ENG ARCHITECTURE AND ART IN VALMIERA GUIDEBOOK

INTRODUCTION

Valmiera is one of the oldest cities in Latvia. From 14th to 16th century it was a member of the Hanseatic League, from 18th to 20th century – a regional centre; and during the second half of the 20th century – a district centre. In 1702 the city was completely destroyed by the Russian army. During 1770s it was severely damaged by several res. 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, the medieval castle ruins and the building complex of the Valmiera Museum. Within the last 20 years a lot has been done to preserve the remaining historical heritage. 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. This guidebook hopes to make the reader stop and have a look at the testimonies of their time, appreciate and evaluate ideas and opportunities, taste and aspirations of representation of the time, when all this was made.

Source: Marburga photo archive SCULPTURES, MONUMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTS

1. “A Gift to the New Millenium“ In 2001 in the Unity square the sculpture by Ginters Krūmholcs, resident of Valmiera and back then a student at the Art Academy of Latvia, was put up. For many years it served as the symbol of Valmiera, until a new logo was elaborated. In June 2015 it was moved next to the Vidzeme Olympic Centre, symbolizing gates to Valmiera and welcoming all arriving guests. GPS 57.5284247, 25.3859960 No. 35

2. “The Boys of Valmiera” is a sculpture made by Timiāna Munkēvica, who made it as her nal project for the Art Academy of Latvia in 1981. It depicts the main characters of the Pāvils Rozītis’ novel “The Boys of Valmiera”. It is supposed that they are prototypes of the author himself, poet Linards Laicens and sculptor Emīls Melderis. Initially the sculpture was placed in front of Valmiera Museum, but since 2007 it has been standing in front of the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. Local youth can associate themselves with one of the dynamic youngsters. GPS 57.5346773, 25.4243659 No. 39

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2. 3. “The Sculptor” The sculpture was made by Gvido Buls in 1986 during the symposium organized by Andris Vārpa. Initially it was located in front of the Valmiera Parsonage, becoming the symbol of the symposium. In April 2015 it was moved to its current location – in the square by the Valmiera Bus Terminal. GPS 57.5335868, 25.4254921

4. “A Boy with a Fish“ The author of the sculpture set up in 1952 is in Rūjiena born alumni of the Art Academy of Latvia, sculptor Jānis Zariņš. Initially it was a part of a fountain located in the Luca Square (at that time – the Pioneer Square). Unlike other mass produced gypsum sculptures of the Stalin’s era, arti cial stone was used to make this sculpture. GPS 57.5421190, 25.4281004

5. “The Sundial“ In 2008 the area by the Mill Pond underwent signi cant reconstruction process – pedestrian walkways, viewing platforms, children’s playgrounds were created with an illuminated fountain in the middle of the pond. Also a sundial made by Matiass Jansons, 3rd generation sculptor from the famous Jansons’ family from Cēsis, was set up. GPS 57.5406017, 25.4182710 No. 22

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5. 4. 6. A monument to the eleven communist minded young people The Gallows Hill – a medieval execution place outside the town borders. In December 1919 eleven communist minded young people were shot and buried there. In this place in 1949 the rst post-war memorial ensemble in Latvia with a monument made by sculptor Jānis Zariņš was erected. Modest materials used to make it, together with elegant surroundings leave a harmonious impression. During the soviet period this place was renamed – the Komsomol Mound – and used for propaganda purposes by organizing torch-lit marches. GPS 57.5425470, 25.4193096 No. 23

7. “The Fountain of Light” For some it as a lucky horseshoe, for others it is the meander of the River Gauja owing through Valmiera. The sculpture has been both praised and criticized, and probably never actually understood, yet it always has had an undivided attention of the locals and the visitors. The Light Fountain was lit on the eve of the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Latvia. It is a typical form used by the sculptor Andris Vārpa and several times varied during 1990s. The most famous works of Andris Vārpa are located in Riga and include monuments to artists Kārlis Padegs and Voldemārs Irbe, chemists Pauls Valdens and Wilhelm Ostwald, and the former Mayor of Riga George Armitstead. GPS 57.5386242, 25.4216442 No. 27 8. “The Lying Amazon” It is another work by the Valmiera-born sculptor Andris Vārpa. The granite sculpture was created in 2009 and one year later was set up by the Valmiera Museum. It is a typical example of his last decade works, reecting his intention to create a historical atmosphere which would be suitable to the territory of the medieval castle ruins and the Valmiera Museum. GPS 57.5390077, 25.4285811 No. 9

