Cake and coffee just a stone's throw away

We have also been pleased to see the opening of a new cake and coffee shop on the same street as Cesu Namins,called “Vinetas un Allas Kārumlāde”. Vineta and Alla, who make the cakes by hand, have been one of Cesis region’s best-kept secrets for a while though their wedding cakes are much in demand across the whole country.

Purely in the interest of research we tried a couple of their home-made cakes and strongly recommend that you do likewise!

One more thing to remember – this year’s Cesis Art Festival runs from 23 July to 15 August. It looks like a good one with the European Union Baroque Orchestra performing at the church (you will actually be able to hear them from Cesu Namins!) and a season of classic Japanese films being shown at the Castle.

July 31 looks like being the highlight, with the whole town set to become a picnic site and local food to the fore.

STOP PRESS: Cesu Namins is now booked from July 8 to 15 so book soon.

Surveys take about 10 minutes to complete, are available in various languages and could win you a week’s free stay in your choice of holiday cottage.

You’ll find the surveys and full details by clicking the banner in the right-hand sidebar or if that doesn’t work, please click HERE.

Thank you very much for your feedback, which will help to ensure the things you value the most are available in future. Good luck!

STOP PRESS: Cesu Namins is now available for just 2 nights over the Yuletide period: the only available dates are 28-30 December, price 70 Ls for 2 nights.

We’re already taking reservations for the spring and summer season 2010 (starting from 1st May) so book early for the widest range of dates.

As well as the tree, the whole town will be decorated and there will be seasonal food and drink, sleigh rides, forest creatures and lots for kids to do. A special secret guest has also been promised, but you’ll have to tun up to discover who that is…

There is availability between 20 December and 03 January, so get in touch as soon as possible to reserve your days.

Price 35 Lats per night.

Plus there’s no better time to wander around the cobblestoned streets of old Cesis. Make sure you linger in the newly-renovated Rozu Laukums (Rose Square) near the church too, which features a wonderful new fountain that’s ideal for kids to splash around in.

The new fountain makes a big splash with kids

Speaking of kids, we should also mention that the excellent play area in the park (2 minutes’ walk from Cesu Namins) has been freshly painted and has slides, swings, climbing frames and sand pits for children of various ages. Fans of “brmm brmms” can even rent a pedal car for a few minutes from a stall there.

And remember that we can provide a crib/cot and other baby equipment at Cesu Namins with prior notice.

There’s still plenty of the summer left, plus the glory of autumn in Cesis and its surrounding forests, so be sure to book your stay as far ahead as possible because the diary is starting to fill up.

Whatever your reason for visiting, we look forard to welcoming you soon!

Demand for Cesu Namins is likely to be high, so if you’d like to immerse yourself in the arts, get booking soon.

Highlights include a Leonard Bernstein musical, numerous art exhibitions, a season of Georgian film and the excellent Valmiera theatre’s staging of King Lear.

You can find full details here.

Cesis could be a Capital of Culture in 2014

Did you know that Cesis is bidding to become a European Capital of Culture in 2014? The town may be small, but its rich cultural life gives it every chance of succeeding former capitals including Glasgow, Liverpool, Vilnius and Graz.

Why not get a sneak preview of what everyone else will be wanting to see before the crowds arrive by staying at Cesu Namins right now?

For more information on Cesis’ bold bid for the spotlight, click here.

STOP PRESS: Unfortunately Cesis did not get the nomination from the European Capital of Culture judging committee, who proved themselves to be utterly
boring and predictable by backing capital city Riga.

Indeed opting for Riga is doubly shortsighted as most people who would have attended events in Cesis or the other competing city, Liepaja, would have had to travel via Riga anyway, spreading the cultural and economic benefits across the country. Now, everything will stay focussed on
Riga.

Maybe Riga’s year will be good, maybe it will simply repeat the disaster of the Baltic states’ current capital of culture, Vilnius. What it certainly won’t be is as genuinely intimate and involving as Cesis’ bid.

So commiserations to all those who put in the hard work on Cesis’ bid, led by Cesis mayor Gints Skenders. In our opinion you were robbed!

Cesu Namins is still available and just one minute’s walk from the castle (we’ve timed it!), so book now if you’d like to join in.

UPDATE – SORRY, CESU NAMINS IS NOW BOOKED ON JUNE 06-07!

We hope you’ll find the information you require here and we can welcome you soon to your home from home.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us using the numbers on the Booking page, and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to do so below!

Best wishes from Eva and Miks.