Valka

The town of Walk (in German) was first mentioned in 1286 and from 1419 was the seat of the Landtag of the Livonian Confederation. City rights were granted by the Polish-Lithuanian king Stefan Batory in 1584. However, the town gained its importance only at the end of the 19th century when the Vidzeme teacher's seminary was operating here, and the important railway junction was developed. Furthermore, the first narrow-gauge railway line in the territory of modern Latvia was stretched from Valka to Estonian city of Pärnu. On 15 November 1917 the decision of the Latvian Provisional National Council to proclaim the independent Republic of Latvia was made in Valka. The red-white-red flag of Latvia was raised here for the first time. The town was a subject of a dispute between the newly born Latvian and Estonian states; on 1 July 1920 the town was divided between the two states as a compromise. ==Education==

There is one primary school and a gymnasium in Valka. The Institute of Latvia-Estonia provides further education. ==Notable people==

• Jānis Cimze (1814–1881), pedagogue, founder of Vidzeme teacher's seminary - first higher education institution in Latvia's territory • Piers Bohl (1865–1921), mathematician • Andris Vilks (born 1963), former Minister of Finance (2009–2014) • Vents Armands Krauklis (born 1964), musician, politician, former mayor of Valka city (2001–2006), member of Saeima (2006–2010) • Roberts Ķīlis (1968–2022), social anthropologist, former Minister of Education and Science (2011–2013) • Pavel Loskutov (born 1969), Estonian long-distance runner • Aigars Fadejevs (born 1975), Olympic race-walker, winner of silver medal at Olympic Games of 2000 in Sydney • Arturs Neikšāns (born 1983), Latvian chess player and coach, Latvian champion • Gatis Smukulis (born 1987), road bicycle racer • Agris Krūms (born 1972), musician, founder of the group AAA ==Twin towns — sister cities==

Valka is twinned with: • Braslaw, Belarus • Çamlıyayla, Turkey • I'billin, Israel • Kutaisi, Georgia • Marijampolė, Lithuania • Novoye Devyatkino, Russia • Valga, Estonia • Valga, Spain ==Gallery==

File:Valka, Semināra iela (1).JPG|Semināra iela File:Valka, Rīgas iela (3).JPG|Rīgas iela (Riga Street) at the Estonian border. File:Valka, Ausekļa iela (4).JPG|Apartment building from the Soviet era. File:Valka, Pedele (2).JPG|Pedele River in Valka. File:Valkas pamatskola.JPG|Valka Primary school ==See also==