Raunas Gates
In the Middle Ages, Cēsis was guarded by five fortified gates. At the very beginning of what is now Rīgas Street stood one of the most significant—the Raunas Gate—dating back to the 14th–15th centuries. From here, two major medieval trade routes began: one to Rauna–Alūksne–Pskov, and another to Trikāta–Pskov, connecting Cēsis to distant lands.
Today, visitors can explore a partial reconstruction of the original city wall, including visible fragments of the gate’s foundations and above-ground elements. This gives a tangible sense of the wall’s scale, fortitude, and architectural style. Walking across the carefully unearthed cobblestones, one can imagine how locals once traversed these same paths in the 17th–18th centuries.
Symbolically, Raunas Gate now links two distinct parts of the city—the historic Old Town and the modern Unity Square, which is considered the heart of Cēsis.
