SOVIET BUNKER

After booking a trip to Latvia I started researching what was left of its soviet past and luckily I stumbled upon this amazing location thanks to Atlas Obscura

This Soviet Bunker was built to be used in case of a nuclear or chemical attack during the years of cold war. This bunker was meant to be able to host 250 people, from the Latvian communist elite, for 3 months. Not sure how these people would have survived since the trip from Riga was at the very least 1 hour. The bunker had a canteen, power generator, system of ventilation and all sort of communication equipment. The bunker was kept a secret to civilians and was build 9 meters under what is now a rehabilitation center. 

the bunker has around 90 rooms, there is a meeting room with still a Lenin Statue, many banners with Soviet propaganda and numerous maps.
It is amazing that this particular place was kept intact since the Soviet times and wasn't destroyed or stripped out of its communist iconography.
Visits to the bunker are unfortunately only with a guide that needs to be booked and unfortunately the tours most of the times are packed, but this didn't stop me in enjoying stepping back in time for a couple of hours.

Getting there wasn't super easy. I have decided to take a train from Riga to Ligatne ( 2.65 EUROs). From Ligatne station I walked to the bunker; this took me around 3 hours. I believe there is a bus going to the bunker from Ligatne station but I had many hours to spare so I have decided to enjoy the nice warm summer day. On the way back I took a direct bus to Cesis and the bus stop is just outside the bunker.

This was my favorite spot in Latvia and definitely a must go place if you are interested in Soviet iconography and history.