Valka: Border History, the Pedele River and Cultural Heritage

Valka is shaped by the Latvian-Estonian border. Border history, the Pedele River and cultural heritage offer different ways to experience a stay in the city. In the city centre, you can experience the border first-hand; the nature trail and historic buildings reveal other sides of Valka.

The Border in the City Centre

On 1 July 1920, Valka was divided when the border between the independent states of Latvia and Estonia was drawn. In the city centre, the Latvian-Estonian border makes it possible to stand in two countries at once. A border post and EU signs reading “Latvia begins here” and “Estonia begins here” make a good photo opportunity. This makes the border location not only part of the city’s history, but something visitors can experience in a specific place.

The Pedele River and Views

The Pedele Nature Trail runs through Valka and Valga along both banks of the Pedele River, near the Latvian-Estonian border. On the Valka side, the trail runs for 350 metres along one bank, where there are walking paths, benches and a gazebo. These details give the Valka section a clear setting for a riverside walk.

From the gazebo on Putraskalns, the view takes in the Pedele River in two countries, as well as Valka and Valga. The trail passes through both cities, while the viewpoint looks out over the river and the two cities. The route and the view thus offer different perspectives on this cross-border area.

Museum and the History of Education

The Valka Local History Museum is housed in a building purpose-built between 1850 and 1853 for the Vidzeme Teachers’ Seminary for Parish Schools. The museum focuses on the cultural heritage of Jānis Cimze and his pupils. The history of teacher training and the story of Cimze and his circle thus come together under one roof.

The museum offers individual and group visits to its exhibitions and displays. As visit arrangements may change, check the current rules before your visit. The exhibition “The History of Valka Hospital” presents the hospital’s medical life through photographs, medical devices and instruments, furniture, and staff clothing.

Church and Architectural History

The name of Lugaži Church first appears in historical sources in 1477. The church features elements of Gothic, Classicist and National Romantic styles. Its tower also serves as an observation tower, offering views of Valka and Valga. The Schrader Chapel in Cimze Cemetery dates from 1773 and is considered one of the oldest buildings in Valka.

Memorial Sites and Railway Heritage

The Brāļu-kapu Memorial in Valka is dedicated to Soviet Army soldiers who fell in the Second World War. Its granite plaques bear the names of 414 fallen soldiers. Another stop in the city’s history is Valkas vecā stacija (Valka II): it was built around 1896/97 for the 750 mm narrow-gauge Valka–Rūjiena–Pērnava railway line. After the state border was drawn, Valka II railway station became a border station. This timeline links the earlier railway line with the station’s later border function.

Discover more destinations: Omuļi, Turna, Ērģeme, Zaķi.

Return to the main travel overview: Valkas Novads.