Cēsis - Svētā Jāņa baznīca

Cēsis (German: Wenden) is known since the 11th century, when the Livonian Brothers of the Sword built a castle here, that later served as the residence for the Order's Master.

In 1577, during the Livonian War, the garrison destroyed the castle to prevent it from falling into the control of Ivan the Terrible, who was defeated in the Battle of Wenden in 1578. In 1620 Wenden was conquered by Sweden. It was rebuilt but destroyed again in 1703 during the Great Northern War by the Russian army.

The church was built in the 13th century. It was consecrated in 1284. During the Reformation the church was demolished and Images and statues were destroyed in an iconoclasm. The church was destroyed by Polish troops in the 16th century, and only bare walls remained after a fire of 1607. In 1629 the restoration of the Lutheran faith began in Cēsis and the church was returned to the Lutherans. Extensive restoration work took place in the 1630s.

There are some strange sculptures in the church. Here is an older one. Probably from the 13th century.