Valmiera
Valmiera geographically is located in the north part of Vidzeme. Valmiera is the biggest city in Vidzeme. It is located at the distance of 107 km from the capital of the Republic of Latvia Riga and at the distance of 50 km from the Estonian border.
The total area of the city makes 18,18 km2. The historical center of Valmiera and one part of the territory are located on the right bank of the Gauja middle reaches, there is a less constructed territory on the left bank, on the side of the railway, which is almost as big as the right one, but it formed later. The area of the city has changed, mostly in Pargauja (district over the river) behind the railway; there extended the industrial and greenery areas, individual construction districts. The city from three sides is encircled by the by-pass road, the roads branches in 12 directions.
From Valmiera there starts the Gauja old valley (the Gaujava), outside the town borders, from the Jumara embouchure - also the Gauja National Park.
At present in Valmiera there live 27 495 people.
Valmiera through centuries
There are several versions about the origin of the name, but here are the two most popular. The first is connected with Prince Vladimir of Pskov, whom Riga bishop Albert appointed to be the judge in Idumeja. The second tells about the Danish Kind Valdemar, who won a fight with the help of a flag that was sent from heaven. During different centuries and in documents the town's name has been written differently - Wolmaria, Wolmahr, Waldemer and Wolmar.
1224 - Valmieras becomes dependant from Order of the Brothers of the Sword, who built a stone castle. The building of St. Simon's church starts in 1282.
1323 - Valmiera is governed by a magistrate and this testifies that Valmiera is one of the oldest towns in Latvia. 1365 - Valmiera becomes a member of the Hanseatic City League.
13 - 15 century - a small settlement is established on Luca Hill.
14 - 16 century - Valmiera is a typical town of the Middle Ages, surrounded by stone walls and hosting regular meeting of Livonian towns and landtags.
1560 - during the Livonia War - the warriors of the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible destroy the neighborhood of Valmiera, but cannot occupy the town.
1583 - after the war of Livonia the destroyed town is included in the Cēsis bishopric that belonged to Poland. 1622 - Valmiera is occupied by warriors of the Swedish King Gustav Adolf and the town together with several other towns and castles in Vidzeme are presented to the Swedish State Chancellor Aksel Uksenshern, a part of his family's coat of arms (a forehead of a red ox) is part of Valmiera's town emblem.
1702 - during the Northern War military troops of the Russian Tsar Peter the Great destroyed the town that had just enjoyed a golden age under Swedish rule.
1889 - the railway line Riga - Pskov is opened promoting the development of the town. End of 19th and beginning of 20th centuries - several important educational establishments are founded in Valmiera - the School for the hearing impaired, Valka-Valmiera Teacher's Seminar, a women gymnasium. This turns the town into an educational centre of Vidzeme.
1920s - 1930s - after the establishment of the Republic of Latvia, Valmiera becomes an important administrative, economic, educational, cultural and sports centre of Northern Vidzeme.
Valmiera coat of arms
There is a green lime tree on golden background, red bull's head and shields pictured in the coat of arms. The coat of arms was confirmed in 1925.
Valmiera city flag
Flag of Valmiera was confirmed in 6th December 1996. Autumn gold and cornflower blue with Valmiera's coat of arms in the middle is shown on the flag. Gold and blue are Northern Vidzeme colours, which symbolize the Gauja and march marigold meadows on riversides - at least three and a half centuries in the history of Valmiera based colours.
Valmiera city self-government
Address: Lāčplēša iela 2, Valmiera, LV- 4201
Phone: +371 64207121
Fax: +371 64207125
E-mail: pasts@valmiera.lv
Website: www.valmiera.lv
Valmiera district council
Address: Lāčplēša iela 2, Valmiera, LV-4201
Phone: +371 64207151
Fax: +371 64207155
E-mail: padome@valmierasrajons.lv
Website: www.valmierasrajons.lv
PHOTO GALLERY VALMIERA
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)