Stūra māja
Former KGB building at Brīvības iela 61, where the Latvijas Okupācijas muzejs (Latvian Occupation Museum) holds an exhibition on the history of the Cheka and guided tours.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The State Security Committee (VDK), popularly called the Cheka, was a repressive USSR institution that operated in the territories occupied by Soviet Russia, including the Latvian SSR. The building in Riga known as the Stūra māja (Corner House) was first used by the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD), the forerunner of the VDK, as early as the autumn of 1940.
In this building tens of thousands of residents of Latvia, whom the occupation authorities regarded as opponents of the communist regime, were imprisoned, tortured and interrogated under inhumane conditions. In 1991 the Supreme Council of the restored Republic of Latvia declared the activity of the VDK criminal and directed against the interests of the Latvian people, and the VDK was liquidated.
Today the building serves as a reminder of the human rights violations committed by the Soviet repressive institutions. The Latvijas Okupācijas muzejs runs the exhibition “Čekas vēsture Latvijā” (History of the Cheka in Latvia) here and guided tours in the authentic rooms.
Key themes
- Authentic VDK rooms, where guided tours take place
- Exhibition “Čekas vēsture Latvijā” (History of the Cheka in Latvia)
- Tours in Latvian and English
- Branch of the Latvijas Okupācijas muzejs
Permanent exhibition
- Čekas vēsture Latvijā – Exhibition of the Latvijas Okupācijas muzejs and tours on the activity of the VDK in Latvia, in the authentic rooms of the Stūra māja.
- Operated by
- Latvijas Okupācijas muzejs
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €15 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €9students and pupils |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for politically repressed persons and persons with disabilities. |
| Students & apprentices | €9 |
The price is given for a guided tour. Tickets are bought on the platform bezrindas.lv.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- 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
The tour takes place in authentic rooms that are not suitable for people with limited mobility.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 12+
The exhibition is not recommended for children under 12 years old.
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 |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours take place in Latvian and English. The exhibition is not recommended for children under 12 years old. |