Valmiera

Valmiera has long been a crossroads of trade, business, busy life, roads and thoughts. In Valmiera, as a strategically important Hanseatic city, money, languages and ideas exchanged. It started back in 1283, when one of the symbols of Valmiera was built in the city center - St. Simon's Church, it continues and will never end, because Valmiera has always had a human attraction. The Gauja River flowing through the city has, with its rapidity, encoded the love of nature in people, giving energy and energy to implement ideas, not to be afraid to be the first, somewhat new beginners.

Valmiera has always been a youthful and ambitious city. The spirit of cognition and discovery prevails both in kindergarteners and pupils, as well as in university students and adults. The Gauja River is in the blood of the people of Valmiera, therefore sports and culture are an integral part of the city. Great people in the world have started their professional careers here. Here is proud of every resident who makes Valmiera the best place to live, work, study and relax.

Valmiera has always been a cultural center. One of the few professional theatres outside Riga is located in Valmiera and gives the city a spirit of freedom of thought and challenge. The theatre enters the city and the lives of residents and city guests both literally and figuratively. A special event has also become a tradition - the Valmiera Summer Theatre Festival, which annually gathers spectators with new performances and theatre “stages” in unusual places in Valmiera.

Valmiera honors its roots, celebrates today and looks to the future with enthusiasm and confidence. In Valmiera - we live green!

Hiking and cycling routes

Valmiera is proud of its dynamism and at the same time peace. The Gauja River flows through the city for 8 kilometres, the shores of which are popular with Valmiera residents and city guests for leisurely walks or bicycle rides.
Take a bike ride through the city and learn about industrial Valmiera, tales and legends, as well as get to know boys of Valmiera! There are also routes where you have to complete tasks along the way! Printed versions of the routes are available at the Valmiera Tourist Information Center (Rīgas Street 10).
Choose one of the routes and go on an adventure:

• Ingenious walk with the tasks
• In the shade of old-town secular trees (1,5 km)
• Industrial Valmiera in the Centuries of Changes (10 km)
• Boys of Valmiera (11,5 km)
• Tales of Valmiera secular trees (16 km)
• Tales and legends (20 km)

Valmiera has a Green Railways, which leads along the well-maintained former narrow-gauge railway line to Ainaži (85 km). In 2020, a new, scenic cycling route along Valmiera and Beverīna region was created in the length of 25 kilometres. Other cycling routes are also available on the Valmiera side, such as Valmiera-Cēsis and others. See them here: http://visit.valmiera.lv/en/what_to_see_and_do/tours_and_routes/

Unforgettable holidays for families

In Valmiera families are always welcome to relax and spend an unforgettable holiday! We invite you to enjoy the pleasures of water and SPA Recreation area in Valmiera swimming pool.

Not far from the Iron Bridge is the 440-meter-long Ģīme Nature Trail, which is designed with various interactive elements, but in summer we invite you to listen Valmiera stories on a special Valmiera float – Gauja River Tram.

Pearls of culture and history

Valmiera is one of the oldest cities in Latvia. In 1702 the city was completely destroyed by the Russian army. During 1770s it was severely damaged by several fires. At the dusk of the World War II, in September 1944, almost whole historical centre of Valmiera completely burnt down. Only few buildings remained intact – the Valmiera St. Simon’s Church, ruins of the Livonian order Castle and the building complex of the Valmiera Museum. The peculiar image of the city is also shaped by sculptures and environmental objects, particularly ones connected with the works of the famous sculptor and initiator of the stone sculpture symposium Andris Vārpa:

