Kobronschanze: archaeological evidence of the lost fortress in Pārdaugava – Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation

Exhibition “Kobronschanze: Archaeological Evidence of the Lost Fortress in Pārdaugava” provides an opportunity to view antiquities found during archaeological research, as well as to obtain information about the 17th–18th centuries significant territory of Riga – the Kobronschanze – about its history, functions and the daily lives of residents in that place.The exhibition is integrated into the hall of the museum permanent display “Riga History: Riga as part of Livonia (13th–16th cent.)”.

Kobronschanze (German; Swedish Cobron Skantze, Latvian Kobronskansts) was one of Riga’s fortifications opposite the old city of Riga on the left bank of the Daugava at the inlet of the River Mārupīte, the neighbourhood of today’s Torņakalns. The fortress played an important role in the defence of the city of Riga in the military conflicts of the 17th and early 18th centuries.

The exhibition features more than 130 antiquities found during the archaeological research of the former Kobronschanze territory (Riga, Jelgavas street 1). The research, which took place from 2010 to 2023 under the leadership of archaeologists Andris Šnē and later Mārtiņš Lūsēns, covered an area of more than 7,500 m² and was carried out before the construction of the Academic Center for Natural Sciences of the University of Latvia began.

“Currently, Kobronschanze is considered one of the most thoroughly researched modern fortification structures in Latvia. In the archeology of Riga, it is the most studied and findings-rich ancient site outside the territory of Old Riga. The archaeological evidence – antiquities and structures – found during the research have added more than 4,000 items of antiquities (about 22,800 items) to the collection of the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation. The material of antiquities is not only numerically large, but also diverse. The findings convincingly illustrate the history of the fortress and the surrounding area and tell the story of its inhabitants,” comments Ilze Reinfelde, the author of the exhibition, Head of the Archaeology Department of the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation.

The exhibition is on view until December 30, 2026.

Additional information: Communications Department of the Museum, tel.: +371 67356676.

Exhibition “Kobronschanze: Archaeological Evidence of the Lost Fortress in Pārdaugava”
composition of the theme and fragments of exposition.
Photo: M. L. Gredzena