View source for Valmiera

{{short description|Republican city of Latvia}}
{{For|the municipality created in 2021|Valmiera Municipality}}
{{redirect|Wolmar|people named Wolmar|Wolmar (surname)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Valmiera
| other_name         = Wolmar
| settlement_type    = State city
| image_shield       = COA LV Valmiera.svg
| shield_size        = 
| image_flag         = Valmiera flag.svg
| flag_size          = 
| image_blank_emblem = Valmiera logo.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Brandmark]]
| image_skyline      = 44 Ла Валмиера.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = City centre with St. Simon's Church behind
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Latvia}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Municipalities of Latvia|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Valmiera Municipality|Valmiera]]
| established_title  = [[Town rights]]
| established_date   = 1323
| pushpin_map        = Latvia
| pushpin_label_position = above
| pushpin_mapsize    = 300
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Latvia
| coordinates        = {{WikidataCoord|display=inline,title}}
| nickname           = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Jānis Baiks
| blank_name_sec1    = Number of municipal council members
| blank_info_sec1    = 19
| area_footnotes     = {{wikidata|reference|best||P2046|P518=Q16868672}}
| area_total_km2     = {{#invoke:wd|properties|raw|qualifiers|best|raw||P2046|P518=Q16868672}}
| area_water_km2     = {{#expr:{{#invoke:wd|properties|raw|qualifiers|best|raw||P2046|P518=Q16868672}}-{{#invoke:wd|properties|raw|qualifiers|best|raw||P2046|P518=Q11081619}}}}
| area_metro_km2     = 
| elevation_m        = 
| population_footnotes = {{wikidata|references|best||P1082}}
| population_total   = {{wikidata|property|qualifier|best||P1082}}
| population_as_of   = {{#invoke:WikidataIB|formatDate|{{wikidata|qualifier|best|raw||P1082|P585}}|df=y}}
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_metro_km2 = auto
<!-- GDP  --------------->| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = {{wikidata|references|best||P2132}}
| demographics1_title1 = State city
| demographics1_info1 = {{wikidata|property|qualifier|best||P2131}} ({{#invoke:WikidataIB|formatDate|{{wikidata|qualifier|best|raw||P2131|P585}}|df=y}})
| demographics1_title2 = Per capita
| demographics1_info2 = {{wikidata|property|qualifier|best||P2132}} ({{#invoke:WikidataIB|formatDate|{{wikidata|qualifier|best|raw||P2132|P585}}|df=y}})
| postal_code        = LV-4201 LV-4202 LV-4204
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbering plan|Calling code]]
| area_code          = +371 642
| timezone1          = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset1        = +2
| timezone1_DST      = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +3
| website            = http://www.valmiera.lv/
| official_name      = 
| leader_party       = [[For Valmiera and Vidzeme]]
| population_demonym = Valmierieši
| anthem             = [[Stāv pāri visam Valmiera]]
}}

'''Valmiera''' ({{audio|Lv-Valmiera.ogg|pronunciation}}) is the second largest city of the historical [[Vidzeme]] region, [[Latvia]], with a total area of {{convert|19.35|km²|0|abbr=off}}. As of 2002, Valmiera had a population of 27,323, and in 2020, it was at 24,879. It is a [[Administrative divisions of Latvia|state city]], and is the seat of the [[Valmiera Municipality]]. Valmiera is one of the oldest cities in Latvia; it was a member of the [[Hanseatic League]]. According to the ethnic composition, Valmiera has the largest proportion of [[Latvians|ethnic Latvians]] among the state cities.

Valmiera lies at the crossroads of several important roads, {{convert|107|km|0|abbr=off}} to the north-east from [[Riga]], the capital of Latvia, and {{convert|50|km|0|abbr=on}} south of the border with [[Estonia]]. Valmiera lies on both banks of the [[Gauja]] River.

