Among the north's oldest
Founded in 1912, six years before Latvia's own independence.
Michael Vokabre Camera location56° 51′ 23.4″ N, 24° 54′ 55.2″ E View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMap 56.856500; 24.915333 — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Dmitrij M — CC BY 3.0 · Dmitrij M — CC BY 3.0 · Trogain — CC BY-SA 4.0
A zoo in the Mežaparks forest north of Riga, founded in 1912, among the oldest in northern Europe. The setting is what distinguishes it. The zoo lies inside a pine forest on the shore of Lake Ķīšezers, and the paths run between the trees rather than across open ground, so a visit feels like walking in woodland and coming upon animals. That is different from a paved city zoo. The collection concentrates on species that tolerate a northern climate, and it runs breeding programmes for threatened species. There is also a separate branch at Cīrulīši some distance from the city that houses larger animals. Practical points: entry is ticketed with family rates. It is open year-round, but winter means fewer animals outdoors and snowy paths. The centre is about twenty minutes away by tram, and the tram itself passes through the Mežaparks residential district, one of Europe's earliest garden suburbs and worth looking at.
Founded in 1912, six years before Latvia's own independence.
The tram passes through Mežaparks, one of Europe's earliest garden suburbs.
The collection favours what tolerates the climate, with breeding programmes.
Mežaparks, north Riga
It is not among Europe's major zoos, but the forest setting makes it a different and more pleasant experience than its size suggests. With children in Riga it is a good option for a non-museum day; alone with three days, the old town, the Art Nouveau district and Rundāle come first.
A residential suburb planned in the early twentieth century on the British garden city principle: detached wooden houses among pine trees on curving streets. It is among the earliest and best-preserved examples in continental Europe, and the tram passes through it on the way to the zoo — look out of the window.
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