Green Valmiera

Best time to go

April–October. Also during early autumn and beautiful winter days.

Route

Section 1: St Simon’s Church of Valmiera – Livonian Order Castle Ruins – Atpūtas Park – Steep banks of the River Gauja – Dīvaliņa iela – Luca Park – Lucas iela – Tērbatas iela – Lake Dzirnavu – Mound Karātavu – Ziloņu iela – Vecpuišu Park – Kārļa Baumaņa iela – Gaujas iela – Rīgas iela – St Simon’s Church of Valmiera.

Section 2: the route from Lake Dzirnavu along the River Rātsupīte, Valkas iela, Viestura aleja, and Nameja aleja can be continued to Valmiermuiža Park and Valmiermuiža Brewery (+ 4 km back and forth).

Distance

Section 1: around 7 km; Section 2: 4 km.

Duration

3-5 hours including sightseeing.

Difficulty level

Easy.

Road pavement

Asphalt, sidewalks, gravel road, forest paths.

Starting point/ destination

Way marking

None on site.

Distance to Riga

110 km.

Public transportation

Valmiera is easily accessible by regional buses running from Riga, Valka, and Cēsis. The train Riga-Valmiera operates 2-4 times per day.

Worth knowing!

Observe traffic rules while on the road and in the urban areas. Walking outdoors is at one’s own risk. Emergency services: 112.

1. St Simon’s Church of Valmiera

The panorama of Valmiera and beginning of the primeval valley of the River Gauja are seen from the viewpoint. During favourable weather conditions, Mound Zilaiskalns can be spotted among the forests.

Pay attention!

To lichen growing on trees near the church.

2. Livonian Order Castle Ruins

The construction of Valmiera Castle was started in 1283. Only the remains of the Livonian Order Castle and medieval fortification have survived till nowadays.

Pay attention!

Boulders used in construction of the castle are from Scandinavia, and have been “brought” here by the glacier more than 15,000 years ago.

3. Valmiera Museum

4. River Rātsupīte

There are two mill-lakes on the river: just before the border of the town there is Lake Āžkalna and Lake Dzirnavu in the town. Between Lake Dzirnavu and the River Gauja, the river flows through a deep ravine creating natural meanders. A hillfort with castle ruins stands on its right bank.

Pay attention!

Bird-cherry trees are in blossoms and nightingales can be heard in springs, while one might be lucky to spot a roe deer family in winter.

5. Mound Valterkalniņš

Located at the salient of the fortification of Valmiera medieval castle. During the Swedish reign (17th century), a ravelin was erected to protect the castle. Nowadays a wooden pavilion is built on top of the mound. Mound Valterkalniņš offers a view over the primeval valley of the River Gauja, Gauja bridge, Vidzeme University College, castle ruins, Luca Park, and Elku Islet.

Pay attention!

6. Goat Rapids

To protect the town from floods, engineering works were carried out in 1920s , and as a result of that the banks of the River Gauja were strengthened and the current was re-directed to protect the right bank.

Pay attention!

White willows are growing on the banks of the River Gauja. They are spreading with their branches falling into the river. If these are washed ashore in a suitable place, a new white willow grows. In autumn spindle turns red.

7. Atpūtas Park

The pedestrian bridge in the southern part of the park links the Dīvaliņa Forest with the Pauku priedes Forest, Pārgauja, and Kārliena on the opposite bank of the river.

Pay attention!

To the extraordinary shaped booths (for nesting owls, golden-eyes, and smews), small balsams, rough horsetails. In autumn the buckthorn berries (red and dark violet) are seen.

8. Steep banks of the River Gauja

Curve of the River Gauja opposite of Daliņš’ stadium, where in an 80 m long section on the right bank of the river sand outcrops up to 10 m high (result of the erosion due to the rapid) are seen. The steep banks are a protected geo-morphological nature monument.

Pay attention!

If one is quiet in early mornings there is a good chance to meet roe deer, fox, or hare, or to hear the common shrew. The kingfisher, goosanders, sand martins live on the riverside of Gauja. Banded demoiselles can be spotted in suitable periods.

9. Gauja Steep banks – Park of Senses

Covers a wide area, including the steep banks of Gauja. The park allows for study of the environment with all senses — smell, hearing, sight, touch, and taste. The 2.7 km long Baskāju (Bare-foot) trail awakens a hiker — the trail is covered with fir-cones, Valmiera Glass Fibre balls, pebbles, and other materials.

10. Luca Park

Facilitated and scenic park; south-eastward of it is the Elku Islet, while westward of it — Mound Lucas.

11. Islet of Idols

A slight elevation of terrain between the River Gauja and its oxbow lake opposite of Luca Park. An ancient pagan place of worship where, according to a legend, a sacred oak grove or an oak decorated with idols once stood.

Pay attention!

Elku Islet is enclosed by the former oxbow lake of Gauja. This means that once the river was going around it. Oxbow lakes are an interesting eco-system with its own specific set of plants, snails, and other invertebrates living there.

12. Mound Lucas

Typical formation by the River Rāte located in a place, where it mouths with the River Gauja. Two secular linden trees (protected trees) grow on its western slope.

Pay attention!

In terms of its origin, Mound Lucas is a rock pillar of the primeval valley of the River Gauja.

13. Lake Dzirnavu

Created on the River Rātsupīte. The nowadays visible water body has once been a part of the medieval fortification system of Valmiera.

14. Blue Bastion

15. Bachelors’ Park

Two of the secular trees of Valmiera are found in the park — an ash-tree and linden tree with 9 forked branches.

16. Valmiera bridge

17. Valmiermuiža Brewery

Visit to the brewery will reveal its history’s impact on the beer-making process, and how the live beer is made from natural raw materials. Everybody can taste the beer as it has once been done by the masters of manors. Next to the brewery, there is an ancient barn, which is home to an excellent catering place serving food made of beer or dishes that go with beer. There is a shop offering products of Valmiermuiža Brewery in the barn as well.