Latvia’s presidential institution commemorates its 101st anniversary on Tuesday, November 14. President Edgars Rinkēvičs, upon assuming office, prioritized enhancing the accessibility of the President’s institution to Latvian society. In line with this initiative, the official residence, Rīga Palace, will now be open for guided tours.
Individuals interested in visiting can schedule their excursion through the www.president.lv website. Currently, applications for visits to Rīga Castle are being accepted for specific dates in November, December, and January 2024. For group visits to Rīga Castle, bookings can be made via email at ekskursija@president.lv.
Moreover, the Digital Library of the Latvian National Library has expanded its collection with new documents from the State Presidential Institution Foundation. A total of 375 historical documents have been digitized, encompassing various aspects of the institution’s history. These include records of the institution’s budget and staff in the 20th century interwar state, presidential order journals, lists of individuals honored with Orders and honorary signs, and summaries of enacted laws and pardon cases.
The public now has access to correspondence and photographs detailing the activities of acting president Jāzeps Rancāns (1947-1969) in exile. Additionally, the biography of acting president Pauls Kalniņš (1944-1945) has also been digitized.
The digitization of historical documents from the President of Latvia’s institution was launched in collaboration with the National Archives of Latvia and the National Library of Latvia as part of the centenary celebrations of the institution in 2022.
