Lovely, cozy, pretty Cēsis is considered the oldest city in Latvia. Its area is only about 20 square kilometers. km, and the population is slightly more than 18 000 people. Landscapes here are picturesque: hills, pine groves, whimsically curving bed of the Gauja River make the picture of the place idyllic, almost pastoral.

How to get

The easiest way to get to Cesis is by rail. Trains from Riga (Riga-Cesis, Riga-Valmiera, Riga-Lugazhi) come here three times a day, the schedule is presented on the website of the Latvian Railways. Every hour from the Riga bus station the bus leaves to Cesis, the journey time is an hour and a half.

For those who travel to the city for the first time, it will be useful to contact the tourist information center located at Pils lauk. 1, tel. +371 64 121 815, +371 28 318 318.

A little history

Almost 8-century history of the city is filled with a variety of events, the first mention refers to the year 1206, since the construction of the old castle Venden, by whose name it got its first name. Originally a wooden castle was built on the hill of Riekstukalns, inhabited by its ancient Latvians - the Vendians. Later, the castle was rebuilt from a stone, at one time it was the seat of the masters of the Livonian Order, and was one of the most protected fortresses in the Baltic.

In 1777 Count Sievers acquired a castle and rebuilt many pre-tenement buildings in a new way, well-groomed park, built a brewery nearby. Later the castle was abandoned. Since 1949, the Cesis Historical Museum and exhibition hall are located in the premises of the New Cesis Castle, and the walking paths remind of the former beauty of the park, create a romantic mood.

Cesis hotels

For the guests of the city in Cesis there are several dozens of hotels, most of them formally correspond to the level of 2 * -3 *, but the level of service in all is quite high (the bar is set by the city standards), the rooms are nicely decorated and the prices are low, on average about 50 EUR for night .Hotels are usually small, so book rooms should be pre-arranged, otherwise it may turn out that all the suitable rooms are already occupied .Many hotels offer excellent conditions for business and symposium tourism: conference rooms, modern communication lines, presentation equipment .

Entertainment, Excursions and Attractions of Cesis

Vendensky castle, or the castle of Cesis, is the most well-preserved medieval castle in the territory of Latvia, despite numerous reconstructions, and is one of the most interesting tourist objects of the region. Climbing the well-preserved Western tower of the castle, you can admire the surroundings and imagine the flow of life in the past centuries.

The structure of the city of Cesis began to form around the second half of the 13th century, then in the center of the city there was a market square and, in accordance with the customs of those times, the church and the town hall .The city was surrounded by a stone wall with eight towers and five gates .The development of trade in Europe in the 15th century contributed to the prosperity of Cesis and its entry into the Hanseatic League, the city gained serious weight and even got the right to mint its own coins .Until now, the reconstructed church of St. John and fragments of the fortress wall have been preserved .

The Masters of the Livonian Order and some of its knights are buried in the church.

The old town is a few narrow streets paved with cobblestone. And on Rigas Street, for example, houses built in the 18th and the first half of the 19th century have survived: No. 16, 24, 15 and 47. The uniqueness of these houses is that they are typical examples of building the main streets of Latvian cities of those times. ±​​$ br >

Surroundings

The Cesis region is not only beautiful, its nature is curative. That is why so many estates and palaces were built around the city, and from the end of the 19th century the city began to develop as a resort. On the banks of Gauja, luxury health resorts began to be built, the most famous of which is Cirulish. Not far from it is a spring, it is believed that the water is curative.

Zagarkalns and Ozolkalns

Near Cesis, almost two modern ski centers, Jagarkalns and Ozolkalns .which in winter are very popular among Latvian fans of skiing and snowboarding .Trails here are ideal for children and beginners, and experienced instructors are always ready to help .There is also a 100-meter toboggan run .Neither skiers nor snowboarders are allowed to it, there are no lifts, therefore it is absolutely safe for lovers of sledge-down .There is also a children's park VOLVO, which is a vast complex of specially laid trails designed for the youngest athletes, from 2 to 10 years old .Park instructors not only help kids to master the wisdom of skiing, but also monitor the safety of children .The infrastructure of the centers includes lifts, rental outlets, cafes and snack bars .

Photo of Cesis (2)