Europe Festivals Latvia

Cesis, Latvia: The Tiny Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

At over eight hundred years old, the medieval town of Cesis, Latvia looks exactly like you’d expect.

The streets of Cesis, Latvia, are narrow and occasionally cobblestoned; the small squat houses are made from faded wooden panels; the half ruined complex of a 13th century castle and the oldest brewery in Latvia sit within spitting distance of each other.

Cesis, Latvia: The Tiny Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

The view from the ramparts of Cesis Castle

Cesis is a town where one of the parks is known colloquially by its two resident black swans – and where said swans’ mating habits occasionally make the front page of the local newspaper.

But Cesis also has an undeniably modern feel. In amongst the old buildings there are tall trees, big fountains at the centres of open squares, peaceful parks, calm lakes and a newly built contemporary art gallery.

A lake in Cesis, Latvia

So why exactly was I in Cesis, Latvia?

Every summer, like many other towns and cities in Latvia, Cesis (pronounced ‘Tsaaysis’) holds an annual weekend-long festival. As the official description states, “this festival is the best time to see how Latvian traditions of different centuries meet today.”

Of course, I wasn’t actually sure what Latvian traditions from across eight hundred years of history would actually look like. The only thing I knew was that out of all the summer celebrations in Latvia, the festival in Cesis has always been regarded as one of the best.

So why not discover the essence of why the tiny Latvian town of Cesis is so popular?

Cesis, Latvia: The Tiny Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

Exploring the annual Cesis Town Festival

I awoke on Saturday morning to the sounds of an orchestra marching along the street outside my hostel. Looking through the window proved that, yes, a number of musicians were indeed ‘awakening’ the townspeople – the festival’s opening tradition which repeats itself year after year.

I took the intended cue and got myself out of bed.

Brushing my teeth in the small upstairs bathroom of my hostel, I watched the staff rush between rickety tables, rag rugs and piles of unidentifiable silverware. As part of the festival, the quaint back garden of the achingly hipster hostel had been appropriated for an antique sale.

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

Once out in the streets I wandered aimlessly, letting different elements of the festival tempt me to come closer.

And I wasn’t disappointed. Walking through different parts of Cesis, I realised that each area seemed to be running its own ‘mini-festival’: some were clearly children-friendly, others designed for sports and games, some for art and others for music, a few for dancing and still more for late night action.

Cesis, Latvia: The Tiny Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

Black Swan Park

There was the family section in Black Swan Park, filled with families and elderly couples walking their young children or grandchildren around the hook-a-duck games and introducing them to the occasional costume-clad elephant.

Cesis, Latvia: The Tiny Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

In one corner, there was a skate park area for the teenagers – both the ones competing and the ones clustered at the edges to watch.

A few streets away, one of Cesis’s main roads was closed off the duration of the weekend so that street hockey players could practice their craft. It was a clear teenage hangout; music blaring, gaggles of kids sitting on the pavements, and the teams all getting progressively more competitive.

Cesis, Latvia: The Tiny Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

Cesis Castle

On the small grassy area beside Cesis Castle, groups of school children performed classical music inside a white curtained, ivy strewn stage, while families lounged around on the hay bales in front and ate food from farmer’s market-esque stalls set up alongside.

Below the newer buildings of the castle, an interactive art installation invited people to don headphones and listen to musical accompaniment as they absorbed the paintings.

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

At the base of the ruined castle, a huge stage was set up where yet more groups of teenagers congregated in front of various musical acts.

The evening before, I had managed to inadvertently stumble upon a late night performance by the famous Latvian pagan metal band Skyforger, which heralded an influx of pierced, tattooed, leather wearing metalheads all around me.

Let’s just say I’ve never been more awestruck by a collection of bellowing Latvians. Or more terrified.

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

In the streets surrounding St John’s Church, Latvians from all over the area stood at little stalls and sold their traditional handmade products to eager customers.

Everything was offer, from hand-stitched lace and carved wooden bowls to clothes made from hemp and freshly made honey – with the bees responsible actually buzzing around their honeycomb on the table.

