Lyytikkälä is a Southeast Finnish farming estate that has been in the same family for more than 250 years. Owing to this, the buildings, structures and the interior of the farmhouse have largely remained unaltered. Most of 20 buildings were built between the end of 18th century and the beginning of 20th century. Lyytikkälä is therefore a valuable historic example of the lifestyle and working environment of the common people.
Ethnological films were already shot at Lyytikkälä in the 1960s. Three films on life and traditional farm work at Suomenniemi were prepared in 1962 and 1963.
At present, the care and maintenance of the Lyytikkälä farmhouse are jointly managed by the National Board of Antiquities and the Lyytikkälä farm trust. Today the museum is open in summer season.
Reference: National Board of Antiques
House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju nams) is a building situated in the old town of Riga. The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga. Major works were done in the years 1580 and 1886, adding most of the ornaments.
The structure was bombed to a ruin by the Germans June 28, 1941 and the remains demolished by the Soviets in 1948. The current reconstruction was erected from 1995 to 1999. Today the House of Blackheads serves as a museum and sometimes concert hall.