Recreation Place “Meža kaujas”, the Main Venues of the Cēsis Battles near the Amata Bridge
Battle site
Named Forest Battles, the rest area is situated in the main location of the Battles of Cēsis near the Amata bridge. Visitors can listen to stories about the Battles of Cēsis and can take part in various activities, including hikes and trips around the most important venues of the Battles of Cēsis, and team battles. At the end, the visitors can enjoy an invigorating wartime soup. The railway bridge over Amata played a very important role throughout the War of Independence, as the first clashes of the Estonian Army with the Landeswehr took place here. On 5 June 1919, the first battle of the Estonian Army’s armoured trains with the Baltic Landeswehr units took place by the railway bridge over Amata. The Landeswehr, knowing that an armoured train was approaching, planted mines on the railway bridge and secured positions at the homestead Amatas on the riverbank in preparation for a possible battle. The bridge over Amata marked the border between Estonian forces and the Germans. On the night of 23 June 1919, during the Battles of Cēsis, the Landeswehr left Cēsis and retreated to the Amata river line. When retreating, the Germans burned down the Cēsis Latvian Society House and blew up the bridge over Amata.
A unique opportunity is offered to watch the events of June 5, 1919 through virtual reality glasses.
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The Battle of Cēsis on the banks of the Amata River
At the bridge over the Amata, the German Landeswehr attacks an Estonian armored train that has arrived for negotiations. The Estonians open counterfire, the Germans are repulsed, and the armored train returns to Cēsis.
The beginning, course and conclusion of the Battle of Cēsis
The victory in the Battle of Cēsis was destined to become a turning point in the Latvian and Estonian struggle for the independence of their country. This victory put an end to the plans of the Andrievs Niedra government and the German general Rüdiger von der Goltz to conquer the Baltics. Instead, the Latvian Provisional Government of Kārlis Ulmanis resumed its activities in Liepāja.
Battle at the bridge over Amata River
The Battle of Cēsis is one of the most significant stages of the Latvian War of Independence and also occupies a significant place in the history of the Estonian War of Independence.
