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

Inside the castle grounds was the medieval area; stalls selling hand carved wooden instruments, animal pelts, hand made jewellery and clay pots, which vied for people’s attention alongside a central stage featuring bands singing in ancient Baltic languages, and various places for children to make their own candles, soap, and practice their clay throwing.

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

There was even a discreetly placed tent for dry birch massages, which involved a pair of Latvians raising their bunches of twigs in an almost dance-like routine as they massaged the body in front of them.

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

Watching an ancient tradition unfold in Cesis, Latvia

Watching the birch-branch-wavers, I started thinking properly about these traditions that the festival was supposed to display. While I’d definitely been privy to various elements of Latvian living, I didn’t really feel like I’d seen any that had been carefully passed down through the ages, preserved and emulated for generations.

But any doubts I may have had about the traditional aspects of the Cesis town fair were dispelled that evening, when I reached the Rozu Park, the main square of Cesis.

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

Waiting in the soft dim light were a collection of young Latvians, each holding a lantern and dressed in old style clothing. The girls had their hair gathered into long plaits tied with red ribbons, the boys wore suits and bowler hats.

All around, people were waiting for the procession to start, holding their cameras, phones, jackets – but suddenly they were the ones that looked out of place. Like ancient Latvia had somehow come to the foreground again in the modern day.

And even when the camels appeared (on loan from a local Camel & Alpaca Farm, and complete with teenage shiekhs to lead them) it didn’t break the spell.

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

Cesis, Latvia: a town where history meets modernity

I haven’t been to many town fairs around the world, so I can’t exactly compare them – but I wondered if Cesis Town Fair was the Eastern European version of what state festivals are like in the US. I had the sense that literally everyone in the town was there, in a small easily navigable place where people offer continuous greetings to the friends they keep passing, where kids wander around with meat on sticks and dogs on leashes can barely handle all the excitement.

Moreover, it felt like people were simply relishing an occasion that brought everyone together, from every age group, so they could all enjoy themselves as a community for a weekend.

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

And most crucially, the younger generation of Latvians are coming back to Cesis. Even when they head off to university in Riga, many of the Cesis-grown still return to the little town after their studies are over, interested enough in their town’s heritage and history to help preserve and prolong it.

During the procession, holding my phone skyward to imitate a lantern, I spoke to a few Latvians my age – some from Cesis and others from Riga, just in town for the evening. All of them find Cesis to be a special place, even though none could put their finger on why, exactly.

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

For me, it was the sense of tranquillity and calm that falls on you when you walk around the streets. There’s no sense of urgency or duty, and I felt myself actively relaxing.

After only a few days in Cesis, I decided the reason why this town feels so special is that there’s room for every period of history here. No one element tries to outshine the other; and although the town is undoubtedly contrasted between the old and new worlds, it’s a strangely satisfying hybrid.

I can only imagine what it would be like to actually live within it.

Have you been to Cesis, Latvia, or explored other places in the country? What other Eastern European traditions have you seen? 

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

The Tiny Latvian Town with Eight Hundred Years of History

NB: my time in Cesis was supported by the Latvian Tourist Board & the European Regional Development Fund as part of the Must Love Festivals project, but my postulations about the country’s traditions (and the stalking of various elderly couples and dressed up elephants) are all my own. 

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27 Comments

  • Reply
    Polly
    August 16, 2015 at 1:50 pm

    Love this! It definitely reminds me of the “Day of the City” celebrations every Russian town has – plenty of local artists/vendors, traditional costumes, and just the sense that the whole town is out and having a good time!

    • Reply
      Flora
      August 17, 2015 at 3:23 pm

      Sounds like a wonderful celebration Polly! I still haven’t made it to Russia yet…

  • Reply
    Hitch-Hikers Handbook
    August 16, 2015 at 4:02 pm

    Looks lovely, Flora! We will be in Latvia soon(well,in about 4 months) and we will be sure to check it out! Thanks for the tips!

    • Reply
      Flora
      August 17, 2015 at 3:26 pm

      Glad to hear it guys! I loved my time in Cesis – and Riga is lovely too. If you have time to explore Sigulda I’ll be writing an article about that part of the country soon too 🙂

  • Reply
    Ali
    August 16, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    Need to put this country on my list of places to visit…..

