Experience 500 years of Latvian book culture
The ETH Library presents the poster exhibition “500 Years of Books in Latvian – Reading Riga” and thus continues the long-standing connection between Riga and Zurich.
Exhibition details
Duration: 3 March to 3 May 2026
Location: ETH Zurich, Main Building, H floor (courtyard)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Organised by: ETH Library in collaboration with the Latvian National Library
Contact:
The Technical University in Riga and ETH Zurich have been closely connected since the founding of the Riga Polytechnic in 1862. Both institutions exemplify the development of technical education in nineteenth century Europe. Academic mobility flowed early in both directions: students from the Baltic region came to Zurich, while Zurich professors such as Alexander Beck helped shape technical education in Riga. The structural engineer Robert Maillart also left his mark there with an industrial building.
These longstanding ties are still reflected today in the holdings of the ETH Library, for example in publications of the Riga Polytechnic from 1872 and 1887, as well as in documents from the University Archives and photographs from the Image Archive. The exhibition ?500 Jahre Bücher in Lettisch – Riga erLesen?, a joint project of the Latvian National Library and the ETH-Bibliothek, highlights the history of Latvian book culture and points to perspectives for present day exchange.
Visit the exhibition and discover the connections between Riga and Zurich.
Note on the translation
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