• Valmiera St. Simon’s Church is one of the oldest stone buildings in Latvia (built in the 13th century). In the northern corner of the church are two bullets, which destroyed the church during the Livonian War. Several valuable art monuments can be found in the church: burial plaques (15-16^th century), the Ladegast pipe organ (1886), a pulpit with paintings from 1730s. From the renovated church tower you have a beautiful panoramic view on Valmiera.
• Bachelors’ Park and the concert hall “Valmiera”. In 1913 the city received the park as a gift from 8 unmarried gentlemen. The pavilion which was built in 1914 underwent reconstruction in 2016 and a concert hall in it was created. Visitors are offered varied culture and leisure events, excursions in the concert hall are available. 
• Valmiera Drama Theatre is one of the few professional theatres in Latvia. The versatility of the repertoire allows each viewer to choose the one that best suits their interests. Plays, possibility to rent costumes, excursions in the exciting world behind the scenes and stories about outstanding directors and actors.
• Art Days take place in Valmiera every year in April, during which new art benches are created, located in the urban environment. To see all the art benches, we invite you to go for a themed walk.

• In January the International Winter Music Festival takes place, which delights every visitor with musical concerts by both local Valmiera and city guests.
• April in Valmiera is marked by art, because Art Days take place every year. Exhibitions, concerts and other educational events.
• In May, a large number of interested people gather at both the International Museum Night and the Vidzeme Entrepreneurs' Day and festival "Cinema Pedal".
• In June, during the chanting of the solstice, the ethno-festival “SVIESTS” takes place in the park of Valmiermuiža manor park.
• On the last weekend of July, the Valmiera City Festival is celebrated for three days with an extensive program.
• August begins with the Valmiera Summer Theater Festival, which takes place in uncharacteristic places of the theater in the urban environment.
• For more than seven centuries, October has been a market time in Valmiera - the time of Simjuds Fair. Traditionally, Simjūds Fair is historically the last big market in Valmiera before the winter.
• Every year, in autumn and spring, gourmets are delighted by the restaurants of the Valmiera with the special Restaurant Week offer.
• "Gardu muti" fairs take place in Valmiermuiža throughout the year.
• Fans of active recreation are also delighted by such events as the “Sportlat Valmiera Marathon”, the President's Award in Athletics and the SEB MTB Mountain Bike Marathon Cēsis-Valmiera.

Valmiera city map

Valmiera and surroundings

Guidebook “Architecture and art in Valmiera”

Facts

• Valmiera city area - 19,35 km²
• Population of Valmierai is 24 865 (01.01.2020.)
• Valmiera was first mentioned in historical sources in 1323
• The name of Valmiera has changed several times over time. In historical sources the city is called Wolmar, Wolmahr, Wolmaria, Waldemer and others
• Valmiera has the oldest coat of arms in Latvia
• The oldest wooden building in Valmiera is the Old Pharmacy
• Valmiera is home to one of the largest universities in Latvia – Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences
• Valmiera is the hometown of the legendary winner of the 1934 Olympic Silver Medal, walker Jānis Daliņš, two-time Olympic champion in BMX cycling Māris Štrombergs and other important figures in the history of Latvia and the world.
• Valmiera is the only city whose Gauja River divides into two equal parts. It is called the city's central street
• Valmiera has its own Gauja River Tram - the only Gauja River Tram in the world.
• Valmiera has its own Valmiera salad, which can be tasted in Valmiera restaurants and cafes, as well as its own cookies, milk and mineral water.

Other information

• When you visit Valmiera, take a guide with you - one of the actors of Valmiera Drama Theater! Call the automatic telephone line +371 25440011 free of charge, follow the guide's instructions, choose your favorite language and object, and will find out more about Valmiera! More information: http://www.visit.valmiera.lv/en/explore/audioguide/
• We invite you to get to know Valmiera or Beverīna, Burtnieki and Kocēni counties accompanied by a guide, getting to know the most picturesque places and discovering interesting stories and legends. More information: http://visit.valmiera.lv/en/guided_excursions/
• In Valmiera Tourist Information Center (Rīgas Street 10) you can buy not only souvenirs, but also obtain information and informative materials about tourist attractions in Valmiera and surroundings, Gauja National Park, as well as Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Zemgale, Latgale regions, Riga, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.