Pils膿tas kan膩ls, the city鈥檚 old moat, once protected the medieval walls from invaders. Today the snaking ravine has been incorporated into a thin belt of stunning parkland splitting Old and Central 搁墨驳补. Stately Rai艈a bulv膩ris follows the rivulet on the north side, and used to be known as 鈥楨mbassy Row鈥 during Latvia鈥檚 independence between the world wars.
Rai艈a has once again assumed its dignified status, with the bleu blanc rouge fluttering at No 9. Additional diplomatic estates face the central park and moat on Kronvalda bulv膩ris and Kalpaka bulv膩ris.
Bastion Hill lies along the banks of Pils膿tas kan膩ls near Br墨v墨bas, and is the last remnant of medieval 搁墨驳补鈥檚 sand bulwark fortifications. People love to climb the circling path.
North of Bastejkalns across the canal are poignant reminders of Latvia's tragic last century. Five red stone slabs lie as memorials to the victims of 20 January 1991 (they were killed here when Soviet troops stormed the nearby Interior Ministry). Nearby is the 1929 Statue of R奴dolfs Blaumanis (1863鈥1908). One of Latvia's greatest writers, the short story In the Shadow of Death is one of his most famous works. In 1941 after Nazis occupied the city, Jews were chased and beaten on this now-serene spot.
On 18 November 1918 Latvia declared its independence at the baroque National Theatre, at the junction of the canal and K Valdem膩ra iela. The beloved Latvian National Opera, which resembles Moscow鈥檚 Bolshoi Theatre, sits at the other end of the park near K Barona iela.
