Valga (German: Walk) – a city in southern Estonia, on the border with Latvia, 245 km south of the capital Tallinn. Until 1920, together with the city of Valka located on the Latvian side, it formed one city – Walk. Population: 14.3 thousand (2000). The city covers an area of 16.5 km². The administrative center of the Valga province. The city lies on the Pedeli River. Valga, Church of St. JohnWalk (Walk) was first mentioned in 1286, and city rights were granted to the city only by the Polish king Stefan Batory in 1584. On November 15, 1918, a decision was made in Valk to proclaim the independence of Latvia. On July 1, 1920, the city was divided between Latvia (present-day Valka) and Estonia (present-day Valga).
- Valga is not a tourist mecca, however, recent renovations to the city center have added beauty to this somewhat rundown and neglected town. The Estonian side of Valga is inhabited by about 12,000 people (75% Estonians, the rest are a Russian-speaking minority), and the Latvian side is inhabited by about 4,000 (almost all Latvians).
- As is the case in Latvia and Estonia, almost every city has a lake, a network of walking trails, wooden footbridges or viewpoints. It is the same here and this is the strongest reason to come here. Several small dams have been built along the Pedeli River, which has created a network of lakes. Around them you can wander along various paths and sidewalks, and admire the northern greenery and (unfortunately) the local housing estates.
- Valga, or rather the Latvian Valka, has been attracting more attention lately, especially from Estonians. And this is due to cheap alcohol. Estonia, following the example of the Nordic countries, has increased the excise tax on alcohol, which has caused prices to rise and many residents go to the border to buy cheaper alcohol on the Latvian side. Valka is such a place. Currently, this part of the city is dominated by advertisements for alcohol stores, which inside resemble large wholesalers and supermarkets. But is it really that cheaper in Latvia? The answer is unequivocally: yes. Similar drinks can cost up to 50% less. How will the Estonian and Latvian states benefit from this policy? We will see in the long term, but 2019 is definitely not a good year to drink alcohol in Estonia.
- Go to Riia Kohvik, or “Riga coffee shop“. It doesn’t resemble anything in Riga, but if you stop for a moment in this town and are hungry/thirsty, Mrs. Grażynka will give you coffee, serve you one of the cheapest pizzas in the country, and for dessert you will taste delicious creamy desserts or yeast buns from the local bakery. In the background you will hear a modern remake of the Estonian hit from the 90s “Neiu Mustas Kleidis” – at least I had the dubious pleasure of listening to this music.
- You can also go to the train station, board a modern Estonian railway and continue to Tartu. In Valga the Estonian adventure begins well.
