Located by the Gauja River in northern Latvia, this regional center has preserved its medieval quarter while developing as a modern city. The annual July music festival draws visitors to the main square.
In Valmiera, a city in Latvia's Vidzeme region, you can climb the medieval tower of St Simon's Church for views across the Gauja River, touch aromatic plants in the Park of Senses, or watch local actors perform at the Drama Theatre. The city produces glass fiber products, hosts summer theater performances in unexpected locations, and maintains active brewing traditions at the Valmiermuižas alus brewery.
Getting Around Valmiera
The Gauja River divides Valmiera into two parts, with one side known as Pārgauja. You can reach the city by car or train from Riga in about 1.5 hours, traveling 107 kilometers northeast. Walking paths begin five minutes from the city center and follow the Gauja's banks, where locals fish, walk, and spend time by the water.
Parks and River Activities
The Park of Senses along the Gauja River lets you experience nature through all your senses - smell different herbs in the garden, taste seasonal berries, and walk barefoot on specially designed texture paths. In summer, you can swim in the river or paddle through the Kazu Rapids, a training spot for Latvia's top rowers and the Baltic region's main slalom course. During winter, you'll find locals cross-country skiing on groomed tracks at the J Daliņš Stadium.
Cultural Life and Events
The Valmiera Drama Theatre runs performances throughout the year, from classical plays to modern productions. Classical musicians perform in concert halls during the Winter Music Festival each February. The Summer Theatre Festival transforms unexpected city locations into stages every July. You can watch current films at the 'Gaisma' cinema, which still has its original 1950s Stalin-era architecture and decorative elements.
Local Industry and Craft Beer
Valmiera is Latvia's second-largest industrial center, with factories making fiberglass, metal products, and furniture. At Valmiermuižas alus brewery, guides demonstrate the brewing process and explain how they incorporate regional ingredients into their beers using traditional methods.
Historical Buildings and Museums
The Lutheran Church of St Simon dates back to 1283, with a tower you can climb for city views. The Valmiera Museum occupies the site of a former Livonian Order castle, destroyed in 1702. The museum complex includes eight buildings from different time periods and contains the region's largest collection of Latvian artwork.
