Take an exciting 8-kilometre journey through the historical health institutions of Cesis! The route starts with Maija Park, where the first cold water healing institution in the Baltics was established in the mid-19th century.
Next, head to the first hospital in Cesis, L. Katrīnas Street, founded in 1762, from which you will pass the famous “House of Musses” or Cesis School of Nursing, which trained nurses in Vidzeme for almost 50 years and was also known as the “Yellow House”.
The tour continues with the Cēsis Old Hospital on Bērzaines Street, where there is a two-storey steel stone building. 1935. In 2010, the first blood transfusion surgery in Cesis was performed here!
From the old hospital, your steps will lead you to the new hospital of Cesis, which was opened in 1975. The opening ceremony was attended not by a minister but by his deputy, and everyone was presented with unusual brooches from… sawed antlers!
Then there is the famous Bērzaine Gymnasium, where many eminent doctors have studied. Then the walk continues to the former Tuberculosis Sanatorium, where patients used to sleep with the windows open to enjoy “air baths” even in winter. A legendary place where such greats as Imants Ziedonis, Ojārs Vācietis and even the world chess champion Mikhail Tal were treated!
Followed by the Cēsis Anti-Tuberculosis Dispensary and the Augusts Smilga Sanatorium – once the most modern medical institution, where there was even electric lighting!
At the end of the route, visit the “Vanadziņš House”, where Dr. Kārlis Vanadziņš lived and practised – a doctor, town head and fire chief in one person, and finish the tour at the first private pharmacy in Latvia, which opened in 1991 in a small Sardzes house.
Are you ready for this time travel? Wear comfortable shoes, bring a bottle of water (to honour the famous Cēsis water healing, of course) and set off on an exciting adventure along the trails of health history!