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7. 8. 9. “A Linden” The artwork was created by the metal artist Andris Dukurs after the suggestion by the Valmiera Museum in 2011 during the art event “A Linden for Valmiera”. It is a typical artwork of Dukurs, reecting a linden which since the medieval times is included in the emblem of Valmiera. GPS 57.5395638, 25.4284178 10. A Memorial Plaque to the Student Company of Cēsis Regiment The memorial plaque by Solveiga Vasiļjeva was erected in 2011 in place where the Valmiera Gymnasium (Realschule) was located. Here on 26 May 1919 the Student Company of Cēsis Regiment was established, which later fought the German forces by Cēsis. Sharp edges of the steel ower blossom symbolise hard, yet responsible decisions made by youth back then. GPS 57.5355769, 25.4191701 11. “The Sundial” The Kristaps Gulbis’ made nature object is another example of a stone sculpture symposium from 1980s which was preserved during the construction of the Engineering Complex of the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. The stone pillar resembles either a sundial or can be associated with an element of some manor house complex building. GPS 57.5419482, 25.4285734 12. The Memorial The Memorial ensemble erected in 1985 commemorates victims of the Nazi terror and fallen soldiers of the Soviet Army during the World War II located in the Lucas Hill. It is one of the last of its kind of works in Latvia. Architects Ēriks Fogelis, Jānis Lejnieks, Jānis Rutks and Andris Vītols in cooperation with sculptors Zigrīda and Juris Rapa created this memorial ensemble which would align with the size of city and respect the surrounding nature forms. A travertine from Allaži was used in the construction, however, the main element of the memorial is the split linden leaf taken from the emblem of Valmiera. Part of the elements during 1990s due to non-ferrous metal thieves went missing. GPS 57.5399729, 25.4329960 No. 15

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10. 11. ARCHITECTURALLY AND HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS

13. Valmiera St. Simon’s Church It is one of the most signi cant monuments of medieval architecture. The construction process was begun in 1283 or 1284. Originally, Valmiera St. Simon's Church hosted a Catholic congregation. During 17th century it became a Lutheran church. In 1964 St. Simon's congregation was forced to move out of the church and could return back to it only in 1988. It underwent restauration from 1969 till 1972, when it was adjusted for the needs of a concert hall. In 2014-2015 with the nancial support of the European Regional Development Fund and private donations the top of the bell tower was renovated and the rooster was gilded. Most probably initially it was a hall church, however, during late 14th and early 15th century by heightening the middle nave, it was changed to a basilica. In 1702 when the army of the tsar Peter the Great burnt down the city, also the church was severely damaged. Most of reconstruction works were nished in 1739, when the church tower got its Romanesque and Gothic style. Several valuable art monuments can be found in the church: medieval burial plaques, an altarpiece “The Temptation of Christ” painted by the professor of the Dresden Art Academy and royal painter of the Saxony Royal Court Carl Christian Vogel von Vogelstein (1842), a pulpit from 1739 with paintings by an unknown artist of Jesus Christ, evangelists and stories from the New Testament, the panels under the organ balcony have mouldings with paintings of the apostles (18th century), a pipe organ built in 1886 by a well-known European organ builder Friedrich Ladegast, and three historicism style stained glass windows in the altar part, made at the end of 19th century in the workshop of Ernst Friedrich Tode. Close to the main entrance a monument to the priest Jānis Neilands, who was the rst Latvian born priest of the congregation and a writer, is located. It was made by the sculptor Jānis Vārpa. Bruņinieku iela 2, GPS 57.5384577, 25.4263711

