Strenči is a city in Vidzeme, the center of Strenči district on the bank of the Gauja. An important center for forestry, transport and medical services. As the formation and development of Strenči was facilitated by the forest industry and the floating of trees along the Gauja, Strenči was formerly called the "capital of Gauja rafts". Every year in May in Strenči the raft festival is celebrated.
Geographical location
Strenči is located in the Seda plain of
the Tālava lowlands, on the right bank of the Gauja, up about 5 km
long Strenči rapids. About 15 km long Strenčupīte flows through the
city.
It is crossed by the national highway A3, which
connects the city with Valmiera (19.4 km) and Valka (30 km), and the
railway line Riga-Lugaži.
Coat of Arms
The coat of arms of
the city of Strenči was approved in 1938. The blue background of the
coat of arms symbolizes the Gauja, four horizontal golden stripes
symbolize the trees floating along the Gauja, and three golden
diamonds - the railway passing through Strenči.
History
The first source that tells about the settlement on the site of the
current city of Strenči is the Swedish Vidzeme post office maps of
Riga-Tērbata post office at the end of the 17th century. In the
second half of the 18th century, loggers and raftsmen began to
settle here on the lands of Ēvele, Jaunjērcēni and Keiži manors.
Strenči began to develop into an important settlement after the
opening of Stakeln station (German: Stakeln) in 1889 on the railway
line Riga-Pskov. In 1895, Strenči acquired the rights of a town. In
the forest between the railway station and the Riga-Tartu highway in
1899, on the initiative of the Vidzeme Knights, it was decided to
build the Vidzeme Provincial Psychiatric Hospital, the construction
of which began in 1903 (designed by architect Augusts Reinbergs) and
in 1907 hospitals in Europe with a landscaped park. The first
director of the hospital was Albert Beer. In 1907, the Strenči
Society was established, in 1910 the Credit Union and the
Householders' Association.
After the founding of the Republic
of Latvia, Strenči developed into an important trade and production
center of North Vidzeme, therefore in 1928 they were granted city
rights. In 1935, the city had 313 residential houses (11 masonry,
180 wooden, 122 mixed type), 59 shops and 76 manufacturing companies
- mills, wool cardboard, carpentry, sausage workshop, etc.
World War II marked tragic turning points in the life of a small
town: in 1941, Soviet repressors deported 24 residents of the city
without a court order, and in 1943, the Nazis killed many patients
in a psychiatric hospital. The deportations were repeated in 1949,
when 20 people were deported.
After the war, a forest
industry farm (MRS) was established in the city with a sawmill and
carotene plant and a branch of the Riga chemical engineering plant
"Rinar". Due to migration, the population increased from 1,763
people in 1935 to 2,666 people in 1979.
Cultural and
historical monuments
Strenči pharmacy, built in 1901. Strenči
Church was built in 1907, but its tower was built in 1937 and its
architect is Friedrich Skujiņš. In 1907, the construction of the
Strenči Psychoneurological Hospital was completed, its architect is
A. Reinbergs. Today, the hospital also has a museum. In 1909, the
construction of a reinforced concrete bridge over the Gauja was
completed.
Railway transport
The railway service connects Strenci with
Riga and Valga, daily three pairs of diesel trains Riga - Valga stop
at Strenci station.
Highways
The A3 Inčukalns - Valmiera -
Estonian border (Valka) motorway, which is part of the European
route E 264, passes through Strenci.
The regional road P25
Smiltene - Strenci approaches Strenci.
Local roads include V233
Strenci - Trikata - Miega, V238 Strenci - Erceny - Evele - Kemere,
V239 Station Seda - Strenci and V240 Strenci - Viciems - Mezhmuiza.
Intercity bus service
The main routes are Strenci - Valmiera
- Riga; Strenchi - Seda - Valka; Strenci - Smiltene.