Les Musiciens de Brême

" Riga's Town Musicians of Bremen statue portrays the four animals – the rooster, dog, cat, and donkey – just like the original fairy tale. However, unlike the Bremen statue where the animals are stacked on top of each other, in Riga's version, they appear to be peering through a wall. This difference is significant and holds symbolic meaning. The wall they're looking through is interpreted as a representation of the Iron Curtain, the physical barrier that divided Europe during the Cold War. Riga was part of the Soviet Union at the time, and the statue, erected in 1990 (when Latvia was still under Soviet rule), became a symbol of hope and yearning for freedom. The statue itself was a gift to Riga from the city of Bremen, Germany. It served as a message of solidarity and a beacon of hope during a politically charged time."

"The Town Musicians of Bremen is a statue based on a Brothers Grimm fairytale. The statue made up of a donkey, dog, cat, and cockerel was gifted to Riga by the city of Bremen and it is considered to be good luck to touch each animal’s face in sequence. "