HomeNews The centenary of the Battle of Cēsis, Latvia’s Victory Day, to be celebrated in Cēsis on 22 June

The centenary of the Battle of Cēsis, Latvia’s Victory Day, to be celebrated in Cēsis on 22 June

The celebrations of Latvia’s Victory Day, the centenary of the Battle of Cēsis, will be held on Saturday, 22 June.

One hundred years ago, the Latvian War of Independence was fought for Latvia’s right to exist. The turning point of the war occurred on the front-line of Northern Latvia near Cēsis on 22 June when Latvian and Estonian troops defeated the Landwehr army and proceeded to Riga.

Latvia’s Victory Day, the centenary of the Battle of Cēsis, has been included in the programme of the Latvian centenary celebrations and this year the festivities in Cēsis will spread particularly far and wide by highlighting the joint responsibility, involvement and protection of personal values not only through the prism of the past, but in particular through that of the present and the future.

In the Battle of Cēsis, the armies of Latvia and Lithuania prevailed not because of superior equipment, but because their ideas and values were stronger than those of the opponent. On the 100^th anniversary of this Battle, we want to talk about the victories that we celebrate, continuing to defend our values today. The centenary of the victory in the Battle of Cēsis shall be an event of participation and involvement among the people of Northern Latvia dedicating a special role to bravery and the ability to impact one’s own life and the life of the whole country, making it a better, fairer and more equal place.

The exhibition The First Year dedicated to the centenary of Latvia is already open to visitors at the Cēsis History and Art Museum, it offers an interactive way of getting to know the main events and processes taking place during the first year of existence of independent Latvia. The author of the exhibition is Dr. hist. Tālis Pumpuriņš, historian at Cēsis Museum, and the scenography of the exhibition was created by artists Ritums Ivanovs, Mārtiņš Blanks, Krists Zankovskis.

Director Kaspars Goba is currently making a documentary on the Battle of Cēsis, providing an illustrative and clear insight into the national context of Latvia in 1919 and explaining the significance of the Battle of Cēsis in the history of Latvia.

Youth will be at the centre of the programme of 22 June dedicated to Latvia’s Victory Day, the centenary of the Battle of Cēsis: not only because of the age, but also because of their mindset and values.

The festive programme will be extremely diverse, taking place throughout the town from dawn to dusk. The celebration will gather singers and dancers from all over Vidzeme to offer a fascinating performance with a contemporary programme at Vienības Square. Meanwhile Rīgas Street, the main artery of Cēsis, will be subjected to a time warp featuring many documentary performances. In the afternoon, the reenactment of the historic battle will take place in Pirtsupīte Gully. The programme for Latvia’s Victory Day was elaborated by Renārs Sproģis, the author of the whole idea, together with his creative team, namely, Krista Burāne, Mārtiņš Eihe, Rūdolfs Baltiņš and Jolanta Sausiņa.

The reconstructed historic Estonian armoured train Freedom will be a unique feature of the Battle of Cēsis programme, available for viewing on 15-22 June. The armoured train will be at the Cēsis railway station for a week, giving everyone who is interested, free access to military technology used one hundred years ago and stories about the struggles for freedom and cooperation between the Latvian and Estonian armies. The reconstructed armoured train travels around Estonia throughout the year, having already become one of the most popular attractions of the Centenary in Estonia. In Latvia, the project is carried out by the local government of Cēsis Municipality in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture's Office Latvia 100, VAS Latvijas Dzelzceļš (Latvian Railways) and SIA LDz apsardze.

On 22 June, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, there will be an opportunity to assess the might of the modern-day army in the National Armed Forces’ parade and exhibition of military equipment. The National Armed Forces Staff Orchestra and the National Guard Orchestra will also take part in the event. Meanwhile, National Guard units will organise exciting large-scale orienteering competitions with different body and mind challenges all over the town.

The Battle of Cēsis centenary celebrations in Cēsis are organised by the local government of Cēsis Municipality in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Defence and the National Armed Forces.

Programme of 22nd of June:

11.00     Opening event To the Strength of Togetherness at the Cēsis railway station. Meeting with the Presidents of Latvia and Estonia and viewing of the historic Estonian armoured train Freedom.

