In the National Latvian Park of Gauja , in the bend of the river of the same name, there is a quiet medieval town - the city of Cesis . This is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, whose history exceeds eight hundred years. There are many cultural and natural attractions that attract tourists from all countries.
Cesis, Latvia - architectural landmarks
The city of Cesis, which has an ancient history, is ready to offer tourists a variety of architectural and cultural monuments. The most famous of them are:
- The Vendian Castle . In the annals of history, Cesis entered as a city with the German name Wenden. Before the arrival of the Crusaders in these lands, there was a large settlement of the Vendians, who had a castle, handicraft workshops, shops. Having seized the fort, the Livonian Order in place of the old castle in 1213 erected a stone structure. According to the degree of equipment and fortifications, this castle has not been equal for a long time, and its interior and luxury of interiors still excite the imagination of people today. In its history, the castle was twice destroyed, in the 18th century it was almost completely destroyed, for many years it was in desolation. To date, the ruins of the Wenden castle have been restored and are the largest in Latvia. For a complete transfer of the atmosphere of the Middle Ages for tourists, costume excursions are held here.
- The Church of St. John is a temple built in the Gothic style, it already in the XIII century accepted its parishioners. Among the narrow streets and low-rise buildings, it seems particularly large and massive. Near the temple stands a sculpture of a monk with a lantern on the spot where in the Middle Ages there was a secret exit of their cathedral.
- In the 16th century, the first brewery was opened in Cesis. The glory of the local brewers has gone beyond the borders of Latvia. Today one of the largest Latvian breweries operates here. In the city there is a Beer Museum , which presents exhibits of various brewing epochs and tells the story of all the breweries of Cesis .
- Manor Ungurmuiza . The oldest wooden building in Latvia of the 14th century is Ungurmuiza manor, built in the Baroque style. It is an incredibly beautiful family estate, which is located in Gauja Park. In this homestead, musical evenings are regularly held, enjoying the music of F. Schubert. The building received its modern appearance in 1731, since then the estate has not undergone any significant changes. In addition to the excursion and acquaintance with the history of the estate, here you can drink tea in the Tea House or stroll along the oak grove.
Cesis - the sights of nature
Cēsis is famous not only for cultural objects, but also for its incredibly beautiful nature. In the Cēsis area, most of the Gauja National Park is located, including the famous Ligatne nature trails . Still here are the unique underground lakes and caves of Vejini , the lake castle in Araishi and the ancient manor Ungurmuyzh . The most noteworthy objects of the Gauja National Park are the following:
- The nature trails in Līgatne are the most popular tourist destination of the Gauja National Park. Here, in the natural habitat, you can find roes and bears, wild boars and foxes, bison and raccoon dogs.
- The lake settlement on Lake Araishi is a surprising and unique phenomenon, it is considered a unique natural object in the whole of Eastern Europe. With the emergence of this monument of ancient history and architecture, about a dozen old Latvian legends are associated, how a lake that flew across the sky, as a punishment for human sins, was poured with torrential rain, and the ancient castle was at the bottom in a jiffy.