Valka () is a
town in northern
Latvia, on the border with
Estonia.
Valka and the Estonian town
Valga are twins, separated by the Estonian/Latvian border but using the slogan "One Town, Two States". The border dividing the
Livonian town of
Walk was marked out in 1920 by an international jury headed by British Colonel
Stephen George Tallents. With the expansion of the
Schengen Agreement and abolition of the Estonian/Latvian border in 2007, it was announced that common public bus transport would be established between Valka and
Valga. Also, all border crossing-points were removed and roads and fences opened.
History
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 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.
On November 15, 1918 the decision 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 . On
July 1,
1920 the town was divided between the newly-born Latvian and Estonian states.
Education
There is one primary school and a gymnasium in Valka.
The
University of Latvia has a branch here. The Institute of Latvia-Estonia provides further education.
Notable people from Valka
Sister Cities
See also
