Cēsis feels older than many towns and younger than its age suggests. Located within Gauja National Park, it combines medieval streets with a quiet contemporary life.
For many Latvians, it represents a link between history and landscape — a town shaped not only by its castle but by the forest that surrounds it. The origins of Cēsis date back more than 800 years. Its castle, built in the 13th century by the Livonian Order, dominates the town centre and remains a focal point for visitors.
Within its stone walls are traces of different eras — military strategy, religious power, periods of decline and eventual restoration. The castle still hosts events and historical reenactments that bring parts of the past to life.
The 13th-century Cēsis Castle, built by the Livonian Order
An Old Town Shaped by Time
The streets surrounding the castle have preserved their medieval layout, with narrow lanes and small squares forming a compact town centre. While some buildings are newly restored, others carry quiet signs of age — worn steps, faded plaster and symbols that have survived different political periods.
Unlike many European towns, Cēsis has not transformed itself into a tourist showcase. Life continues at a measured pace. Residents walk dogs through the park outside the castle walls; small studios and cafés operate in old buildings; light falls across cobblestones in the early evening. It is the kind of town that rewards observation rather than spectacle.
Forest and Landscape
The surroundings of Cēsis are part of what defines it. A short walk leads out of the town and into forest, where pine trees grow thick and river valleys cut through the land. Locals often describe nature not as a separate attraction, but as an extension of the town itself. It blends gradually rather than begins abruptly.
Within the park, simple hiking routes and river paths offer a way to experience Latvia's landscape without travelling far. Some visitors combine Cēsis with time spent in nearby Jūrmala or Riga, forming a route through places that together explain much of Latvia's character.
A Town That Lives Quietly
Cēsis does not market itself loudly. It has no signature skyline and no single attraction that draws everyone in. Instead, it offers a mood — something felt more strongly than seen. For travellers drawn to places with depth rather than spectacle, it can be one of the most meaningful stops in the country.
Walking its streets, it becomes clear that the town has kept its identity not through isolation, but through connection with the land around it. This may be part of why it remains so memorable.