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13. 14. Valmiera Museum Compound No. 7 Old pharmacy This is the oldest building in Valmiera, which has remained intact since 1735. It was built by a member of the barber surgeon guild Johann Nicolaus Schwarz as a dwelling house. It was bought by the doctor Johann Vollrat Reichenau in which he opened a pharmacy in 1756 which remained operating for more than two hundred years. In the 19th century it was improved with three wooden and one stone parts. In 1912 the pharmacy was bought by the local government and, hence, it became the rst pharmacy in the Baltic region which belonged to a local government. After the World War II the pharmacy was divided into several small apartments and from 1989 until 1995 it regained its former looks. Furthermore, it was adjusted to the needs of the Valmiera Museum. It was possible to undergo reconstruction with the nancial resources left by the will of the wife of the US exiled Latvian painter Rūdolfs Voldemārs Vītols. Bruņinieku iela 1, GPS 57.5391844, 25.4280534 No. 6 15. Ruins of the Livonian Order Castle Probably the construction of the castle was begun by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword at the beginning of 13th century, however, it is also possible that it was built by the Livonian order at the end of the 13th century. In 1702 the partially ruined castle was conquered by the army of Peter the Great. There are no evidence of how the castle looked initially, yet in the 16th century the outer walls had an irregular form, resembling a stretched rectangle over the hill. The southwestern part of the castle, where, presumably, on the second oor the Livonian Landtag meetings were held during 15th and 16th century, has not been preserved until nowadays. Archaeological excavations in the castle territory were begun at the end of 1930s, in search for evidence that in this location the famous Beverīna hillfort once stood. The works were pursued during late 1980s and early 1990s, when formerly unknown castle dungeons, built during the Swedish rule, in the north-western part of the castle were discovered. They were destroyed during the invasion of the Russian army, when the whole city was burnt down. Conservation of the dungeon and underground system was nished in 2002. In Russian literature the castle is mentioned as a place, where Prince Andrey Kurbsky, who defected to Poland, wrote revealing letters to the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible. Bruņinieku iela 1, GPS 57.5387596, 25.4277663 No. 4 14.

15. 16. Marshner’s House The historicism style red brick building with an impressive attic was built at the beginning of 20th century after the project by the architect Carl Ludwig Marshner, who was a professor at the Baron Alexander von Stieglitz's School of Technical Drawing in Saint Petersburg. His family used this building as their summer house. The building was renovated in 2006 / 2007 with the nancial support of the PHARE 2003 programme to adjust it to the needs of a museum. Bruņinieku iela 3c, GPS 57.5395949, 25.4290010 No. 8

17. Walter’s Dwelling House This one story building, which was built in 1779, used to belong to the local doctor Hermann Walter and his successors. The wooden porch most probably was added in the beginning of 20th century. For many years the local historian Laimonis Liepnieks, who is also the author of the book “Tēvu zemes novadā”, used to live in this building. Bruņinieku iela 3b, GPS 57.5394238, 25.4291791

18. Central exhibition building of the Valmiera Museum Along with the historical dwelling houses lies the Central exhibition building of the Valmiera Museum, which was built in 2005 according to the project of the architect Ivars Martinsons. It has been built on foundations of an old dwelling house. Bruņinieku iela 3, GPS 57.5393009, 25.4287890

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17. 18. 19. Dwelling House The dwelling house, which can also be considered to be the Lieven’s House, was built during 1780s-1790s and underwent reconstruction in 2011 with the nancial support of the EEA Norwegian Financial Mechanism. In 1798 the building belonged to a person called Danscher, however, later it became the property of the Lieven family. It is a log house built on top of a stone semi-base- ment. In 1914 it was replanned to create several apartments for former inmates, but this idea didn’t last too long due to the World War I. The painter Aleksandr Petrov used to live in this building. Swiss style wooden laundry drying premises next to it were built in 1913. Pilskalna iela 2, GPS 57.5384659, 25.4280891

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20. Valmiera City Hall In 1939 the Latvian Credit Bank decided to build hotels in ve cities – Valmiera, Cēsis, Rūjiena, Jelgava and Rēzekne. For the hotel in Valmiera a project by the engineer- architect Kārlis Cināts was chosen. To manage operations of the hotels, it was planned to create the rst ever hotel chain in Latvia – JSC “Tērvete”. It was planned that on the ground oor a restaurant, a cafe and a conference hall will be located, but on the 1st oor – two luxurious rooms and 10 simpler ones would be located. The construction began in the summer of 1939, but it opened its doors already during the rst soviet occupation – at the end of 1940 – without a terrace and a cafe with a view on the medieval castle ruins. It is a neo-eclectic style building with classical order pillars in front of the asymmetrical facade. After the World War II a hotel “Gauja” operated within. In the mid-1960s the third storey was added. During the mid-1990s the Valmiera District Council and the Valmiera City Council moved in and began using until-then empty building. Lāčplēša iela 2, GPS 57.5389673, 25.4265571 19.

