Torņakalns is a neighbourhood of

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 ...

Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...

located on the western 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 ...

River (neighbourhoods along this shore are collectively known as Pārdaugava). The name Torņakalns ('' English: Tower Hill'') derives from a fortified tower built in the Middle Ages close to the Daugava River to alarm the city of Riga in case of emergency and intruders about to cross the river. The tower does not stand nowadays.

Overview

Torņakalns was an early suburb to Riga, consisting largely of gardens and mansions. In contrast to the Soviet-built Zolitūde and Ziepniekkalns suburbs, there are plenty of gardens, parks, and monuments. Mārupes parks ('' eng.:Mary's Creek Park'') encircles the Māras dīķis ('' eng.:Mary's Pond''), which was once dammed by a mill. The Mārupe ('' eng.:Mary's Creek'') then continues into Arkādijas parks ('' eng.: Arcadian Park''), where early 20th century landscaping provides an oasis from the city.

History

In 1940, the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

annexed Latvia and began mass deportations of Latvians who were deemed to be political and social threats to the new communist government. Because Torņakalns contained a number of affluent residents, these deportations took place at the Torņakalns railway station. Many of the mansions were confiscated, with some being divided into smaller units, and others turned to public use, including kindergartens and clinics. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the railway service between Riga and Torņakalns was suspended, following the destruction of the original railway trestle over the Daugava. Following the war, the neighborhood experienced an influx of non-Latvian Soviet citizens, reducing the ethnic Latvian percentage of the population. In the postwar development, the railway was electrified, streetcar service was expanded, factories and a military arsenal provided jobs in the neighborhood. Following the restoration of Latvian independence in 1991, many non-Latvians left the country, and Soviet-era street names were removed. A boxcar was installed at the Torņakalns station as a memorial to the Stalinist deportations. It is dedicated to the 140,068 victims of Communist terror, of which 7,568 were subject to Soviet deportations from Latvia and 82,500 of arrested and otherwise repressed during 1940-1945.NAME LIST OF PERSONS DEPORTED FROM ESTONIA 1945–1953
p. 17 At the same time, a Soviet victory monument on the neighborhood's northern edge remained. It remained a focal symbol for the city's Russian community and was demolished in 2022 as a symbol of Soviet re-occupation of Latvia during WWII. The main shopping venues for local residents include the Āgenskalns tirgus (''Āgenskalns Market'') and Vienības Gatve. In spite of initial economic uncertainty following independence, the neighborhood has since regained its status as a garden suburb within minutes of Old Riga. Most Torņakalns residents commute to the central business district by the

electric railway Railway electrification is the use of electric power for the propulsion of rail transport. Electric railways use either electric locomotives (hauling passengers or freight in separate cars), electric multiple units ( passenger cars with their own ...

, which contains a large

Torņakalns Station Torņakalns Station is a railway station in the Neighbourhoods in Riga, neighbourhood of Torņakalns in the Zemgale Suburb, Riga, Zemgale Suburb in Riga, Latvia, located on the Pārdaugava, western bank of the Daugava River. Torņakalns Station is ...

and railyard in the neighborhood.

Gallery

File:Latvijas Universitātes Akadēmiskais centrs.jpg, The new campus of the

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 ...

in Jelgavas Street File:Torņakalns.jpg, Torņakalns Railway Station File:RigaKonradaIela.jpg, Konrāda Street in Torņakalns File:Arkadijas parks - panoramio (4).jpg, Arkādija Park File:Tornakalns Lutheran church - panoramio.jpg, Church of Luther in Torņakalns.

References

External links

Torņakalns official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tornakalns Neighbourhoods in Riga