Ojāra Vācieša muzejs

About the museum

The Ojāra Vācieša muzejs (Ojārs Vācietis Museum) is located in Torņakalns in a building more than 200 years old, built as the inn “Jeruzaleme” (Jerusalem). Garlībs Merķelis and Rihards Vāgners once stayed here, and Johans Kristofs Broce recorded the inn in drawings. From 1960 the poet Ojārs Vācietis lived with his family in one of the flats in the house.

The largest and most important part of his poetry, which in the second half of the 20th century awakened the conscience of Latvian society, was written in this house. The poet's wife, Ludmila Azarova, called Pārdaugava his intellectual space, because the poetry was first “walked” on foot through the Arkādijas parks, along Māra Lake and on the way to the Āgenskalna tirgus (Āgenskalns market).

The museum was founded in 1988 and today is part of the Memoriālo muzeju apvienība (Association of Memorial Museums). Visitors can explore the poet's garden, study and living room, listen to his voice recordings and watch video material, and see the digital exhibition and personal belongings – berets, sunglasses, a globe, boxing gloves, manuscripts and drawings. The museum's digital biography and the publication of the voice recordings have received professional awards.

Highlights

• Poet's study, living room and garden
• Voice recordings and video material by Ojārs Vācietis
• Digital exhibition and personal belongings
• Building more than 200 years old, built as the inn “Jeruzaleme” (Jerusalem)
• Story of the cultural history of Pārdaugava

Permanent exhibition

• Ojāra Vācieša pastāvīgā ekspozīcija – The poet's garden, study, living room, voice recordings, video material and digital exhibition with personal belongings, manuscripts and drawings tell about Ojārs Vācietis and his contemporaries.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Memoriālo muzeju apvienība

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On Ojārs Vācietis's birthday (13 November), on the last Saturday of each month, on International Museum Day (18 May) and during the European Museum Night from 19:00.

Free admission also for pre-school children, orphans and children left without parental care, staff of Latvian museums, ICOM and ICOMOS members, politically repressed persons, the group leader (guide) for groups of 20 or more visitors, and Ukrainian civilians who have left their country because of the war (on presentation of a certificate).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Arriving from the Ojāra Vācieša iela side, several steps must be overcome before the entrance. By prior arrangement (phone +371 2915 7074) you can drive in from the side street and approach the museum from the courtyard, where two steps must be overcome before the entrance door. The exhibition is on the ground floor.

Kids & families

Family ticket and educational programmes for pupils.

Getting there & parking

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