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24. 21. Dūnis’ House Publisher and bookseller Jānis Dūnis moved to the newly built house in spring of 1940. On the ground oor a bookstore was located. The same year the soviet rule nationalized the bookstore and on 14 June 1941 Jānis Dūnis and his family was arrested and deported. It is one of the last buildings built in Valmiera prior to the World War II and the only dwelling house with premises for a shop to be rebuilt in the city centre after the war. During the soviet rule the building was used for the needs of the Komsomol Committee of the Valmiera District and the Deputy Council of Working People of Valmiera, later – the People’s Deputy Council. Heirs got the house back after restoration of independence and several premises where turned into shops, with windows being replaced with entrance doors. The building is an example of the neo-eclectic style with rustication on the ground oor. The staircase is decorated with pilasters and around the windows on the 1st and 2nd oor a decorative nish has been added. Rīgas iela 9, GPS 57.5380020, 25.4214804

22. Old Department Store One of the rst public buildings built in Valmiera after the World War II. The Consumers Society of Valmiera built it in 1955 after the project of Pēteris Saulītis. First two storeys were designed for shopping purposes and the 3rd storey – for the needs of the administra- tion. The facade of the building is decorated with Ionic order pilasters. The interior of the ground oor is truly luxurious, in which Latvian ethnographic motives have been used. Rīgas iela 13, GPS 57.5381476, 25.4197183

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22. 23. Valmiera Viestura Secondary School In 1923 a primary school in Valmiera parish was established. Three years later it was named after a Semigallian king Viesturs. A new building for the school was built in 1939 after the project of Arnolds Čuibe. After the World War II it fell under the jurisdiction of Valmiera city. In 1957 the school was transformed into a secondary school. The building of the Valmiera Viestura Secondary School is a typical neo-eclectic style building with a rational oor planning. School’s facade is decorated with elements of the supreme order, and the main facade has an asymmetrical composition. The interior has preserved several original elements – doors, stair railings and wooden ceiling in the main hall. Viestura aleja 3, GPS 57.5502672, 25.4330960

24. Pārgauja Craftsmen’s Maisonette The cottage of the architect Gustavs Lenāns was built in mid 1930s and has an impressive facade, which is a rare example of Art Deco style building in Latvia. Similarly as with other architecturally signi cant buildings in Valmiera, the architecture captures the advantages of the natural landscape. The building was nationalized in 1948, because its useful area supposedly exceeded the norm – 170 square metres. The legal owners got it back in 1990. Currently it operates as a guest house “UNCE” and acts as a learning centre. Cēsu iela 20, GPS 57.5316365, 25.4235847 No. 41

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24. 25. Valmiera State Gymnasium In 1902 the Teachers’ Seminary was opened in Valmiera. The building of the seminary was nished a year later in a suburban area of Valmiera. The school was projected by the architect Aleksejs Kīzelbašs. On the ground oor there were teaching premises, and on the 1st oor – a student dormitory, apartments for teachers and a praying chapel. The building itself is made out of yellow bricks in an eclectic style with small towers above the main facade. Throughout time the school has lost a tower in the middle part of the building with an onion shape dome typical to orthodox churches. The building has a shape of the letter E when viewed from above, and sometimes it is associated with the word “Evangel”. Leona Paegles iela 40, GPS 57.5328522, 25.4083637 No. 33

26. Sculpture garden by the Valmiera State Gymnasium was created at the beginning of 21st century after the initiative of the former principal Jānis Zemļickis, therefore reviving the Valmiera stone sculpture symposium tradition. In the green areas around the Valmiera State Gymnasium and the Valmiera Primary School sculptures made by Andris and Reinis Vārpa, Gvido Buls, Gundars Kozlovskis, Pauls Jaunzems, Dace Blūma, Matīss Jansons, Juris Švalbe, Ivars Drulle, Aigars Krievāns, Solveiga Vasiļjeva, Kristaps Strauts and Lithuanian sculptor Vytautas Tallat-Kelpša are located. They are made out of various materials, but mainly stone, and reect feelings and ideas of these sculptors. Leona Paegles iela 40, GPS 57.5328522, 25.4083637

