Latvijas Zinātņu akadēmija

Latvijas Zinātņu akadēmija rises above Riga as a mid-twentieth-century architectural landmark, housing Latvia’s main scientific institution. Its distinctive silhouette recalls Soviet-era buildings often nicknamed “Stalin’s birthday cakes.” The observation deck occupies the seventeenth floor, about sixty-five metres above the city. You reach it by lift to the fifteenth floor, then climb several flights of stairs.

From this height, Riga’s old town spreads beside the Daugava River and the nearby Central Market. Across the water, the National Library of Latvia forms a striking modern counterpoint to the historic streets. Zaķusala TV Tower stands farther away, while church weathercocks appear above the old town rooftops. Ships move along the river, and sunset brings the contrast between Riga’s older and newer districts into view.

Inside, scientific work covers biological, medical, environmental and physical sciences, alongside geography, geology, forestry and agriculture. Conferences, research partnerships, awards and fellowships connect Latvian scientists with institutions across the Baltic region and beyond. The Academy publishes the English-language, open-access Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, featuring research and reviews. One detail stays with you: from the observation deck, the tiny weathercocks mark the old town against Riga’s broad skyline.