SPECIAL / January
SPECIAL / January
Words by Līga Vaļko
Publicity photos and courtesy of F64
Valmiera
airBaltic
NAMED ITS PLANES
AFTER FAVOURITE
VALMIERA
LATVIAN
CITIES
The new castle of Cēsis
Cēsis
CĒSIS
Located in Gauja National Park, Cēsis is one of the
best-preserved medieval cities in the Baltics. From
picturesque landscapes and cultural sites to trendy restaurants
and cafés, the city has something to offer for everyone. You can
also indulge in winter sports at nearby ski resorts.
Must-see place: There’s a lot
of history in Cēsis. It dates back
to the 13 th century and is one of
the oldest towns in Latvia. The
historical centre has withstood
many wars and contains many
medieval buildings, courtyards,
and renovated façades, including
St. John’s Church, City Hall,
Merchant’s House, Harmony
House, and Princesses’ House.
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Did you know? The Latvian flag
is one of the oldest national flags.
The maroon flag with a white
stripe in the middle was first used
by a battalion from Cēsis in a
battle around 1279. Legend has it
that the Latvians drove the enemy
away and have been using this
two-colour flag ever since.
In honour of Latvia’s centenary,
airBaltic has named all of the
planes in its Airbus A220-300 fleet
after cities and towns in Latvia. Last
year, the public was invited to vote
on their favourite towns and cities,
and here are the 14 lucky winners.
Find out which plane you’re on and
learn a little about the city or town
it’s named after!
Cepurīte island on the
frozen lake Alūksne
Kuldīga
KULDĪGA
Valmiera is the largest city in northern Latvia. This
beautiful destination and former member of the
Hanseatic League is located at the northern tip of
Gauja National Park. As proof of its tenacity, the city
has been rebuilt 11 times after being destroyed by
warfare and fire. Situated on the banks of the Venta River, Kuldīga
is known as the heart of the Kurzeme region. Some even call
it the Venice of the North. This architectural gem is full of
narrow streets and restored timber houses in various pastel
shades, which explains why more than 30 films have been shot
in Kuldīga.
Must-see place: At the Park of
Senses, nature lovers can enjoy a
barefoot walk that awakens all five
senses. Glass marbles, pine cones,
sand, and chestnuts are just some
of the natural materials you’ll
experience on the path. Located by
the steep banks of the Gauja River,
the park offers a splendid view of the
river and sandstone outcrop. Must-see place: Ventas Rumba
is the widest natural waterfall
in Europe. Even though it’s no
taller than a basketball player, the
waterfall is 249 metres wide. The
old red-brick bridge makes this sight
even more spectacular.
Did you know? Valmiera is
the birthplace of many leading
Latvian BMX racers, including
two-time Olympic champion
Māris Štrombergs. The city will
also host the European BMX
Championships in 2019.
Smiltene Evangelical
Lutheran Church
Did you know? Kuldīga is the
birthplace of Duke Jacob of Courland
(1610–1682), the most renowned
member of the Kettler dynasty. He
also invented the unique fishing
devices that were installed on the
waterfall. Since then, Kuldīga has
been known as the town where
salmon are caught in the air.
The arched bridge across the Ogre River
Smiltene
Alūksne
ALŪKSNE
The old brick bridge in Kuldīga
The iron bridge
SMILTENE
Ogre
OGRE
At 200 metres above sea level, Alūksne has the highest
elevation of any city in Latvia. It occupies a strategically important loca-
tion, with routes leading to Estonia and Russia. People here say that they
experience the country’s first frosts and longest winters, while in summer
the city becomes a paradise for water sports thanks to its picturesque lake. Smiltene is a small town in northern Latvia
on the shores of the Abuls River. It is known as a town
of three hills surrounded by dense forests. If you visit the old
ruins of the Kalnamuiža manor house, you may even find that it
resembles Stonehenge in England. At first you might wonder about the city’s strange
name. But the town has nothing to do with monsters or
cannibals. In fact, it’s a very quiet town. Pronounced oo-
ah-greh, it’s located at the place where the Ogre River
flows into the Daugava River, Latvia’s largest river.
Must-see place: Temple Hill in
Alūksne is an old Latgalian hill fort.
One legend tells that warriors used
their hats to bring the soil needed
to build the hill. You’ll need to take
153 steps to climb to the viewing
platform of its tower, which is one
of the highest towers in Latvia.
From there you’ll have a view of
the park, Lake Alūksne, and the
Livonian Castle. Must-see place: The Bread Museum
at Cafe Kukaburra offers a unique
opportunity to see how rye bread
is made and baked. It also has a
collection of ethnographic objects
used on Latvian farmsteads in
the 19 th and 20 th centuries. From
furniture and agricultural equipment
to kitchen tools and other
appliances, the museum gives an
insight into everyday life in the past. Must-see place: Zilie Kalni (Blue
Hills) Nature Park is a great
destination for relaxation, hiking,
and cross-country skiing. Most of
the park is covered with coniferous
forests growing on gravel and
sand ridges dating back to the
Ice Age.
Did you know? Alūksne is famous
for being the place where German
pastor Ernst Glück (1652–1705)
translated the Bible into Latvian. He
also founded the very first Latvian-
language school in Vidzeme, in 1683.
Did you know? The Cheese Hut,
situated on the Kalnamuiža Estate
and dating back to 1768, is the
only cheese house of its kind in the
Baltics. The first floor was used to
store pots of milk and cheese, while
the second floor is where cheese
was dried.
Did you know? According to
legend, the city’s name originated
from угри (ugri), the Russian word
‘eels’. For centuries, many sailors
and fishermen visited Ogre to
catch eels in the Ogre River.
Baltic Outlook
/ 2019 / 87