27. Women’s Gymnasium Although the project for the higher school for girls by Aleksejs Kīzelbašs was designed in 1897, the actual building began only in 1906, with the support of the mayor of Valmiera, doctor Georgs Apinis. In 1907 additional premises for two more classrooms were built. The building has hosted several educational establish- ments. In 1918 – lyceum, from 1919 – Valmiera City I Primary School; from 1947 – Valmiera Second (Russian) Secondary School, from 1990 – Valmiera First Secondary 25. School; from 1997 – Valmiera Elementary School; from 2004 – Valmiera Primary School. Since 2010 the building is used for the needs of the Valmiera Youth Centre „Vinda”. The main facade, made out of red bricks and typical to historicism style, has been inuenced by the renaissance forms. It has a symmetrical facade emphasizing the Avant-corps, and a main hall with big windows and semi-circular arch lintel. Some of the original details have remained in the interior, e.g., the colonnade in the foyer and doors. Rīgas iela 42, GPS 57.5371241, 25.4091734

27. 28. Valmiera Seventh-day Adventist Church Up until now the Valmiera Seventh-day Adventist Church remains somewhat underestimated part of the Latvian cultural heritage. The architect of the church was the famous architect Frīdrihs Skujiņš, who has also designed projects for the restaurant „Jautrais ods” in Ķemeri and the Justice Palace, currently the Cabinet of Ministers in Riga. The church was built by the donations of the congregation. The building was begun in spring of 1940, and it was consecrated on 30 November 1941 (although not fully nished), when the author of the building had already had moved to Germany. The style and facade of the building has had inuence from the Art Deco style and the church itself has remained almost intact. Around 1948 the local soviet rule planned to transform the building into a sports hall, however, later it was acknowledged that the building is too small for this purpose. Georga Apiņa iela 4, GPS 57.5388876, 25.4177277

29. Valmiera Fifth Secondary School The neo-eclectic style building for the Valmiera Commercial School was built in 1939, after the design of Arnolds Čuibe, who at the time was the Head of the Construction Oce of the School Department. The architect was murdered by KGB agents in June 1941 in the Central Prison in Riga. In its comparatively short history the name of the school, as well as its pro le has been changed for several times. At the beginning of soviet rule in 1940 the school was named the Valmiera State Economic Technical School. From 1948 until 1957 it was the Valmiera Pedagogical School. From 1958 – Valmiera Third Secondary School; from 1960 – Valmiera First 8 year school, but since 1977 – Valmiera Fifth Secondary School. Its original form has remained until nowadays. The main facade is facing the Raiņa iela, which is divided by three story high pilasters. The interior has remained some of the original details. Raiņa iela 3, GPS 57.5379175, 25.4247364 28.

29. 30. Orthodox Church of St. Sergey of Radonezh In 1846 an Orthodox congregation was established in Valmiera, but in 1879 a brick church was built. Its architect was the rst Latvian architect with an academic education Jānis Frīdrihs Baumanis. More than 10 Orthodox churches after his projects in the territory of current day Latvia and Estonia have been built. The Orthodox Church in Valmiera was built by the money given from the Ministry of Interior of Russia. The building was carried out by a building company who belonged to Jānis Meņģelis from Cēsis. It is one of the few buildings which has remained intact in the city centre after the World War II. The Orthodox Church of St. Sergey of Radonezh is a typical example of the Russian-Byzantine style building. It is a single dome, cross shaped building with a bell tower. The church design follows very strict rules, yet, harmoniously blends in the surrounding area due to the masterful work of the builders, who have used typical for 19th century building materials: split eldstone for the walls and red clay bricks for the eaves, cornices, corners, window and door frames, as well as for towers. Next to the church stands a vault of the Mengden family. The vault was built in 1906 and the rst one whose remains were reposited there was Baron Friedrich Moritz von Mengden from the Mujāni Manor, who was the rst one to convert to Orthodoxy. It has elements of Romanesque style architecture with typical massive forms. Rīgas iela 22, GPS 57.5380596, 25.4163612 No. 31