=={{anchor|Names and etymology}}Names and etymology==
The name was derived from the [[Old High German|Old German]] given name {{lang|goh|Waldemar}} or the [[Slavic names|Slavic name]] {{lang|sla|Vladimir}}. The town may have been named after the [[kniaz]] of the [[Principality of Pskov]] [[Vladimir Mstislavich (Pskov)|Vladimir Mstislavich]], who became a vassal of [[Albert of Riga]] in 1212, and for a short time, it was a vogt of [[Tālava]], [[Ydumea]] and [[Autīne]]. In another version, it may have been named after the [[King of Denmark]] [[Valdemar II]], who allied with the [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword]] in the [[Livonian Crusade]]. In the second half of 13th century, the [[Livonian Order]] built a castle which they called {{lang|de|Wolmar}} in German. During the [[Livonian War]], the town was known in Russian as {{lang|ru|Володимерец}} ({{lang|ru-Latn|Volodimirec}}),<ref>[http://vostlit.info/Texts/rus12/Russow/text42.phtml?id=1300/ Chronica der Provintz Lyfflandt] Russian translation: БАЛЬТАЗАР РУССОВ. ХРОНИКА ПРОВИНЦИИ ЛИВОНИЯ. 54. Мир между Польшей и Россией, 1582.</ref> but during the period of the [[Russian Empire]], it was known as {{lang|ru|Вольмар}} (Wolmar).

==History==
[[File:Volmari ordulinnus.gif|thumb|left|130px|Coat of arms of the city of Valmiera (''S 'Civitatis de Woldemer'') as part of the [[State of the Teutonic Order]] in 1524]]
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 [[roman catholic|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 ([[landtag]]s) 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]].

[[File:View of Valmiera by Johans Kristofs Broce in 1795.jpg|thumb|left|View of Valmiera in 1795]]
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 [[Wehrmacht|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Jewish Community of Valmiera |url=https://dbs.bh.org.il/place/valmiera |website=Beit Hatfutsot Open Databases Project |publisher=The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot}}</ref> The city was recaptured on 24 September 1944 by troops of the [[3rd Baltic Front]] of the [[Red Army]] during the [[Riga Offensive (1944)|Riga Offensive]]. During the war almost all buildings at the center of Valmiera were 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.<ref name=OSGeo>{{cite web|last=Fischer|first=Jürgen E.|title=Announcing the release of QGIS 2.2|url=http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.nabble.com/Announcing-the-release-of-QGIS-2-2-td5105239.html|publisher=OSGeo.org|access-date=22 February 2014|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171238/http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.nabble.com/Announcing-the-release-of-QGIS-2-2-td5105239.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Development==
[[File:Valmiera City Council - 2.jpg|thumb|Valmiera City Council]]
[[File:Valmiera, old city - old pharmacy.JPG|thumb|Valmiera Old Town]]
[[File:Zilaiskalns ziema.jpg|thumb|The Blue Hill (Z''ilaiskalns'') in winter]]
Valmiera's municipality has been involved a variety of projects to improve the quality of life in the region.

;Projects implemented lately

* Reconstruction of Valmiera Pārgauja State Gymnasium
* Reconstruction of Valmiera Viestura Secondary school
* Dwelling house of various social groups
* Pedestrian track and watch terrace
* Construction of Māris Štrombergs BMX track “Valmiera”
* Construction of Valmiera Western Industrial highway
* Co-creation workshop “DARE”
* Reconstruction of Jānis Daliņš Stadium and construction of light athletics hall
* Valmiera Old Town development – Ziloņu Street
* Hybrid buses in the city
* Construction of woodchip boiler house

;Ongoing projects

* Dormitory for pupils
* Valmiera Old Town development – Valmiera Palace cultural center
* Recreational and playground areas
* Two electric buses in the city
*Construction of Valmiera Southern Industrial highway
* Career Development Support Program
* Renovation of Valmiera Drama Theater

Valmiera is an important industrial centre. The dominating economic branches in Valmiera are the [[food industry]], [[fibreglass]] production, [[metalworking]], [[wood processing]] and [[furniture]] production.

