Riga and its surrounding areas are home to several significant Holocaust memorial sites that preserve the memory of the tragic events of World War II and the victims who lost their lives. These include former ghetto territories, cemeteries, mass execution sites, and memorials. These places offer insight into one of the most difficult chapters of history while also serving as spaces for remembrance and reflection. Visiting them provides an opportunity to honor the victims and better understand the lasting impact of these events today.
Bikernieki Memorial
Located in the Bikernieki Forest, this is one of the most significant Holocaust memorial sites in Latvia - a place where tens of thousands of people were killed during World War II. Among the victims were Jews from Latvia and those deported from across Europe, as well as prisoners of war and opponents of the Nazi regime.
Today, a large memorial complex marks the mass burial sites and commemorates the victims. At its centre stands a black granite cube with a symbolic inscription, surrounded by thousands of stones reminiscent of traditional Jewish graves. Pathways are lined with plaques bearing the names of European cities from which victims were deported.
The memorial complex, designed by architect Sergejs Rižs, was inaugurated in 2001 with the support of international partners, including German and Austrian institutions. Symbols representing different victim groups - such as the Star of David, a crown of thorns, and a cross - are displayed throughout the site.
The memorial is a quiet place for reflection, offering visitors an opportunity to understand the scale of the tragedy and to honor the memory of those who lost their lives here.
- Address:
- Biķernieku iela 70
Šķirotava Railway Station
Šķirotava Railway Station in Riga is an important Holocaust site, marking one of the main arrival points for Jews deported from Germany, Austria, and the Czech lands during World War II. Here, selections were carried out before victims were sent to different locations, often leading to mass execution sites.
From Šķirotava, many deportees were transported to Rumbula and other killing sites. In late November 1941, the first transport from Berlin arrived at the station, and soon after, those deported were forced onward to their deaths.
The area also contains mass graves where around 2,000 people - mainly elderly and vulnerable individuals unable to continue the journey - were killed and buried. Today, Šķirotava stands as a significant place of remembrance, reflecting one of the darkest chapters in Riga’s history.
- Address:
- Krustpils iela 20
Mazjumprava Manor - Jungfernhof Camp Site
Mazjumprava Manor, located on the banks of the Daugava River near Šķirotava, is a site with a complex and layered history. During World War II, the Jungfernhof concentration camp was established here, where several thousand Jews deported from Germany and Austria were imprisoned.
Camp inmates were forced into hard labor in the manor and surrounding areas, while living conditions were extremely harsh. Many died from hunger, cold, and disease, and later a large number were executed in the Bikernieki Forest. By the time the camp was dissolved, only a few hundred prisoners remained alive.
Today, the Mazjumprava site combines historical traces with cultural heritage elements, including historic watermills. It is a place where a scenic environment meets a difficult past, inviting visitors to learn about and reflect on the tragic events that took place here.
Rumbula Memorial
Rumbula is one of the largest sites of mass murder of Jews in Europe and one of the most significant Holocaust memorial sites in Latvia. In November and December 1941, more than 25,000 people were killed here in two mass executions, primarily Jews from the Riga Ghetto, as well as deportees from other European countries.
Today, a memorial complex marks the site, inaugurated in 2002 and designed by architect Sergejs Rižs. On the way to the memorial, visitors encounter a symbolic metal structure representing the path along which victims were driven to their deaths.
At the centre of the memorial stands an impressive metal menorah rising above a space engraved with the names of streets from the Riga Ghetto. Surrounding stones bear the names of victims, while the locations of mass graves are marked throughout the area.
The Rumbula Memorial is a quiet and powerful place of remembrance, inviting visitors to reflect on the scale of the tragedy and to honor those who lost their lives.
- Address:
- Latgales iela 471
Riga Ghetto Area – Latgale Suburb
The Latgale Suburb, also known as the Moscow Suburb, is the historic area of Riga where the Riga Ghetto was established during World War II. From 1941 to 1943, tens of thousands of Jews from Riga and other parts of Latvia were forcibly relocated and confined here.
The ghetto was enclosed and heavily guarded, and its inhabitants lived in extremely overcrowded conditions, subjected to forced labor and constant repression. Most of the ghetto’s residents were murdered in late 1941 in the Rumbula Forest, making this area one of the most tragic sites in Latvia’s history.
Today, the Latgale Suburb remains unique as much of its historical layout has been preserved. Wooden houses, narrow streets, and courtyards still reflect the environment in which ghetto residents once lived. The area is home to several important memorial sites, including sections of the former ghetto boundary, the Old Jewish Cemetery, and the site of the former Great Choral Synagogue.
This part of the city is not only a living neighborhood but also an important historical space, inviting visitors to explore the past, preserve memory, and better understand events that shaped the history of Riga and Europe.
Old Jewish Cemetery
The Old Jewish Cemetery in the Latgale Suburb is one of the oldest Jewish heritage sites in Riga, established in the 18th century as the city’s first official Jewish burial ground. Over time, it became an important place for the community, featuring a chapel, prayer house, and ornate gates - of which only fragments remain today.
During World War II, the cemetery was incorporated into the Riga Ghetto and became a site of mass burials. Victims killed within the ghetto or those who perished due to its harsh conditions were buried here. Much of the cemetery was destroyed during the war and further damaged in the post-war period.
In the Soviet era, the area was transformed into a public park, leading to the loss of most of the original cemetery structures. After Latvia regained independence, the site’s historical identity was restored, and memorial stones were installed to mark its significance.
Today, it is a green space where fragments of gravestones can still be seen, serving as a place of remembrance and a testament to the history of Riga’s Jewish community.
Site of the Great Choral Synagogue and Memorial
The Great Choral Synagogue, once located on Gogol Street, was the largest and one of the most impressive synagogues in Riga before World War II. Built in the late 19th century, it served as a major center of Jewish religious and community life and was widely known for its cantors and choir.
On July 4, 1941, shortly after the Nazi occupation of Riga, the synagogue was burned down along with people who had sought refuge inside. This event became one of the most tragic symbols of the destruction of Jewish life in Latvia.
After the war, the remains of the synagogue were demolished and the site was turned into a public square. Today, a memorial marks the location, symbolically outlining the former structure using preserved architectural fragments. Nearby stands a monument dedicated to Žanis Lipke and other rescuers of Jews in Latvia, honoring those who risked their lives to save more than 400 people.
This site is a powerful place of memory within the city, reflecting both loss and the courage and humanity shown during one of history’s darkest periods.
The New Jewish Cemetery "Šmerli"
The New Jewish Cemetery was established in the 1920s, taking over the role of the Old Jewish Cemetery. The layout was designed by architect Paul Mandelstamm, who also planned the enclosure and the funeral hall, which still survives today.
The site reflects both the development and the tragic history of the Jewish community in Latvia. During World War II, parts of the cemetery were destroyed, but after the war it was restored by Holocaust survivors who returned to Riga. In the Soviet period, the cemetery was renamed and opened to the wider public, before later regaining its original function as a Jewish burial ground after Latvia restored its independence.
The cemetery includes several important memorials, such as a monument to Žanis Lipke and his wife Johanna, as well as memorial sites dedicated to Holocaust victims. Many notable figures from Latvia’s Jewish cultural, scientific, and public life are buried here.
Today, the New Jewish Cemetery is both an active burial site and an important place of remembrance, reflecting the continuity and history of Jewish life in Latvia.
- Address:
- Lizuma iela 4
