The town of Cēsis, in Latvia, is located in the northern part of Vidzeme Central upland, on the river Gauja, on high hillocks with terraces, overlooking the blue woods of the Gauja ancient river valley. The town has also been known under its German name, Wenden.

Castle park in Cesis

File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

The castle park with castle mound and ruins

The most ancient settlement centre in Cēsis is the hillfort - Riekstu hill -with a fortified wooden castle of Vends. The 18 m high mound with its partly preserved fortification system can still be seen in the Castle Park. This settlement was located near major trade routes from the West to the East, therefore it is not by accident that it was chosen as the basis for further conquests of other countries by the German Crusaders, and the construction of the Stone castle began on the hillock opposite the Vend hill-fort in the 13th century. The term hill fort is commonly used by archeologists to describe fortified enclosures located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. ... The Alcázar of Segovia, Spain A castle (from the Latin castellum, diminutive of castra, a military camp, in turn the plural of castrum or watchpost), is a fort, a camp and the logical development of a fortified enclosure. ... The Vends is the name of small tribe living in Northern Latvia around the city of Wenden, now called Cesis. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ...

When the castle was enlarged and fortified, it served as the residence for the Livonian Order Master from 1237 till 1561, with periodical interruptions. During the Northern War in 1703, the castle was destroyed by the Russian army, and later it was not rebuilt. Already from the end of the 16th century, the premises of the Order Castle were adjusted to the requirements of the Cēsis castle estate. When in 1777 the Cēsis Castle Estate was obtained by Count Sievers, he had his new residence house built on the site of the Eastern block of the Order Castle, joining its end wall with the fortification tower. Since 1949, the Cēsis History Museum has been located in this New Castle of the Cēsis castle estate. The front yard of the New Castle is enclosed by a granary and a stable-coach house, which now houses the Exhibition Hall of the Museum. Down beside the granary there is a brewery which was built in 1878 at Count Sievers' time, but its origins date back to the period of the Livonian Order. Further on, the Cēsis castle park is situated, which was laid out in 1812. The park has the romantic image characteristic of that time, with its foot-paths winding up and down, and the waters of the pond reflecting the Order Castle ruins and the exotic plants. The Livonian Brothers of the Sword (Latin Fratres militiae Christi, literally the brothers of the army of Christ), also known as the Christ Knights, Sword Brethren or The Militia of Christ of Livonia, was a military order started in 1202 by Albert von Buxhövden, bishop of Riga (or Prince-Bishop... Events Thomas II of Savoy becomes count of Flanders. ... Events The Edict of Orleans suspends the persecution of the Huguenots. ... The Northern War can mean: Northern Wars (1655-1660) Great Northern War (1700-1721) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Events February 2 - Earthquake in Aquila, Italy February 4 - In Japan, the 47 samurai commit seppuku (ritual suicide) February 14 - Earthquake in Norcia, Italy May 27 - Founding of St Petersburg in Russia May 26 - Portugal joins Grand Alliance July 29-31 - Daniel Defoe is placed in a pillory for the... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... 1777 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1949 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... A brewery is a facility that produces beer. ... 1878 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1812 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

The town

Monument of Victory in Cēsis

The planning of the Cēsis town was done in the second half of the 13th century. The market place with a church was in the centre of the town. The centre of the housing was the stone Castle of the Livonian Order with its three fortified forecastles. The town was also encircled by a dolomite stone wall with eight towers and five gates. St. John's Church, built in 1281-1284, ruins of the Order Castle and fragments of the fortification walls in Vaļņu and Palasta Streets, as well as the ancient street network and building plots, with the buildings ruined during the wars and fires (the last big one in 1748) have survived from the medieval times. Today we can see the buildings of the 18th century at 16 and 25 Rīgas Street, houses built in the first part of the 19th century at 15 and 47 Rīgas Street, 6 Gaujas Street, etc. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Events February 22 - Martin IV becomes Pope August 15 - Kamikaze storm wipes out invading Mongol army in the coast of Japan The Ottoman Empire was founded as an autonomous state (Beylik) in present day Bilecik, Turkey, by Osman Bey. ... Events June 26 - According to the Brothers Grimm and older sources, in this date the Pied Piper of Hamelin visits the town of Hamelin, resulting in ca. ... Rocky landscape with ruins, by Nicolaes Berchem, ca. ... Events April 24 - A congress assembles at Aix-la-Chapelle with the intent to conclude the struggle known as the War of Austrian Succession - at October 18 - The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle is signed to end the war Adam Smith begins to deliver public lectures in Edinburgh Building of... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In the second half of the 19th century, the construction of the Rīga-Pleskava highway (1868) and Rīga-Valka railway line (1889) facilitated the development of the town. Raunas Street, leading from the railway station to the Old Town, was developed as a wide, presentable street with the Latvian Society House at 10 Raunas Street (architect A. Malvess), the Building of the Regional Court at 14 Raunas Street (architect P. Mengelis), etc. 1868 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1889 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Cēsis developed as a health resort, too. Posh summer houses — health centres were built in the vicinity of the Gauja. 'Cīrulīši' is the most famous of them, near the Svētavots (Holy Spring) Cave, with a spring believed to possess healing powers. 19th century Cottages in the small hamlet of Crafton, Buckinghamshire A cottage is a small house of any period. ...

Cēsis is still a favourite with far and near guests, who appreciate its calm and peaceful flow of life, so characteristic of a small town.

External link

• Cēsis (http://www.cesis.lv/eng/)