St. Peter's Church, Riga

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Saint Peter's church is a tall church in Riga, Latvia. It was first built in 1209 as a church for the people. Enlarged in the beginning of 15th century (1409-...) by the mason Johann Rumeschottel of Rostock, who understood the way of Riga, and was first introduced in Marienkirche in Rostock. The current tower was completed in 1746. It was last restored before 1973. The tower was struck by lightning 6 times, and the tower collapsed on two of these occasions, in 1666 and again in 1721.

Before World War II it was the highest wooden building in Europe. During World War II the roof and the tower were damaged in a fire.

Soviet engineers restored the church in the 1970s, and installed an elevator that allows people to look out over the city of Riga from a height of about 70 metres.

The church is named after Saint Peter.

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