Historical and old photos of Valmiera (german - Wolmar)

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A small historical reference

Geography: Valmiera is the largest city of the historical Vidzeme region, Latvia, with a total area of 18.1 square kilometres (7 square miles). Valmiera lies at the crossroads of several important roads, 100 kilometres (62 miles) to the north-east from Riga, the capital of Latvia, and 50 km (31 mi) south of the border with Estonia. Valmiera lies on both banks of the Gauja River.

Date of foundation: 1283

Population: 24 818

Sights:

1st Primary School - Students and teachers, 1924

1st Primary School

Bathhouse, 1960s

Beginning of Station street, 1910

Bus on the Valmiera - Rujiena route, 1920s

Bridge across Gauja River, 1930s

Bridge, 1910	Dam of Mill and city center, 1930s	Chapel, 1930s	City Hospital, 1930s
Fire tower, 1930s	Gymnasium, 1935	Hotel 'Baltic', 1935	Intersection of Vītolu and Kārļa streets in the early 1920s

Lenin street, Shop 'Books', 1960s	Lutheran Church of Simeon, 1930s	Movie stand, 1967	New building of the School for deaf-mute, 1929
New buildings, 1950s	Panorama of city street, 1910	Panorama of city street, 1935	Panorama of city street

History

Valmiera and its surroundings have been one of the longest-inhabited regions of Latvia. Archeological evidence indicates the site was inhabited 9,000 years ago. In 1224 after partition of Tālava trade roads along the Gauja river became property of Livonian Brothers of the Sword who erected a castle which is today known as Valmiera Castle. After the Battle of Saule in 1236 Valmiera Castle and nearby lands became the property of the newly established Livonian Order.

Valmiera was first mentioned as a town in a chronicle dating back to 1323. The actual founding of the town probably occurred at least 40 years earlier when the master of the Livonian Order Wilken von Endorp constructed a castle (Wolmar) and Catholic church on the banks of the river Gauja. Valmiera was a member of the Hanseatic League from the 14th–16th centuries. Involvement in the Hansa brought significant trade and movement into the town's life. During the 14th-16th centuries several regional assemblies (landtags) were held in Valmiera. After the Livonian War in 1583 Valmiera was heavily devastated and was incorporated into the Duchy of Livonia as part of Wenden Voivodeship. After the Polish-Swedish war in 1622 Valmiera was managed by the Lord High Chancellor of Sweden Axel Oxenstierna.

During the Great Northern War Valmiera was again destroyed and burned down in 1702. It was further devastated by plague. During the first half of the 18th century Valmiera was on the decline. In 1738 M.E. von Hallart opened the first seminary of the Moravian Church in Valmiera, a movement which played an important role in the history of Vidzeme. In 1785 Valmiera became the centre of a district. The town saw rapid development in the 19th century. First it was stimulated by the building of the first bridge over the river Gauja in 1865. Later the building of the Riga-St.Petersburg railway line through the town in 1899 also played a major role. Many new factories were built in the town and new settlements were growing on both banks of the river Gauja. During 1911-12 a narrow gauge railway line Ainaži-Valmiera-Smiltene was built thus making Valmiera a major transport hub. In 1906 Municipal elections were held and Valmiera was one of the few towns in Latvia where Latvians won the majority of seats (18 of 24). As a result, local doctor Georgs Apinis was elected as mayor. During the first quarter of the 20th century Valmiera also became a centre of culture and education as many schools were opened in the town. Among them were the Vidzeme teachers seminary, women gymnasium and merchant school.

During World War II, Valmiera was captured by troops of the German Army Group North on 4 July 1941 and placed under the administration of Reichskommissariat Ostland. In October 1941, 209 Jews from Valmiera and surrounding areas were murdered in local forests. The city was recaptured on 24 September 1944 by troops of the 3rd Baltic Front of the Red Army during the Riga Offensive. During the war almost all buildings at the center of Valmiera was destroyed.

The Cold War Liepas air base was located nearby.

Version 2.2 of the open source mapping application QGIS was named in honor of Valmiera.

Origin: en.wikipedia.org

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