Gulbene (; ) is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

in the

Vidzeme Vidzeme (; Old Latvian orthography: ''Widda-semme'', ) is one of the Historical Latvian Lands. The capital of Latvia, Riga, is situated in the southwestern part of the region. Literally meaning "the Middle Land", it is situated in north-centra ...

region of

Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...

. It is an administrative center of Gulbene Municipality.

History

Historical documents first mention the 1224 land division act between the Order of the Sword Brothers and the Archbishop of Riga. In the 14th century, the Archbishop built a stone

castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...

around which a populated place was formed. The

Evangelical Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of th ...

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

church (Brivības iela 13) was built on the ancient Latgalian castle mound in place of the later Middle Age brick castle from 1838.–1843. The church is built in the

classical style Classical architecture typically refers to architecture consciously derived from the principles of Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, or more specifically, from ''De architectura'' (c. 10 AD) by the Roman architect Vitruvius. Va ...

. Vecgulbene (Old Gulbene) estate complex was built in the middle and second half of the 19th century not far off the church. The most significant buildings are the White Palace (Brivības iela 12), the Red Palace (Parka iela 1) and the magazine granary (Brivības iela 9). Both palaces have been destroyed and rebuilt several times. Since 1924 the elementary school of the city occupies the Red Palace. Since 2004 Stradu pagasta pārvalde occupies part of the palace. After the construction of the Stukmani to

Valka Valka (; ) is a town and municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, on the border with Estonia along both banks of the river Pedele. Valka and the Estonian town Valga are twins, separated by the Estonian/Latvian border but using the slogan " ...

narrow-gauge railway in 1903 and subsequent broad-gauge line construction during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Vecgulbene was established as an important railway junction, and in 1920 it was given the rights of a small village. During the first period of Latvian independence, besides those employed by the railways, small business, trades and crafts were the most important economic activities in the town. Gulbene was heavily damaged during the last years of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. After the war, during the Soviet occupation, Gulbene initially became a district, and later, in 1950, a regional centre. In the 1960s and 1970s branches of several major industrial companies were established in the city. Local enterprise was mainly involved with

wood processing Wood processing is an engineering discipline in the wood industry comprising the production of forest products, such as pulp and paper, construction materials, and tall oil. Paper engineering is a subfield of wood processing. The major wo ...

. The most architecturally significant building in the area is the passenger building at Gulbene railway station, built in 1926 by the well-known professor of architecture Peteris Feders (1868 – 1936). It is one of the largest and most magnificent railway station buildings in Latvia.

Geography

There is one major town in the Gulbene municipality, and the region is separated into 13 smaller rural parishes. Gulbene is being developed as an environmentally-friendly territory.

Climate

Gulbene has a

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers, and cold ...

(

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...

''Dfb''). Gulbene has a cold and long winter, a warm and short summer, and a fleeting spring and autumn. Winters are often below . In the cold waves of 1940, 1956, 1978, 1985 and 1987, there were low temperatures below , and even extremely cold weather approaching . In mid-summer there will be warm weather exceeding , and sometimes there will be high temperatures exceeding . The monthly averages range from to , whereas all-time extremes range from on 16 January 1940 to on 11 August 1992.

Demographics

Within existing limits, according to CSB data.

Population changes

Tourism

The Gulbenes Regional History and Art Museum displays one of the most valuable relics of Latvian museums - a chair designed by Julius Madernieks (1870–1955) made in the 1920s. Julius Madernieks was the founder of Latvian professional applied art born in Vecgulbenes parish and being notable person in city Gulbene.

Sports

The Gulbene municipality's biggest rivers (

Gauja The Gauja River (, ) is a river in the Vidzeme region of Latvia. It is the only large river of Latvia that begins and ends its flow in Latvia. Its length is 460 km, of which 93.5 km (approximately one-fifth) are in Gauja National P ...

, Tirza and

Pededze The Pededze () is a river in Latvia and Estonia. It has a length of , of which 131 km flow through Latvia. It flows in a generally southern direction. It is a right tributary of the Aiviekste, and the source of the Pededze is Lake Kirikum ...

) are currently popular locations for nature

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the Commerce, commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as ...

and water-sports, but once these were famous places for harvesting river-pearls. Cycling is enjoyed on local country paths. Gulbene has a

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

team, Gulbenes Buki, playing in the higher division of the Latvian basketball league.

Media

The Gulbene region is served by a newspaper, '' Dzirkstele''.

Gallery

Gulbene raudteejaam 01.JPG, Gulbene Railway Station Red castle of Gulbene - panoramio.jpg, Red Castle of Gulbene Gulbene Rīgas iela, 2013.jpg, Building on the Vidus street in Gulbene Gulbene War of Independence Monument, 2013.jpg,

War of independence Wars of national liberation, also called wars of independence or wars of liberation, are conflicts fought by nations to gain independence. The term is used in conjunction with wars against foreign powers (or at least those perceived as foreign) ...

Monument in Gulbene Gulbene church.jpg, Lutheran church Gulbene, Church of the Most Holy Sacrament.JPG, Church of the Most Holy Sacrament Gulbene veetorn.JPG Gulbene politseimaja.JPG, Gulbene Police Station Gulbene park.JPG, Park with a fountain

Twin towns

Babruysk Babruysk (, ) or Bobruysk (, ; , ) is a city in Mogilev Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Babruysk District, though it is administratively separated from the district. It is situated on the Berezina, Berezina River. Bab ...

Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...

* Rietavas,

Lithuania Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...

Them Them or THEM, a third-person singular or plural accusative personal pronoun, may refer to: Books * ''Them'' (novel), 3rd volume (1969) in American Joyce Carol Oates' ''Wonderland Quartet'' * '' Them: Adventures with Extremists'', 2003 non-fict ...

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

Notable people

* Augusts Malvess (1878–1951), architect * Gido Kokars (1921–2017), conductor, choirmaster *

Imants Kokars Imants Kokars (16 August 1921 in Gulbene, Latvia – 24 November 2011 in Riga, Latvia) was a Latvian people, Latvian pedagogue and Conducting, conductor. His twin brother Gido Kokars was also a conductor. Imants Kokar has been chief conductor of s ...

(1921–2011), conductor, choirmaster *

Inguna Sudraba Inguna Sudraba (born 21 November 1964) is a Latvian politician. Inguna Sudraba graduated from the University of Latvia in 1988 with a degree in economic planning. From July 1994 through June 2003 she was deputy finance minister for Latvia. From ...

(born 1964), politician * Arvis Piziks (born 1969), cyclist * Anmary (born 1980), singer * Madara Līduma (born 1982), biathlete *

Edgars Maskalāns Edgars Maskalāns (born 13 April 1982) is a Latvian bobsledder who has competed from 2006 to 2012. His best World Cup finish was first place in the four-man event at St. Moritz, Switzerland in January 2011. He also finished 2nd in the four-man ...

(born 1982), bobsledder * Intars Dambis (born 1983), bobsledder * Jānis Paipals (born 1983), cross-country skier * Daumants Dreiškens (born 1984), bobsledder * Rolands Freimanis (born 1988), basketball player

References

{{Authority control Cities and towns in Vidzeme 1928 establishments in Latvia Valka county Populated places in Gulbene Municipality