    • Reply
      Flora
      August 17, 2015 at 3:28 pm

      Definitely!

  • Reply
    kikoleda1985
    August 16, 2015 at 10:24 pm

    Well done Flora, I visited Latvia in 1998 in July. Stay in Riga and visited few small town around. It was an interesting trip. The festival they hold in Riga in July was great, and one thing I remember well was the “PIG FEET” meal they serve, it is one of their specialty, it is very delicious.

    • Reply
      Flora
      August 17, 2015 at 3:42 pm

      Wow, I never tried pig’s feet during my visit! If they’re that much of a delicacy I’ll have to give them a go next time :p

  • Reply
    adventureliesinfront
    August 17, 2015 at 11:21 am

    Oh wow Latvia has just hit my radar in the last couple of months and now I must go there!!

    Looks like I’ll have to make a detour on the way to Scandinavia.

    • Reply
      Flora
      August 17, 2015 at 3:43 pm

      Great stuff! It’s a really interesting country. And I’m equally keen to have more time in Scandinavia too 🙂

  • Reply
    Jodie Louise
    August 17, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    Gorgeous photos Flora!

    • Reply
      Flora
      August 17, 2015 at 3:44 pm

      Thanks Jodie!

  • Reply
    Jānis
    August 17, 2015 at 4:32 pm

    Nice article 🙂 And Cēsis defiintely is a nice place. But there is one small inaccuracy in the article. Latvia is in Northern Europe.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Europe

    • Reply
      Flora
      August 24, 2015 at 8:53 am

      Thanks Janis! And cheers for the clarification :p

  • Reply
    thisbatteredsuitcase
    August 17, 2015 at 5:35 pm

    I’d love to go back to Latvia – your photos are really inspiring me to book a flight there immediately!

    • Reply
      Flora
      August 24, 2015 at 8:55 am

      Great to hear it Brenna! It really is such an interesting country 🙂

  • Reply
    Paula
    August 19, 2015 at 9:49 am

    Thanks for the amazing post! As a born-and-raised Latvian from Cesis, I can truly say that this makes me really happy, seeing my hometown on the travel radar. Plus, the article makes every Latvian abroad homesick, including me. Returning to Cesis in a week – can’t wait! Thanks for sharing this!

    • Reply
      Flora
      August 24, 2015 at 8:57 am

      Aw thanks so much Paula – it’s wonderful to hear that I’ve done a Cesis citizen proud with this piece 🙂 You’re very lucky to live in such a gorgeous little town!

  • Reply
    Chella
    August 24, 2015 at 1:09 am

    first of all I must commend you for being a wonderful explorer and taking upon yourself to paint a clear picture of what other parts of the world out there are like and have to offer. I must say I am amazed at the rich cultaral history and diversity the town of cesis has. very remarkable. Very few towns in the world can boast of an 800year history; the likes of Athens in Greece. but all the same am intrigued and i cant wait to read your next post

    • Reply
      Flora
      August 24, 2015 at 8:58 am

      You’re very right, Chella – I can’t think of many places that have preserved a rich cultural history for such a long period of time. And I’m so very glad you enjoyed the article!

  • Reply
    Abi
    August 24, 2015 at 3:18 pm

    OOh, so atmospheric. I’m heading to Latvia next week so this helps set the scene even if I can’t walk through the whole experience.

  • Reply
    aladyinlondon
    August 25, 2015 at 5:20 pm

    Great post, Flora! The festival sounds really cool!

  • Reply
    Leigh
    August 29, 2015 at 3:04 am

    I haven’t even been to Eastern Europe yet, let alone Latvia! So many places, not enough time….

  • Reply
    Barb
    September 20, 2015 at 9:10 am

    Amazing photos! I really love the aarchitecture, so lovely!

    • Reply
      Flora
      October 5, 2015 at 10:38 pm

      Thanks so much, Barb! It really is a beautiful part of Latvia 🙂

  • Reply
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