Description of the attraction
The oldest park on the territory of Riga is the Vermanes Garden, which was inaugurated in 1817. Initially, its territory was 0.8 hectares, now its area is about 5 hectares. The Vermanes Park was funded by the widow of Anna Gertrude Verman.
Until 1813, there was a quagmire on the site of the current park, which caused a lot of inconvenience to local residents. The Governor-General of the Livonian Territory and the Mayor of Riga, Marquis Philip Osipovich Paulucci, began to plan the creation of a garden in this place based on the models of European urban park systems. A fund was created to which donations were made for the creation of the park. Widow Verman contributed a huge amount, more than anyone else, so it was subsequently decided to name the park in honor of the generous donor.
In 1833, in the Vermanesky Garden, the "Mineral Waters Facility" was opened, selling artificial mineral water. This institution gained instant popularity, since the Caucasian mineral springs at that time were not yet fully developed, and it took a long time to get to the German ones. Initially, the water was released to everyone, however, soon the bottle sale of Verman mineral water began. The building, which has housed the mineral water establishment since 1863, was designed by the architect Ludwig Bonstedt. Later it was rebuilt several times. In Soviet times, the sale of mineral waters ceased, and a cinema, pharmacy warehouses, a kindergarten and a pioneer house were opened in the building.
In 1869, an hourglass was installed in the park, as well as a zinc fountain made in Berlin. After Anna Verman's death in 1829, a granite obelisk was erected in her honor in the park, which was demolished during the Second World War. At the same time, the Vermansky Garden was renamed the Kirov Park. The park returned its historical name in 1991. In 1998, the Riga City Council leased the Vermanes Garden for 25 years to the Music Center of Raimonds Pauls Vernissage LLC.
Monument to A. Verman returned to the park in 2000. There is also a monument to the collector of Latvian folklore Krisjanis Barons, extravagant Latvian artist and graphic artist Karlis Padegs. Besides. The park is decorated with stone lions and a fountain. Lanterns are lit in the Vermanes Park at night, transforming it into a magical world.
A wooden stage is installed in the park, during the day it is a meeting place for chess lovers, and on holidays, concerts are held here. You can have a snack in the park in a teahouse, and in the evening you can go to a nightclub. The building that once housed a restaurant now houses the Vernissage music center by composer Raimonds Pauls.
You will not be able to find many plants in the park in Latvia, as rare plant species are collected here. Huge trees create a harmonious, eye-pleasing composition. The Vermanes Garden is very beautiful and well-groomed; it is a great place for walking, as well as for all kinds of events and celebrations.
