The picturesque area Līvu appeared in Riga in 1950 on the site of buildings destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. Designed P. Seletsky it.

Officially called the area a park near the Philharmonic. In 1974, it revolutionized the idea K.Baronsa. There was a broken network of paths and places for recreation. In the center features a swimming pool with a fountain, which is currently not working. In February 2000, at the Philharmonic Square was renamed the Riga authorities in Livu Square.

In winter the area turns into a Līvu city skating rink, and in summer - to a wonderful cafe where you can buy various souvenirs. It is often in the summer are held numerous events. On the square Līvu grow local and introduced trees and shrubs. The area turned to 0, 5 hectares.

If you walk from the Freedom Monument City through the channel to the Livs Square, you can see the most beautiful buildings Big and Small Guild, located opposite each other on the street Amat. In 1354, German merchants who owned the entire trade in Riga, organized a big guild. Its activities are eliminated after the 1917 revolution. The modern view of the building of the Great Guild acquired in the middle of the XIX century. In 1965 it was renovated and adapted for the Latvian State Philharmonic. In the foyer of the Philharmonic can be seen stained-glass windows, made from sketches by Latvian artist A.Tsirulisa. Great Guild Hall has a magnificent eclectic forms of English Gothic.

Small Guild Hall was built in the same style. Small Guild was founded in the XIII century and is the union of all craftsmen. Only its members had the opportunity to become a guild master. In 1936 he was eliminated.

Opposite the Great Guild Hall is a grand building with two towers, each of which are black cats. This is the famous home of the Black Cat or Cat's house, are informal hallmark of Riga. The building in the style of the late Art Nouveau management was built in 1909 by architect Friedrich Scheffel.

There is an ancient legend that a wealthy landlord Blumer did not get into the Riga Great Guild, and, of course, very angry. They were ordered sculptures of black cats with arched backs. Housed they pinnacles apartment building Blumer. But most interesting is that these cats have tails are turned toward the windows operating room elders Great Guild, clearly showing a cynical attitude to the merchant guild members.

According to one of the branches of the traditional excursion bikes against Blumer was organized the trial. It is said that it did not manage to get to deploy cats in the right direction. Rather, Blumer was a close friend of the judge, or pay generous bribes frequently changing judges that the verdict stated that the cats - free animals, and they walk on their own and, most important, that without them, Riga will lose part of its architectural wealth. It is difficult to say when it was possible to agree with Mr. Blumer, however, at one point, the cats were deployed "right" angle.

Livu Square, Great and Small Guild and The Cat's House in Riga is a harmonious architectural ensemble that attracts by its grandeur and beauty.