Get yourself wrapped into culture this summer in Cesis!

Cësis is the cultural centre of the region and one of the oldest and most authentically Latvian cities in the country. Thus, not surprising, Cësis is one of three Latvian cities besides Riga and Liepâja, which continues the competition to get the title of European Capital of Culture 2014. The European Capital of Culture program of 2014 proposed by Cësis covers the whole territory of Vidzeme, one of the four historic regions of Latvia, in partnership with the rest of the Vidzeme authorities. The emotional objective sought by Cësis and its partner cities is to outline the ways in which the small can become great and that exactly the culture is the best measure of all things. Yet the plans of wrapping each partner city in a genre of art, turning them into a giant exhibition hall or a grand temporary stage might become real in 2014, the cultural visitors are warmly invited to visit Cësis and enjoy city's artistic events already now - in summer 2009.

On 16 May Cësis Art and History Museum will amaze the visitors with the extraordinarily rich and diverse program of the International Night of Museums. Town's Museum takes part in the event since 2005 and as one of the participating museums in Latvia offers free admission for an evening and organise different events on a nationally-chosen theme. This year it will be all about travelling - costumes, accessories and vehicles of different times, virtual and field excursions, different cuisines and other travelling activities of different sorts will be at visitors' service throughout the night. The overall aim of this one-evening annual event, which initially was launched by the French Ministry for Culture & Communication, to get as wide a public as possible interested in visiting museum collections, has come true. Last year 7000 people visited the Museum Night's activities of Cësis Museum and delved into the rich and diverse collections housed in the Cesis Castle Manor. On 6 and 7 June Cesis will celebrate the medieval festival "Livonia. 1378. Wenden". These days Cesis Castle Manor will turn into gates of history, and every visitor will be offered the opportunity to enjoy seven centuries old traditions and to compete, wrestle, learn and try varied different medieval activities hand in hand with merchants, craftsmen, peasants,and musicians of the medieval times. From 25 July until 15 August Cesis twill host the annual Cesis Arts Festival, the largest officially recognised festival of professional arts in Latvia. The largest ambition of the festival this year is to bring Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar to the open air stage in Cesis Castle Park. Updated information about the festival here: www.cesufestivals.lv.

On 25 July Cesis will celebrate its annual town festival. A lot of different events will take place in Cesis all daylong starting from 11 AM until the last dancer... Since the city is 802 years old, the Medieval castle and its historical importance during the festival will be highlighted.