Cesis Webcam – Rose Square in Latvia’s Medieval Town

The Cesis Webcam looks down on Rose Square in the Old Town of Cesis, Latvia, with the white tower of St. John’s Church rising at the right of the frame. A long red-brick building with white window surrounds fills the left side, a cream building with balconies stands between it and the church, and the red-tiled roof of a small pavilion sits in the foreground. The open paving in the middle is the fountain area, where children play among the jets in summer. Three more town cameras sit in the tabs above the player, covering Unity Square, May Park and a floating islet in the Castle Park pond.

About Cesis

Cesis lies about 90 kilometers (56 miles) northeast of Riga in the Vidzeme region, on the edge of Gauja National Park, the largest national park in Latvia. The area is first recorded in connection with events of 1206, a document of 1323 is the first to call Cesis a town, and it joined the Hanseatic League in the early 15th century. About 14,900 people lived there at the start of 2026. The Gauja river runs for roughly 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) along the town’s territory, and the highest point inside the town, Zvirbulkalns, stands 113 meters (371 feet) above sea level.

Rose Square was the town’s market square, with trade there from the mid-13th century. A pillory and a well once stood in its southwest corner. The market moved out in the 1920s because the square had grown too small, and by 1927 the space had become a garden square. It now holds the fountain, which is lit in colors after dark, and a bronze sculpture, Ancient Cesis, by Matiss Jansons. Weekend events take place here, and the town Christmas tree is lit on the square on the first Sunday of Advent. St. John’s Church, the Lutheran church on its edge, was built in the late 13th century.

Unity Square, on the Unity Square tab, is the town’s other large square. The obelisk at its center is the Victory Monument, which honors the Latvian and Estonian troops who defeated German forces in the Battle of Cesis in June 1919. It was first unveiled in 1924, blown up under Soviet rule in 1951 and rebuilt in 1998 from Saaremaa dolomite given by Estonia. A ring of flagpoles surrounds it, and the fisheye lens bends the streets at the edges of that frame.

Weather and Climate in Cesis

Cesis has cold winters and mild summers. Normals for 1991 to 2020 from the Zoseni weather station, in the same municipality, give January an average high of -2.3°C (28°F) and a low of -7.4°C (19°F). Average highs stay below freezing from December through February, so snow often lies on the roofs around Rose Square, and in late December the sun is up for only about six and a half hours. April averages 10.7°C (51°F) by day and just above freezing at night, and May reaches 16.7°C (62°F).

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 22.6°C (73°F) and lows of 11.2°C (52°F). Around midsummer daylight lasts about 18 hours, so the square stays light until late evening. September still averages 15.7°C (60°F) by day, while October drops to 8.8°C (48°F) by day and 2.3°C (36°F) at night. In autumn the trees around the May Park pond turn yellow, and fallen leaves drift on the Castle Park pond around the floating islet.

Things to Do Near Cesis

The castle ruins are the town’s big draw, although none of the cameras shows them. The Livonian Brothers of the Sword began the stone castle in 1213 or 1214 beside an older hillfort, and at the end of the 15th century it became the permanent residence of the masters of the Livonian Order. In 1577, during the Livonian War, Ivan the Terrible’s army bombarded it for five days, and about 300 people inside blew themselves up with gunpowder rather than surrender. Visitors climb the Western Tower to the Master’s Chamber carrying a candle lantern, a tradition since 1996, and the top looks out over the surrounding country. The Cesis History and Art Museum is in the castle complex, and the landscape park around it, with its pond, was laid out in the 1830s.

The tower of St. John’s Church can also be climbed for a view over the Old Town rooftops. May Park lies across Lencu Street from Castle Park, and its pond and fountain are on the May Park tab. In winter the Zagarkalns ski center opens for skiing, and the forests and river valleys of Gauja National Park begin at the edge of town. The Cesis Art Festival is held every year in July and August, and trains and direct buses link the town with Riga.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

Latvia has a second Rose Square on camera, in Liepaja, and two more Latvian views are worth a look.

• Liepaja Rose Square Webcam
• Riga Webcam
• Venta Rapid Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Cesis located?

Cesis is in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) northeast of Riga, on the edge of Gauja National Park.

What can you see on the Cesis Webcam?

The main camera looks across Rose Square in the Old Town to the white tower of St. John’s Church, with the fountain area in the middle. The tabs add Unity Square and its Victory Monument, the pond in May Park and the floating islet in the Castle Park pond.

Does the Cesis Webcam show Cesis Castle?

No. None of the four cameras on this page shows the castle itself. The nearest is the floating islet camera, which sits in the Castle Park pond and frames the islet up close.

What is Rose Square in Cesis?

Rose Square is the old market square of Cesis, used for trade from the mid-13th century until the market moved in the 1920s. Since 1927 it has been a garden square with a fountain and the bronze sculpture Ancient Cesis.

Is there a live camera on Unity Square in Cesis?

Yes. The Unity Square tab shows the square from above through a fisheye lens, with the Victory Monument obelisk at the center and flagpoles around it.

What is the weather like in Cesis?

Winters are cold, with January averaging -2.3°C (28°F) by day and -7.4°C (19°F) at night at the nearby Zoseni station. Summers are mild, with July highs around 22.6°C (73°F). Spring and autumn are cool, with April and October highs of about 9 to 11°C (48 to 51°F).

When is the best time to visit Cesis?

Summer brings the longest days, the Cesis Art Festival in July and August, and the fountain on Rose Square. Winter has the Christmas tree lighting on the first Sunday of Advent and skiing at Zagarkalns, but short days and temperatures below freezing.

Source: Cesis Municipality