The Pharmacy Museum – educational tours and workshops for schoolchildren in Riga
The Pharmacy Museum in Old Riga invites schoolchildren on a fascinating journey through the history of pharmacy, medicine, chemistry and pharmacies. The museum’s exhibitions offer an insight into ancient healing practices and alchemy, as well as the development of pharmacies, the preparation of medicines and advances in pharmacy right up to the present day.
The museum offers educational sessions for pupils of various ages, the ‘Latvian School Bag’ programme, as well as STEM activities.
🎒 Latvian School Bag
The Pharmacy Museum offers the cultural education programme “Latvian School Bag” with the session “Unravelling the Secrets of Medieval Alchemists”.
During the session, pupils learn about the origins of the first pharmacies, places where medicines were prepared, and the historical role of alchemists in the development of science. The museum’s exhibitions feature old pharmacy fittings and objects used for the preparation, storage and administration of medicines.
- Target audience: pupils in Years 1–12;
- Duration: 1 hour;
- Group size: up to 25 participants;
- Language: Latvian
- Prices: 25 EUR per session + individual museum admission ticket.
Fora detailed description of the ‘Latvian School Bag’ programme, see the bottom of this publication.
↓ View the “Latvian School Bag” programme
🔬 STEM programme
The Pharmacy Museum also offers a STEM activity entitled “Games in the Enchanted Garden – Nature’s Pharmacy”, which links the natural sciences with medicinal plants, human health and hands-on activities.
- Target audience:pupils in Years 4–6;
- Duration:1 hour;
- Group size:up to 30 participants;
- Language:Latvian;
- Prices:95 EUR per session + individual museum admission ticket.
See the bottom of this publication for a detailed description of the STEM programme.
🧪 Educational programmes for schoolchildren
The Pharmacy Museum offers a range of educational sessions in which historical narratives are complemented by practical tasks, experiments, games and hands-on work with museum artefacts.
A hands-on introduction to chemistry and its historical significance in the development of science.
During the session, pupils learn about the importance of chemistry, pharmacy and alchemy in an engaging way. The museum exhibition places particular emphasis on the role of chemistry in pharmacy, whilst practical and interactive examples help to understand chemical processes.
- Target audience: pupils in Years 7–12;
- Duration: 1 hour;
- Prices: €25 per session + individual admission ticket to the museum;
- Group size: up to 25 participants;
- Language: Latvian or English.
An engaging tour of the museum and a story about the history of ancient pharmacies and the significance of apothecary gardens.
Pupils gain in-depth knowledge of medicinal plants and their use in healing and medicine. They also learn to develop critical thinking skills by exploring the beneficial and harmful properties of Latvia’s poisonous plants.
During the summer season, the session mainly takes place in the museum’s Apothecary Garden, where around 100 medicinal plants can be viewed in one place. The session concludes with a discussion of the knowledge gained and a tasting of herbal teas.
- Target audience: pupils in Years 4–8;
- Duration: 1 hour;
- Prices: 25 EUR per session + individual admission ticket;
- Group size: up to 25 participants;
- Language: Latvian.
A fascinating insight into the history of pharmacies and the profession of a pharmacist, with a particular focus on the contribution of alchemists to the development of pharmacy and science.
Pupils visit an old-fashioned pharmacy, meet a medieval alchemist, take a look inside his laboratory and trace various secrets and discoveries over the centuries.
During the lesson, pupils can learn interesting facts about the history of chemistry and pharmacy, as well as folk medicine and its significance in everyday life.
Thesession is included in the ‘Latvian School Bag’ programme. The content is adapted to the pupils’ age group.
- Target audience: pupils in Years 1–12;
- Duration: 1 hour;
- Prices: 25 EUR per session + individual admission ticket;
- Group size: up to 25 participants;
- Language: Latvian or English.
The session explores the importance of joy in human health and ways to cultivate it by developing healthy daily habits.
Pupils discuss balanced food and water intake, the use of herbal teas, physical activity, rest and positive thinking.
The lesson is complemented by participatory activities and games.
- Target audience: pupils in Years 1–4;
- Duration: 1 hour;
- Prices: 25 EUR per session + individual admission ticket;
- Group size: up to 25 participants;
- Language: Latvian.
This session offers an unusual way to explore the history of pharmacy – not just by looking at the museum’s exhibits, but also by touching them and discovering them through hands-on activities.
By using touch and other senses, pupils can gain a different perspective on the profession of a pharmacist, its history and the objects associated with it.
- Target audience: pupils in Years 1–9;
- Duration: 1 hour;
- Prices: 25 EUR per session + individual admission ticket;
- Group size: up to 25 participants;
- Language: Latvian or English.
🎂 Birthday party at the museum
You can also celebrate a child’s birthday at the Pharmacy Museum. A themed programme is offered depending on the birthday child’s age, preferences and interests.
During the event, participants explore the museum’s exhibits, take part in various activities, meet the museum’s alchemist and enjoy aromatic herbal tea. After the session, the celebrations can continue in a separate room set aside for the occasion, where guests can enjoy refreshments they have brought with them
- Age:6–14 years;
- Programme: 1 hour with a facilitator + up to 2 hours in a private party room;
- Prices: 50 EUR + individual admission tickets;
- Group size:up to 25 participants;
- Language:Latvian or English.
🎟️ Museum admission fee
- Schoolpupils: 0.50 EUR;
- Students and pensioners: 1 EUR;
- Adults: 2 EUR;
- Family ticket: 4 EUR;
- Pre-school children, holders of the ‘3+’ card and disabled visitors: free of charge.
Guided tour for a school group of up to 20 people: 5 EUR.
Guided tour for a school group of up to 20 people in a foreign language:15 EUR.
🌿 The Apothecary Garden
During the warmer months, a visit to the museum is complemented by the Apothecary Garden – a special place in the heart of Old Riga where you can learn about medicinal plants first-hand. The garden is also used in some of the museum’s educational programmes.
📩 Booking
Educational programmes and group visits must be booked in advance:
Photo from the Pharmacy Museum’s archive