31. Valmiera Congregation School The congregation school in Valmiera was established in 1693. Initially it was located in the Brēža threshing barn, which was moved to the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia in 1933. Valmiera Teacher’s Seminary, which was established by the suggestion of the priest Ferdinand Walter, began operating in the congregation school, which completely burnt down in 1843. The plan for the new school – long, stretched one-storey building, was drawn by the head of the teacher’s seminary Jānis Cimze. It seized to exist at the end of 1929. Next to the building is a stone building, which was used as a barn, built approximately around the same time as the congregation school. From 1984 until 2013 the building was used by the Valmiera Children’s Art School, later – Secondary School of Arts. A memorial plaque to Jānis Cimze has been set up by the building. It was made by the sculptor Romualds Getauts and was his last artwork. Voldemāra Baloža iela 5, GPS 57.5300467, 25.4011717 30. 32. 3D Cinema “Gaisma” Although the building (architect Boriss Ņesterjuks) was built in 1951, it has elements typical to the pre-war architecture with antique style elements. The central part of the building, where the entrance is located, is emphasized by a rectangle opening with columns and composite capitals. The oor plan has been changed. The former foyer currently is part of the restaurant „Parks”. The main hall has preserved the authentic wall paintings and decorations with mouldings and a stage frame typical to socialist realism. Rīgas iela 19, GPS 57.5378521, 25.4172876 No. 30

33. Valmiera Health Centre Valmiera City Hospital after the suggestion by the famous local doctor Georgs Apinis was built on the Blue Bastion, which was part of the Swedish forti cation system. Georgs Apinis for this cause donated 5500 rubbles. He also bought the Old Pharmacy and sold it to the city with an agreement that the pro ts from the pharmacy must be used for the building and maintenance of the city hospital. The idea to build a hospital in Valmiera had a lot of supporters, including the city council. The project was drawn by the engineer Jānis Kampe, who also participated in the building process. The hospital matched all hygiene and medical requirements of that time and was consecrated on 18 October 1914. Among the rst patients were soldiers injured in the frontline during the World War I. Classicism style building consists of three parts: the middle one and two asymmetrical ones on the sides. The facade is decorated with heavy pilasters, with well-visible roof eaves and cornices. The main entrance is accentuated with a monumental portal. The 3rd storey has been added to the building after the World War II. Next to the historical hospital a neo-gothic style morgue building is located. Bastiona iela 24, GPS 57.5393542, 25.4225177 32.

33. 34. Bachelors` Park and the pavilion The park was created by uniting two parks: one which was a gift to the city from Georgs Apinis, a doctor and the Mayor of Valmiera, the second was the public City Park. The famous landscape architect Hugo Bērziņš made the plan of the public park. The founders of the park were eight well known gentlemen, not married at that time, and their will was that after their deaths the park must become the property of the city. As most of these gentlemen never married, the park was named the Bachelors’ Park. The park underwent reconstruction in 2016. The ironic sculpture „Portrait of a Leader” by the Estonian sculptor Ahti Seppet, made in one of the stone-sculpting symposiums during the 1980s, is located in the park. In November 1918 in the pavilion the national ag of Latvia was raised and the national anthem was played for the rst time in Valmiera. After the World War II the building was used as city’s culture centre and as a sports hall. The size of the pavilion almost has not changed, only the semi-circular windows of the 2nd storey are gone. In 2004 a bowling hall with a cafe was opened in the pavilion. As a result the main body of the building was a bit stretched. In 2016 a concert hall was created in the historical pavilion. An acoustic project has been carried out to ensure high quality sound during concerts. Currently the building is used for various culture and art related events. Leona Paegles iela 10, GPS 57.5362973,25.4179846 No. 29 35. Vidzeme Regional Court The neo eclectic style building (architect Kārlis Cināts) was built short before the World War II – in 1939. During the soviet occupation, the building, which was referred to as the „White building”, was used by the Valmiera District Committee of the Communist Party of Latvia and the People’s Deputy Council of Valmiera District. In the well-preserved building many interior elements (oor marquetry, door portals, stair railings), as well as planning has remained intact. 34. Particularly fascinating is the meeting hall on the rst oor with a renaissance style interior. The main facade is decorated with a portico and a colonnade. Since 1995 the building is used again by the Vidzeme Regional Court. Tērbatas iela 13, GPS 57.5363005, 25.4179948

