Cēsis
One of Latvia's oldest towns, with the Livonian Order castle and medieval old town within Gauja National Park, and sandstone cliffs and river trails around it.
Cēsis lies in the Vidzeme region of northeastern Latvia, about 90 kilometers from Riga. It is one of Latvia's oldest towns, founded around 1206. From the 13th century it was the seat of the Livonian Order's master, and it later joined the Hanseatic League. The town sits in the middle of Gauja National Park, Latvia's largest and oldest national park, and its old town keeps a medieval street layout. Around it lie the Devonian red sandstone cliffs, pine forests and river trails of the Gauja Valley.
Areas to explore:
1) The old town: Cēsis Castle (the medieval Livonian Order castle and the newer castle), the castle park, St. John's Church, Roses Square and Riga Street. A half day to a full day is enough to walk it all.
2) On the outskirts along the Gauja River: Eagle Cliffs, the Ziluļi nature trail and Zagarkalns, good for hiking and kayaking.
3) Araiši to the south: the reconstructed Araiši Lake Castle site and a windmill.
4) Ligatne to the southwest: a Soviet secret bunker, nature trails, a ferry, and the old paper mill village.
5) West: Great Straupe Castle and Vengure Manor.
The neighboring town of Sigulda, with Turaida Castle and more, is covered separately as a day trip from Riga.
Seasons: May to September is best, with castle medieval festivals and Gauja River rafting in summer. Late September to October brings golden leaves to the valley. Winter is cold; Zagarkalns is good for skiing, and some outdoor activities close.
Getting there: From Riga, the train (toward Valga) takes about 1 hour 40 minutes, or the coach about 2 hours. The railway station is about 10 minutes' walk from the old town. Buses between the sights are infrequent, so drive or rent a bicycle in Cēsis. Gauja River kayaks can be rented at the riverside landing, with a shuttle arranged. Plan 1-2 days, or combine with Sigulda for a two-day tour of Gauja National Park.
Top sights
- Cēsis Castle – Former seat of the Master of the Livonian Order, where medieval castle ruins can be explored by lantern light up the towers, and the adjoin…
- Cēsis Old Town – A small old town that keeps its medieval street layout, where Rožu Square, Rīgas Street and the old town hall string together a walking rou…
- Ērgļu Cliffs – A red sandstone cliff about 22 m high and 700 m long on the bank of the Gauja River, one of Latvia's best-known sandstone outcrops.
- Āraiši Lake Fortress – A lakeside wooden fort rebuilt from archaeological excavations, dating from the 9th and 10th centuries and a rare reconstruction of lake dw…
- St. John's Church, Cēsis – A 13th-century Gothic Lutheran church, one of the largest medieval churches outside the capital, with a bell tower that offers views over t…
- Cēsis Castle Park – A 19th-century landscape garden at the foot of the castle, with a swan pond and walking paths. It can be combined with a visit to the castl…
- Victory Monument & Vienības Square – An obelisk commemorating the 1919 Battle of Cēsis, standing in Vienības Square in the old town centre. It is one of the city's landmarks.
- Cīrulīši Nature Trails – A network of trails in the Gauja Valley on the edge of Cēsis, passing sandstone cliffs, springs and viewpoints, ideal for 1–3 hour walks.
- Žagarkalns – A ski and outdoor sports centre on the edge of Cēsis, offering winter skiing, summer mountain-bike trails and a launch point for kayaking o…
- Āraiši Windmill – A Dutch-style wooden windmill built in 1852, with its internal wooden gears and millstones fully preserved. Visitors can climb inside to se…
- Līgatne Soviet Secret Bunker – A Soviet-era nuclear shelter and command post hidden 9 m beneath a rehabilitation sanatorium. Guided tours are available, and you can enjoy…
- Līgatne Nature Trails – A forest wildlife trail in the Gauja Valley where you can see bears, moose, wild boar and deer behind large enclosures.
- Līgatne Paper Mill Village – A 19th-century paper-mill workers' village, where wooden houses, sandstone cellars and old factory buildings form an industrial heritage to…
- Līgatne Ferry – One of the few cable ferries left in the Baltic region that is powered by the river's current, carrying people and vehicles across the Gauj…
- Zvārte Rock – A roughly 20 m high sandstone cliff on the Amata River, the most popular viewpoint on the Amata Valley trail.
- Lielstraupe Castle – A 14th-century brick castle from the Order period, with its attached church and red walls well preserved. It now houses a medical facility…
- Ungurmuiža Manor – An 18th-century Baroque timber manor house, the only surviving wooden aristocratic residence of its kind in Latvia.
Where to eat
- Kest Restaurant – A tasting-menu restaurant in an old fire station, listed in the Michelin Guide and recognized with a service award. Che…
- H.E. Vanadziņš Nordic Restaurant – A Nordic-style restaurant and small inn in a red historic house in Cēsis old town. It has been listed in the Michelin G…
- Jāņoga Restaurant – TripAdvisor's top-ranked family restaurant in Cēsis. It makes Latvian dishes with sturgeon and trout from a nearby farm…
- MALA Art Space Café – A bohemian art-space café in the former Cēsis Old Brewery, with a vegetarian menu that changes every week and a favouri…