Explore the city of Cesis in Latvia through this live webcam. Cesis is the administrative center of the Cesis region and is located on the Gauja River, 90 km northeast of Riga. The city has about 14.8 thousand inhabitants (as of 2022).
The historically significant Wenden Castle was built in 1213 and served as one of the key centers of the Livonian Order, as well as the residence of its masters. Its name comes from the Wends, an ethical group that lived in the region. The castle was built on the site of an ancient Vendian settlement known as Riekstukalns (Walnut Mountain).
The city, known in Russian chronicles since 1221 under the name Kes, was familiar to Russian townspeople for a long time, which is confirmed by its mention in Mercator’s atlas. In the Middle Ages, Cesis was part of the Hanseatic League, and order chapters met here every year. The Master of the Order and other important figures are buried in the Church of St. John, built in the 13th century and reconstructed in the 19th century.