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 1. 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, articial stone was used to make this sculpture. GPS 57.5421190, 25.4281004 5. “The Sundial“ In 2008 the area by the Mill Pond underwent signicant 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 3. 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 6. 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 9. 10. 11. ARCHITECTURALLY AND HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS 13. Valmiera St. Simon’s Church It is one of the most signicant 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 No. 2 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.