Cēsis
The Cesis district is situated in the heart of the country, surrounded by Riga, Limbazi, Valmiera, Valka, Gulbene, Madona and Ogre. Its larger number of inhabitants and proximity to the capital, Riga, determine Cesis as one of the economically significant regions in Latvia. The principal town is Cesis, which was founded around the middle of the 13th Century. It boasts a variety of Medieval buildings, led by the imposing Castle of Cesis and the adjacent idyllic garden that still retains the charm of that epoch. The only other town in the district is Ligatne, whose major attraction is the Ligatne Nature Trails Reserve, within the boundaries of Gauja National Park. Here, visitors can enjoy virgin forests strewn with lakes and rivers, as well as encounter rare animals like European bison and red deer.