'''TOP 5 companies''' by turnover (Lursoft, 2018)

* “Valmieras Glass Group” JSC
* Cooperative “VAKS”
* "Valmieras piens" JSC
* “Dizozols”, Ltd
* Cooperative society of agricultural service dairy farmers “PIENA LOĢISTIKA”

== Education ==
[[File:Valmiera State Gymnasium in 2017 (1).jpg|thumb|Valmiera State Gymnasium]]
[[File:Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.jpg|thumb|[[Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences]] is a state higher education institution with 17 study programmes<ref>{{cite web |title=About Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences |url=https://va.lv/en/about-us |website=Va.lv |access-date=14 May 2022}}</ref>]]
A full cycle education is provided in Valmiera – starting from pre-schools until higher education and lifelong education institutions.
City provides full-range of education:
* 8 Kindergartens
* 2 Primary Schools
* 4 Secondary Schools, including special education for disabled children
* 2 State Gymnasiums
* Valmiera Music School
* Valmiera Sports School
* Valmiera Youth Centre "Vinda"
* Valmiera School of Design and Art
* Valmiera Vocational Education and Training School
* Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences
* Lifelong learning

In the academic year of 2019 and 2020, 1625 children attended preschool educational institutions in Valmiera and 4084 students attended general education institutions.

The local government invests significantly into the development of the educational infrastructure. More than 50% of Valmiera annual budget is spent on a development of education in the city.

In 2016, Valmiera was included in UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (UNESCO GNLC). Its aim is to jointly seek for solutions to globalization, urbanization, demographics and other 21st century urban development challenges.

== Culture ==
[[File:Valmieras teātris.jpg|thumb|[[Valmiera Drama Theatre]]]]
[[File:Valmiera ordulinnuse varemed hilisõhtul 05.JPG|thumb|Ruins of the [[Valmiera Castle]], built in the 13th century, is used as an open-air venue for concerts and celebrations]]
;Culture facilities in Valmiera
* Valmiera Drama Theatre
* Valmiera Culture centre
* Cinema "3D CINEMA" (kino "Gaisma")
* Concert hall "Valmiera"
* Valmiera Integrated library
* Valmiera Museum
* Art Gallery „Laipa”
* Gallery „Leduspagrabs”

;Festivals and annual events in Valmiera
* International Winter Music Festival
* International competition for young pianists
* Valmiera Summer Theatre Festival
* Valmiera City Festival
* Simjūds’ Fair
* Summer concerts by the Valmiera Music School
* cinema festival "Kino Pedālis"
* Art month of Valmiera
* etc.

== Sports ==
[[File:Jānis Daliņš Stadium in Valmiera, Latvia during evening, 2021.jpg|thumb|[[Jānis Daliņš]] Stadium]]
[[File:EČ BMX 2019 .jpg|thumb|[[European BMX Championships|2019 European BMX Championship]] on [[Māris Štrombergs]] [[BMX]] track]]
[[File:The wall. Dedicated to Jānis Dāliņš, famous latvian sportsman (walker) - panoramio.jpg|thumb|The wall dedicated to Jānis Dāliņš]]
In Valmiera, sports and an active lifestyle have historically been one of the city's main priorities. Over 40 sports organisations operate in Valmiera representing more than 30 different sports. The Valmiera Children's Sports School with over 1,200 pupils is the fourth biggest sports school in Latvia.

In the [[1932 Summer Olympics]] in Los Angeles, [[Jānis Daliņš]] won a silver medal – the first ever Olympic medal won by Latvia. In honour of the athlete's achievements, in 1938 Valmiera Stadium was named after Jānis Daliņš. Many Olympians have come from Valmiera including BMX riders [[Ivo Lakučs]], [[Edžus Treimanis]], [[Rihards Veide]] and a two-time Olympic champion [[Māris Štrombergs]]. In turn, [[Jolanta Dukure]], [[Arnis Rumbenieks]] and [[Aigars Fadējevs]] are race walkers, whose sporting roots can be found in Valmiera, as is the case with the initial sporting careers of bobsleigh racers [[Oskars Ķibermanis]] and [[Oskars Melbārdis]].

