The building of the Parliament is not accessible to tourists at any time; a visit should be booked in advance, and the interior of the building is only open to the public depending on the schedule of the State's legislative body. With a view to making the Saeima building more accessible and to tell its story of the past, a virtual excursion is now available at the webpage www.saeima.lv (in Latvian and English).

The building was constructed especially for the Vidzeme knighthood according to a joint project by the Baltic German architect Robert Pflug and Jānis Baumanis, the first Latvian architect with an academic degree, from 1863 to 1867.

The Eclecticism-style building and its interior features Renaissance motifs in the outward structure and the main Representation Hall, where meetings and celebrations of the Vidzeme Landtag were once held, a Louis XVI style in the interior of the Yellow Hall, and a Gothic style in the layout of the Dining Hall. The building featured one of the most impressive public interior designs in Riga at that time.

In 1920 the building was taken over by the Constitutional Assembly, and the first meeting of the Saeima took place in the renovated premises on November 7, 1922. Saeima meetings continued to be held here until the establishment of the Soviet occupation regime in 1940, when it was handed over to the Supreme Council of the Latvian SSR.

During World War II theSS established its Eastern Region Headquarters and its police department in the building. In 1990, following the restoration of Latvia’s independence, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia and later the 5th Saeima worked here. At present the 9th Saeima works in the building.

The representation rooms have retained some of the original interior decorations, furniture suites and applied art objects. The collection of art objects is continuously supplemented by gifts presented to the Saeima by prominent guests.

Guided tours are also available with reservation in advance by phone 67087321 or by e-mail info@saeima.lv.