomy museum of the Faculty of Medicine and the geodesy and bog museum of the Faculty of Engineering. After 1940 many collections were destroyed, and a large part of the valuable objects disappeared or ended up in state museum collections.
Today the Latvijas Universitātes Muzejs combines several collections: the university's history collections, the Frīdrihs Canders and Latvian astronomy collection, the geology, zoology, botany and mycology collections, and a collection on human pathology. The history and astronomy collections are located in the main building of the Latvijas Universitāte at Raiņa bulvāris 19, and the natural science collections at Kronvalda bulvāris 4.
The museum organises guided tours of the university's main building, which includes the monumental Lielā aula (Great Hall) and Mazā aula (Small Hall) and the student lock-up from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, from the time of the Rīgas Politehnikums (Riga Polytechnic). The tours also tell about the building's architect Gustavs Hilbigs and the most important events of the 20th century. Visitors can also enjoy exhibitions, lessons and observation evenings at the astronomical tower.
Highlights
- Tour of the main university building with the Great and Small Halls
- Student lock-up from the Rīgas Politehnikums period
- Frīdriha Candera un Latvijas astronomijas kolekcija (collection of Frīdrihs Canders and Latvian astronomy)
- Geology, zoology, botany and mycology collections
- Astronomical tower and roof platform
Permanent exhibitions
- LU galvenā ēka un Studentu karceris – Tour of the university's main building with the Great and Small Halls and the student lock-up from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Frīdriha Candera un Latvijas astronomijas kolekcija – Collection on the work of Frīdrihs Canders, the history of space exploration and the history of astronomy in Latvia.
- Ģeoloģijas kolekcijas – Collections on Latvia's geological sections, mineral resources and Quaternary sediments.
- Operated by
- Latvijas Universitāte
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2pre-school children, pupils, students, pensioners |
| Children & teens | €2Free admission for pre-school children visiting the museum accompanied by a parent. |
| Seniors | €2Free admission for senior citizens of the Latvijas Universitāte. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for children under 18 with disabilities and persons with Group I disability; one accompanying person is also admitted free of charge. |
| Students & apprentices | €2Free admission for Latvijas Universitāte students. |
| Thematic lesson | €4 |
| Thematic lesson with discount | €3 |
| Family day visit | €5 |
| Family day visit for pupils | €4 |
| Permission to photograph or film museum objects for non-commercial purposes | €5 |
Free admission: Free admission on Muzeju nakts (Museum Night) and Zinātnieku nakts (Researchers' Night).
Free admission also for Latvijas Universitāte staff, teaching staff and guests, orphans, staff of Latvian museums and group leaders (for groups of 10 or more visitors).
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
The museum offers a family day adventure programme.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 50 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours of the university's main building are held in Latvian, English, German and Russian and last 45–50 minutes. |
