Valka
Encyclopedia
Valka is a town
in northern Latvia
, on the border with Estonia
.
Valka and the Estonian town Valga are twins, separated by the Estonian/Latvian border but using the slogan "One Town, Two States". The border dividing the Livonia
n town of Walk
was marked out in 1920 by an international jury headed by British Colonel Stephen George Tallents. With the expansion of the Schengen Agreement
and abolition of the Estonian/Latvian border in 2007, it was announced that common public bus transport would be established between Valka and Valga. Also, all border crossing-points were removed and roads and fences opened.
(in German) was first mentioned in 1286 and from 1419 was the seat of the Landtag
of the Livonian Confederation
. City rights were granted by the Polish king Stefan Batory
in 1584. However, the town gained its importance only at the end of the 19th century when the Vidzeme
teacher's seminary was operating here.
On November 15, 1918 the decision to proclaim the independent Republic of Latvia was made in Valka. The red-white-red flag of Latvia
was raised here for the first time . On July 1, 1920 the town was divided between the newly-born Latvian and Estonian states.
The University of Latvia
has a branch here. The Institute of Latvia-Estonia provides further education.
Tornio
, Finland
Haparanda
, Sweden
Aleksandrów Kujawski
, Poland
Pskov
, Russia
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in northern Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, on the border with Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
.
Valka and the Estonian town Valga are twins, separated by the Estonian/Latvian border but using the slogan "One Town, Two States". The border dividing the Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
n town of Walk
Walk, Livonia
Walk was the historical German name for the town that is now divided into Valga in Estonia and Valka in Latvia. After 1419 it was the seat of the Landtag of the Livonian Confederation.-See also:*List of German exonyms for places in Estonia...
was marked out in 1920 by an international jury headed by British Colonel Stephen George Tallents. With the expansion of the Schengen Agreement
Schengen Agreement
The Schengen Agreement is a treaty signed on 14 June 1985 near the town of Schengen in Luxembourg, between five of the ten member states of the European Economic Community. It was supplemented by the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement 5 years later...
and abolition of the Estonian/Latvian border in 2007, it was announced that common public bus transport would be established between Valka and Valga. Also, all border crossing-points were removed and roads and fences opened.
History
The town of WalkWalk, Livonia
Walk was the historical German name for the town that is now divided into Valga in Estonia and Valka in Latvia. After 1419 it was the seat of the Landtag of the Livonian Confederation.-See also:*List of German exonyms for places in Estonia...
(in German) was first mentioned in 1286 and from 1419 was the seat of the Landtag
Landtag
A Landtag is a representative assembly or parliament in German-speaking countries with some legislative authority.- Name :...
of the Livonian Confederation
Livonian Confederation
Terra Mariana was the official name for Medieval Livonia or Old Livonia which was formed in the aftermath of the Livonian Crusade in the territories comprising present day Estonia and Latvia...
. City rights were granted by the Polish king Stefan Batory
Stefan Batory
Stephen Báthory was a Hungarian noble Prince of Transylvania , then King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania . He was a member of the Somlyó branch of the noble Hungarian Báthory family...
in 1584. However, the town gained its importance only at the end of the 19th century when the Vidzeme
Vidzeme
Vidzeme is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. Literally meaning "the Middle Land" it is situated in north-central Latvia north of the Daugava River...
teacher's seminary was operating here.
On November 15, 1918 the decision to proclaim the independent Republic of Latvia was made in Valka. The red-white-red flag of Latvia
Flag of Latvia
The national flag of Latvia was used by independent Latvia from 1918 until the country was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. Its use was suppressed during Soviet rule. After regaining its independence, Latvia re-adopted on February 27, 1990 the same red-white-red flag.Though officially adopted...
was raised here for the first time . On July 1, 1920 the town was divided between the newly-born Latvian and Estonian states.
Education
There is one primary school and a gymnasium in Valka.The University of Latvia
University of Latvia
University of Latvia is a university located in Riga, Latvia. Being established in 1919, University of Latvia is the biggest university in the Baltic states.-History:...
has a branch here. The Institute of Latvia-Estonia provides further education.
Notable people from Valka
- Jānis CimzeJānis CimzeJānis Cimze was a Latvian pedagogue, collector and harmoniser of folk songs, organist, founder of Latvian choral music and initiator of professional Latvian music. He is buried at the Lugaži Cemetery.- Early life :Jānis Cimze was born at the Cimze Manor in the family of a manor overseer...
(1814–1881), pedagogue, founder of Vidzeme teacher's seminary - first higher education institution in Latvia's teritory - Aigars FadejevsAigars FadejevsAigars Fadejevs is a Latvian athlete, competing in 20 km, 50 km walk and marathon running.Fadejevs has competed in 1996 Summer Olympics, finishing 6th in 20 km walk and in 2000 Summer Olympics, winning the silver medal in 50 km,2004 Olympic,50 km 11th,20 km 9th...
(born 1975), racewalker - Vents Armands KrauklisVents Armands KrauklisVents Armands Krauklis is a Latvian politician. He is a Deputy of the Saeima and a member of the People's Party.-References:...
(born 1964), politician, former mayor of Valka city (2001-2005) - Roberts Ķīlis (born 1968), social anthropologist, current Minister of Education and Science
- Pavel LoskutovPavel LoskutovPavel Loskutov is a former Estonian long-distance runner who specialized in marathon races. He has competed in the Olympic marathon race four times consecutively, from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics to the 2008 Beijing Games.In 2001, he won the Göteborgsvarvet half marathon in Gothenburg with a time of...
(born 1969), Estonian long-distance runner - Gatis SmukulisGatis SmukulisGatis Smukulis is a Latvian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam .- Major achievements :20052006...
(born 1987), road bicycle racer - Andris VilksAndris VilksAndris Vilks is a Latvian politician, member of the Civic Union party and the incumbent Minister of Finance of Latvia since 3 November 2010.-References:...
(born 1963), current Minister of Finance
Sister cities
Valga, EstoniaEstonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
Tornio
Tornio
Tornio is a town and municipality in Lapland, Finland. The municipality covers an area of of which is water. The population density is , with a total population of . It borders to the Swedish municipality of Haparanda...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Haparanda
Haparanda
Haparanda is a locality and the seat of Haparanda Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 4,778 inhabitants in 2005. It is adjacent to Tornio, Finland...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Aleksandrów Kujawski
Aleksandrów Kujawski
Aleksandrów Kujawski is a small town in Poland, in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.It is situated about 18 km south-east of Toruń...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Pskov
Pskov
Pskov is an ancient city and the administrative center of Pskov Oblast, Russia, located in the northwest of Russia about east from the Estonian border, on the Velikaya River. Population: -Early history:...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...