Description of the attraction
Mentzendorff's house was built in 1695. It includes a basement with cellars, three main floors and an impressive attic space. This building became a museum in 1992, turning into a place where you can travel back in time several hundred years ago. Throughout its history, this building had 17 owners. The house got its name from the last owner August Mentzendof, who left Latvia in 1939.
Usually, a tour of the house begins in the kitchen, which is located on the ground floor and which at that time was almost the main room in the house. Everyday food was prepared here, smoked meats and pickles were prepared for future use. There was a central stove in the kitchen, which in the old days heated the whole house. The oven of the Mentzendorff house still works today. It is kindled especially for visitors, and skilled chefs prepare pancakes in it according to old recipes, treating them to museum visitors. The kitchen has preserved antique kitchen utensils made of copper and silver. This is a unique thermos plate that keeps food hot for several hours, as well as antique cups for spirits, etc.
Let's move from the kitchen to the central part of the first floor, which, according to the customs of that time, was set aside for the economy. At one time, a glass workshop was located here. By the way, this workshop is open for curious tourists who can themselves become familiar with this skill, rare in niches. They are allowed to make their own stained glass windows, to their own taste. In the same part of the house in the 18th century there was one of the oldest pharmacies in Riga. Then, when the house became the property of a family of merchants, the famous shop was located here. It was in this store that the best coffee in the city of Riga was sold with the corresponding name “Ideal”.
Climbing to the second floor of the house-museum, visitors find themselves in the so-called "festive" rooms. The spacious hall, painted in the Rococo style, is furnished with impressive, rare exhibits. Ancient harp of the 18th century, other musical instruments of the 17-18th centuries. The antique wall clock and chest of drawers are noteworthy. By tradition, all 18th century dressers had secret compartments. It is assumed that the chest of drawers of the Mentzendorff house also has its own secret compartment, but even connoisseurs of rare furniture have not yet been able to find it. The watches are decorated with gold plating and look very festive, only the clock mechanism is absent in them. At that time, real watches were very expensive, and wealthy residents of Riga preferred to buy fake watches without a mechanism. Although they look like the real thing, they just don't measure the time. A symbolic exhibit for a museum, where time really froze somewhere at the turn of the 17-19 centuries.
The festive hall is not just a place where people come to get acquainted with the past. Until now, residents of Riga can come here to celebrate important events in their lives. Newlyweds, for example, come here to dance their first marital waltz.
The third floor of the house was exclusively the personal territory of the owners. In cold weather it was the warmest here, because the chambers were located around the chimney.
An unusual place on the third floor is the "girl's" room. These are the girls' private chambers. It is interesting for visitors to see various household items used by girls of the 18th century. There is even a unique fortune telling device. With his help, the girls tried to find out about their betrothed, tried to find out when and to whom they would marry.
In addition to the main part of the house, visitors can also visit the vaulted cellars of the house, where the storerooms of wealthy merchants were located. The attic space also deserves special attention. Spacious and light, it now serves as the regular organization of various interesting and exciting exhibitions.
In total, more than 2000 rare exhibits are exhibited in the Mentzendorff house.
