Cēsis (German: turn, body: Venden) is a city in Latvia, located on the river Gauja in the province Vidzeme. It is the capital of the municipality of C gemeentesis and was until 2009 of the district of Cēsis. The municipality had 18,021 inhabitants (2010).
Understand
The Livonian name Venden and the German name Wenden are derived from the Venden, a people who lived in this place in the twelfth century, but later merged into the Latvians. It is not entirely certain, but presumably they spoke a Finno-Ugric language.
In the early thirteenth century the area was conquered by the Order of the Brothers of the Sword. Under their regime Cēsis received city rights in 1206. Under the Brothers of the Sword and their successors, the Livonian Order, Cēsis became a prosperous city. In the fourteenth century, the city joined the Hanseatic League.
In 1578, Stephen Báthory, King of Poland and Grand Prince of Lithuania, defeated Tsar Ivan IV of Russia, who had invaded Livonia, at the Battle of Wenden. At that time, Livonia was already indebted to the Polish king, but in 1598 the city became completely Polish and became the capital of the Wenden Voivodeship.
The city became Swedish in 1621 and Russian in 1703. It remained so until the declaration of Latvian independence in November 1918. The Polish, Swedish and Russian rule did not end the dominant position of the German-speaking elite in Livonia, who had established themselves in the area in the Middle Ages as large landowners and merchants. Most of the local administrators, as well as the notaries, judges and lawyers, were Baltic Germans. It was not until Latvia became independent that their role was over.
Arrive
By plane
By train
The railway between Riga and valka runs along the town and has a station here.
By car
The city is located on the road between Riga and the Russian PskovThe city is easily accessible via this road.
By bus
By boat
Travel around
To see
Although the street pattern of the city dates back to the Middle Ages, no other medieval buildings have survived. Cēsis has been virtually razed to the ground three times in the course of history, the last time in 1703. The oldest buildings therefore date from the eighteenth century.
- Ruins of Cbursis . Castle - The most famous building in Cēsis is the castle, whose construction started in 1209, on the site of a former wooden castle of the Venden. Later it became the residence of the Order Master of the Brothers of the Sword. It was destroyed in 1577, later rebuilt, but again largely destroyed in 1703. At the end of the eighteenth century, part of the ruins had to make way for the country house of Count Sievers, the owner of the site at the time. One of the towers has been incorporated into the mansion. The municipal museum is now located in that building. The rest of the castle is still in ruins.
- St. John's Church - This old church was built in the years 1281-1284 and has had an eventful history.
- Victory Monument - To commemorate the Latvian fighters who were killed during the war of independence (1918-1920). The monument was blown up during the Soviet occupation but was rebuilt in 1998.
do
Cēsis is on the edge of the Gauja National Park (Latvia's largest national park), trekking through untouched nature is therefore part of the possibilities for those who visit the city.
To learn
To work
To buy
Food
Budget
Medium
Expensive
Drink
To sleep
Budget
Medium
Expensive
Communication
Safety
Next destinations
- Riga - The Latvian capital is about an hour and a half drive from Cesis.
- Ligatne - Charming town in nature with some interesting sights.
- Sigulda - This beautiful town is best known for its cave.
