One of the old­est towns in the coun­try is Cesis, locat­ed in the Cen­tral Vidzeme Upland. The Old Town is a main rea­son to vis­it, and the cob­ble­stone streets set the tone for quaint, charm­ing explo­ration. Cesis also boasts two cas­tles, side by side, that are extra­or­di­nary. The first is the orig­i­nal Cesis Cas­tle, found­ed in the 13th cen­tu­ry and now most­ly in ruin. Next door is the New Cesis Cas­tle, con­struct­ed in the 18th cen­tu­ry. The new cas­tle is beau­ti­ful and sur­round­ed by gor­geous grounds. The cas­tle is also home to the Cēsis Muse­um of His­to­ry and Art.