Strenči

Strenci (in Latvian Strenči) is a city in Valka district, northern Latvia, 25 km from the border with Estonia. Strenči lies half way between Valmiera and Valka.

Understand
City-wise equipped with all necessary attributes, including the Tourist Information Centre, but from an infrastructure point of view this place is as unpromising as Valka. Strenči was first mentioned at the end of the 17th century. The city began to expand at the end of the 19th century, due the construction of the railway. The most significant event its history was the creation of a large mental hospital, which remains the main city attraction and is perhaps the only reason why residents of other cities come here. Nevertheless, it is still pleasant to take a walk along the shore of Gauja, where the park is cut in half.



Get in
The main road from Riga to Tartu in Estonia goes through Strenči centre. You can get here by bus or train from Riga.

There are plenty of buses and train connections, see 1188.lv. The train station is a little further northeast and does not leave the impression of anything being here when disembarking from the train.

Get around
Just walk or take your car. Strenči is a small place.

Buy
Along Rīgas iela there are many small shops and grocery stores, but no shopping centres.

Drink
Probably the most unfavourable city to have a bar or pub.

Go next

 * Seda – Just 5 km northeast. Founded in 1953 in an uninhabited area, it still embodies the pomp of Communist and Stalinist shock-work aka architecture. Nearby a vast peat bogs man-made nature area can be found, and is not to be missed. Both occurrences are historically tied to each other.
 * Valka – A unique town on the Estonian border, which runs through the town centre, creating Valga on the other side. It is close to regaining the status of an important cultural centre.
 * Smiltene – Features a manor, some castle ruins, and a watch tower over the surrounding area. Not very interesting, but quite cosy and slightly larger than Valka, and not far from the Pskov highway.
 * Valmiera – Features the only professional theatre in the region, castle ruins, a medieval church, a famous brewery, and is the start of the Gauja National Park.
 * Cēsis – One of the country's oldest towns. It has an impressive castle complex of Livonian Order origin, a charming city centre with some cobblestoned streets, and historic wooden buildings.