 Gutenbergs Hotel is situated inside of two four-storey buildings, connected on every floor. The main building was built at the end of 19th century and reminds one of a prosperous Riga's or a country baron's house. It's 3 m high ceilings, vast corridors with comfortable recreation areas and ormoulu candelabra. The other building is much older. The 1st building - 19th century interior, 2nd - 17th century wealthy monger style. This is ancient Riga, living here is a charming adventure.
Reconstruction completed in 2001 and Gutenbergs Hotel opened in 2001. Everything here is fresh and clean. Gutenbergs Hotel is a family hotel; any traveller far from home will find it good - cosy, lush and so typical of Riga. All things here bespeak centuries - long history of the town and this country, the time of construction its buildings: be it furniture, paintings or crockery.
Approaching from the Dome Square you will first notice the old wooden gate topped with a bas-relief of a bearded man. It is Johann Gutenberg himself, the 15th century German from Mainz, who devised the casting of metal types and, setting them together, printed words on paper. There are but a few dozen copies extant in book - depositories the world over of the famous Gutenberg Bible that saw the light in the first printery in Mainz around 1450. You will see copies of its pages in the lounge and rooms on the 2nd floor. Gutenberg's contribution to world progress cannot be overestimated: he was named the man of the millennium in Germany and the United States. His name is to many a symbol of culture and learning, of which Riga also possesses a fair share. That is why it was dedicated the hotel's 2nd floor interiors to the history of printing in Riga, begun soon after Gutenberg's great discovery.
|
