Valka between Latvia and Estonia
Valka combines the Latvian-Estonian border with a river landscape and numerous traces of history. If you are comparing a destination with short thematic routes connecting nature, culture and border history, you will find several distinct points of interest here.
The Pedele Nature Trail runs through Valka and Valga on both banks of the Pedele River near the Latvian-Estonian border. The Valkas novadpētniecības muzejs is a cultural highlight. It is located in a building constructed specifically between 1850 and 1853 for the teachers’ seminary at the community schools of Vidzeme, and is dedicated to the cultural heritage of Jānis Cimze and his students.
Key facts about Valka
The Pedele Nature Trail can be explored through its different sections. On the Valka side, the path runs for 350 metres along one bank. There are walking paths, benches and a gazebo. This makes the section a clearly defined destination for a walk, without requiring you to plan a longer route.
From the gazebo on Putraskalns, you can look out over the Pedele River in two countries, as well as Valka and Valga. The view thus directly connects the river landscape with the distinctive location of the two cities. For orientation on site, it is also helpful that the Pedele trail includes both banks and both urban areas.
What history has shaped the city?
The present-day border location dates back to 1 July 1920. On that day, Valka was divided when the border between the independent states of Latvia and Estonia was drawn. After the state border was established, Valka II railway station became a border station. The Valkas vecā stacija, or Valka II, had already been built around 1896/97 for the 750 mm narrow-gauge railway line Valka–Rūjiena–Pērnava.
Older structures also form part of the historic character. The Schrader Chapel in Cimze Cemetery dates from 1773 and is considered one of the oldest buildings in Valka. At the Latvian-Estonian border, there is also a border post and EU signs bearing the messages “Latvia begins here” and “Estonia begins here”. They provide a specific photo opportunity that makes the political division of the town visible.
Which memorial and cultural sites can you include in your plans?
The Brāļu-kapu Memorial in Valka is dedicated to Soviet Army soldiers who fell in the Second World War. The names of 414 fallen fighters are inscribed on its granite panels. The site adds a specific remembrance of the war dead to the city’s general history.
For a regional comparison, you can also visit the pages on Zaķi, Ērģeme, Turna and Omuļi.
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Can you stand in two countries at the same time in Valka city centre?
Yes. In the city centre, the Latvian-Estonian border makes it possible to stand in two countries at the same time. This makes Valka’s distinctive location immediately tangible in the cityscape.
What is notable about Lugažu Church?
The tower of Lugažu Church also serves as an observation tower. From there, you can enjoy views of Valka and Valga, a city in two countries. The name of the church first appeared in historical sources in 1477. The building features elements of Gothic, Classicism and National Romanticism.
What can you see at the Valkas novadpētniecības muzejs?
The museum offers individual and group visits to its exhibitions and displays. The exhibition “Valkas slimnīcas vēsture” presents the hospital’s medical life through photographs and exhibits. These include medical equipment and instruments, furniture, and staff clothing.
For the overarching travel overview: Valkas Novads.
