Location history
The territory of Essen Gardens has a rich history: in the 16th and 17th centuries, it was the residence of Riga city councilors, popularly known at the time as Dreiling Manor or Gothan Manor. In the 18th century, Immanuel Justus Essen, a pastor of the Riga Dome Church, became the owner of the estate, which is why it came to be called Essen Manor. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, it passed into the ownership of the family of Popov, a wealthy Russian merchant. During the Soviet era, the territory became state property, but in 1995, Popov's heirs reclaimed the beautiful plot of land and the manor.
Since 2001, SIA "Popova legāts" has been the sole owner of this significant part of Riga's territory. With the aim of uniting and representing enthusiasts of the garden territory's development, supporters, providers of sports activities, and other partners, the association "Esena Pārdaugavas dārzi" was founded and registered in June 2017 on the initiative of SIA "Popova legāts", while at the beginning of 2019, the company SIA "Esena dārzi" was registered.
Location history
Our work in Essen Gardens is focused on preserving an authentic presence of nature within the urban environment. We do not strive to create a perfect, artificial park; our value lies in the wildness of this place combined with a well-maintained environment.
Essen Gardens have become a popular leisure destination in Riga where diverse life stories meet. Here, neighbors plant tomatoes together in allotment gardens, families celebrate their most important milestones, and children overcome their fear in the rope courses for the first time. We have created this environment as a platform for your experiences: we offer diverse event spaces in Pārdaugava, but you write the story yourselves. We are delighted by everyone who chooses to spend their free time right here, enjoying the unique balance between nature and proximity to the city.