12.00     Military parade at Vienības (Unity) Square hosted by the President of Latvia and the President of       Estonia. Participants: Army units of the armed forces of Latvia and Estonia and allied forces, the National Armed Forces (NAF) Staff Orchestra with a defile programme.

13.00–15.30       Documentary The Cēsis Battles. A Turning Point in Latvia's History at the Youth house at 23 Rīgas Street.

13.00–16.00       Interactive games and quizzes in the courtyard of 12 Pils Street.

Test your knowledge and acquire new information about the Battle of Cēsis. Different tasks of providing first aid and survival skill tests. Relive the stories from the Battle of Cēsis. Organised by: Youth Council of Cēsis Municipality, association Youth for City – City for Youth.

11.00–16.00 Exhibition of the National Armed Forces’ and allied forces’ military equipment in the town of Cēsis.

From 13.00 Military exercise with the National Guard and the Cadet Force in Pils (Castle) Park. Test your agility, strength and wit.

13.30–15.30 Documentary performance In Defiance of Fear.

Listen to and see the events from the history of the students of Cēsis Regiment and get to know modern-day heroes in different parts of Rīgas Street starting from Vienības Square to Līvu (Liv) Square.

Participants: Cēsis theatre (directed by Edīte Siļķēna), schoolchildren from the Vidzeme region and students of the Latvian Academy of Culture, representatives of the National Armed Forces    talking about their everyday life in the army and work in international operations. The National Guard Orchestra (conducted by Andis Karelis), the Orchestra of the Estonian Defence Forces (conducted by Simmu Vasar) and folklore group Dzieti (led by Dace Balode). Director Krista Burāne. Front-line workshop on Rīgas Street. Craft your own memorial ring from the period of the Battle of Cēsis and challenge your strengths in different activities. Exhibition of the military uniforms worn in the Latvian War of Independence and other artefacts of the time.

13.30     Concert Into Life with Song at Vienības Square. Participants: TRIO – Šmite Rancane Cinkuss, amateur choirs and dance groups from the Vidzeme region, the National Armed Forces Staff Orchestra. Artistic directors Mārtiņš Klišāns, Andis Kozaks, Andis Karelis. Conductors Jurģis Cābulis, Guntis Kumačevs. Director Krista Burāne.

16.00     Reenactment of the Battle of Cēsis in Pirtsupīte Gully. Participants include more than 200 reenactors from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia, battle specialists and cadets of the National Defence Academy of Latvia. At the end of the battle reenactments, everyone is welcome to join the Victory March accompanied by the orchestras to celebrate the victory of the Latvian and Estonian armies. Director Krista Burāne. Battles reenacted under the guidance of Jānis Jeļisejevs, head of the Military history and reenactor association Kurland, close combat choreography by Kārlis Neimanis (LV) and Laura Nolvaka (EE).

16.40     Victory March along Lenču Street to Vienības Square together with the participants                of the Battle of Cēsis reenactment, orchestras, inhabitants and guests of Cēsis.

17.00     Victory Ball at Vienības Square. Music by the National Guard Orchestra and Cēsis Brass Band. Director Krista Burāne, artistic director Jānis Puriņš.

18.00     Concert in honour of the centenary of the Battle of Cēsis at the Cēsis Vidzeme Concert Hall. Participants: Marlēna Keine (soprano, Latvia), Atlans Karps (baritone, Estonia), Mihails Čuļpajevs (tenor, Latvia), the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Estonian National Male Choir, the Latvian National Women's Choir, Agris Daņiļevičs’ dance group Dzirnas. Conductor Andris Veismanis. Choreography by Agris Daņiļevičs and Markus Zmoelnig (Italy). Oratorio Carmina Burana by Carl Orff.

During the day:

11.00–18.00       Exhibition The First Year dedicated to the centenary of Latvia at the Cēsis History and Art Museum at 9 Pils Square.

10.00–19.00       The Estonian armoured train Freedom at the Cēsis railway station.

11.00–19.00       Exhibition Burning Conscience in the courtyard building at 12 Pils Street.

11.00–16.00       Orienteering game Battle of Cēsis 100 with Draugiem Group. Interactive mobile game application in Cēsis, pre-registration required.