'''Biggest sports teams:'''
* [[BK Valmiera|Valmiera Basketball Club]] – 2015/2016 [[Latvian Basketball League]] Champions
* Valmiera Floorball Club – 2017/2018 Floorball Latvia League runners-up
* [[Valmieras FK|Valmiera Football Club]] – 2022 [[Latvian Higher League|Latvian Higher Football League]] Champions
* [[Valmiera Glass Via (basketball)|Valmiera Glass ViA]] – competing in [[Latvian-Estonian Basketball League]]

Extensive sports infrastructure is available in Valmiera, including Jānis Daliņš’ Stadium, Māris Štrombergs’ BMX "Valmiera" track, the Vidzeme Olympic Centre, "Krāces" rowing base, Valmiera Swimming Pool and outdoor running and Nordic walking tracks.

'''Annually, the biggest sports events held in the city are as follows:'''
* the State President's Athletics Competition
* Valmiera Marathon
* MTB Marathon
* “Rīga-Valmiera” Running and Walking Race
* Latvian Open Floorball Tournament
* the European Championship Qualification Games in Men's Handball

'''The biggest sport events to be held in Valmiera are:'''
* 2011 FIBA Basketball World Championship U-19 Junior Sub-Group Games
* 2014 Davis Cup Group Ties in Tennis
* 2018 IFF World Championship Men's Floorball Qualification Tournament
* BMX European Championships 2019

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Latvia}}
Valmiera is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Starptautiskā sadarbība|url=https://www.valmiera.lv/lv/pilseta/starptautiska_sadarbiba/|website=valmiera.lv|publisher=Valmiera|language=lv|access-date=29 March 2021|archive-date=19 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150719071321/http://www.valmiera.lv/lv/pilseta/starptautiska_sadarbiba/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{colbegin|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Solna Municipality|Solna]], Sweden (1991)
*{{flagicon|EST}} [[Viljandi]], Estonia (1992)
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Gütersloh (district)]], Germany (1994)
*{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Høje-Taastrup Municipality|Høje-Taastrup]], Denmark (1995)
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Zduńska Wola]], Poland (2001)
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Pskov]], Russia (2002)
*{{flagicon|BLR}} [[Barysaw]], Belarus (2010)
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Halle, North Rhine-Westphalia|Halle]], Germany (2011)
*{{flagicon|AZE}} [[Siyazan]], Azerbaijan (2014)
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Vallefoglia]], Italy (2016)
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Cherkasy]], Ukraine (2022)
{{colend}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Bridge over Gauja river.JPG|Bridge over Gauja river
Rigas Iela, summer 2013.JPG|Riga street in the city centre
Valmiera muuseum.JPG|Valmiera city museum
Valmiera Old Pharmacy in Castle ruins.JPG|Castle ruins
Valmiera railway station 2.JPG|Railway station
Valmiera Sv Simana baznica.jpg|St. Simon Lutheran church
</gallery>

==Notable people==
* [[Jāzeps Vītols]] (1863–1948), composer
* [[Velta Ruke-Dravina]] (1917–2003), Latvian-born Swedish linguist, folklorist, professor
* [[Maija Einfelde]] (1939–), composer
* [[Andris Piebalgs]] (1957–), politician, diplomat
* [[Arturs Maskats]] (1957–), composer
* [[Ģirts Ķesteris]] (1964–), actor
* [[Ainārs Ķiksis]] (1972–), cyclist
* [[Ivo Lakučs]] (1979–), cyclist
* [[Mārcis Rullis]] (1979–), bobsledder
* [[Jolanta Dukure]] (1979–), athlete
* [[Māris Štrombergs]] (1987–), BMX racer
* [[Edžus Treimanis]] (1988–), BMW racer
* [[Arnis Rumbenieks]] (1988–), athlete
* [[Oskars Melbārdis]] (1988–), bobsledder
* [[Dairis Bertāns]] (1989–), basketball player
* [[Dāvis Bertāns]] (1992–), basketball player
* [[Rolands Šmits]] (1995–), basketball player
*[[Agate Caune]] (2004–), athlete

==See also==
*[[Valmiera Drama Theatre]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Valmiera}}

{{Valmiera Municipality}}
{{Latvian regional cities}}{{Administrative divisions of Latvia}}{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Valmiera| ]]
[[Category:State cities of Latvia]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Vidzeme]]
[[Category:Populated places in Valmiera Municipality]]
[[Category:Valmiera county]]