35. 36. Pārgauja Fireghters’ tower In 1910 in Pārgauja, which back then was not part of Valmiera, with the help of the owner of Kaugurmuiža and local residents a re ghters’ tower was built. It was similar to the one located in the city, next to the Valmiera St. Simon’s Church, where the current day local govern- ment administration building is located. In its architecture some of the forti cation elements typical to medieval castle towers are used. Since restoration of independence the building has been used as a bakery. Currently there is a shop and a bakery of “Liepkalni”. Mazā Stacijas iela 1, GPS 57.5339416, 25.4267115 No. 40

37. Building of the Valmiera Branch of the Latvian Land Bank The initial building of the Latvian Land Bank in Valmiera (architect Ansis Kalniņš) is one of the best-preserved examples of the functionalism style architecture in Latvia. Since its construction in 1932 the building most of its time has been used for institutions providing nancial services. The building was completely renovated during 1990s and particular attention had been given to preserve the initial details and interior elements, especially when the wall paintings were restored in the publicly available premises of the Valmiera Branch of the SEB Bank. Rīgas iela 40, GPS 57.5373732, 25.4111631

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37. 38. Valmiera horse post station It is a typical Russian post station building, built at the end of 18th century, for stay and change of horses for those who used the road made during the Swedish rule to reach either Petersburg or the Western Europe. Later on the Valmiera district hospital was located in the building. The size of the building, except the roof part, has remained unchanged. The main facade with an arcade, where the main entrance used to be, is marked with a wall painting. Currently the Vidzeme Regional Division of the State Land Service is located in the building. Rīgas iela 47, GPS 57.5359607, 25.4059028

39. Mortuary of the Kocēni (Kokmuiža) cemetery Kokmuiža cemetery was formed in 1882, after the division of the Valmiera Lutheran congregation and each of them had a necessity for their own cemetery. The cemetery for Valmiera-Veide Lutheran congregation was made on a land, which belonged to the owner of the Kokmuiža manor Theodor von Schröder. He, together with land, gave money to build a mortuary. The cemetery was consecrated in 1896. Neo-gothic mortuary is a good example of a tasteful contrast of white-painting walls and red brick corners, window and door frames, and cornices and eaves. During the years of soviet occupation the mortuary was noticeable not because of its architecture, but for a historic and glori ed event that took place there. Namely, on 14 December 1919 an illegal meeting of Komsomol of Vidiena District took place there. However, they were caught and arrested. Rīgas iela 100, GPS 57.5262242, 25.3791765

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39. 40. Mortuary of the Dīvala (Jāņa) cemetery When the Valmiera St. Simon’s Church’s congregation divided into two, both parties were thinking about having a new cemetery. Valmiera-Valmiermuiža congregation consecrated the cemetery in 1900. The current day name used for the cemetery, as presumed by a local historian Voldemārs Dāvids Balodis, might have arisen from a lower German name „deiwel”, meaning – a devil, used to describe pagan sacred places, namely, the nearby located Idol island. The mortuary is a typical for Valmiera red brick building with a traditional division of premises. Also the details of the mortuary must be praised, reecting the mastery of a mason. Dīvaliņa iela 20, GPS 57.5394300, 25.4387721

41. Mortuary of the City cemetery As soon as the Old cemetery was acknowledged to be full, in 1828 not far from it a new cemetery was created. The mortuary of the City cemetery can be considered to be an example for several sacred building in and around Valmiera. It was built around 1855, however, it is possible that the building might be a bit older and that around this time a tower was added to the building. It was built during the Crimean war, when the local congregation was willing to donate money, being afraid that the Russian government otherwise could take it away for military needs. It is a neo-gothic building with a corridor passing through. On one side the burial services took places, and the other side was used as an apartment for the cemetery’s guard. In 2008 renovation of the mortuary was nished. Lilijas iela 7, GPS 57.5355373, 25.4124431 40.

41. Valmiera Tourist Information Centre Rīgas iela 10, Valmiera, LV-4201 Phone: +371 26332213, +371 64207177 [email protected], www.visit.valmiera.lv #visitvalmiera

Guided tours in Valmiera Please book a guided tour by phone +371 26332213, +371 64207177 our mail [email protected]

Valmiera audioguide Phone: +371 25440011 Call and nd out more about Valmiera!

We appreciate the information provided by Valmiera Museum Text: Jānis Kalnačs Photo: Photo archives of Valmiera City Council © Copyright: Valmiera City Council, 2017