Valga and Valka jointly celebrated the 442nd anniversary of their towns receiving town rights from June 10th to 14th. On June 11th, 1584, the Hungarian-born Polish king Stefan Batory granted town rights to Valga borough, after our region came under his rule following the Livonian War (1558-1582). Since that time, Valga has never lost its town rights.
There were three events in the Twin Cities Festival programme that were arranged by Valga Museum.
On June 10, a lecture was held at the museum by University of Tartu archaeology PhD Andres Tvauri about the early history of Valga. Tvauri began by noting that this year marks 740 years since Valga was first mentioned in the Riga debt book in 1286. As an archaeologist, Tvauri has participated in several excavations in Valga, and his overview of the conducted research was of great interest to the audience. He emphasized the need to conduct research also on the Valka side and pointed out the necessity to increase interest on the Latvian side as well. Nearly forty history enthusiasts enjoyed the lecture.
On June 11, Valga Museum's researcher and curator Priit Riemann led a city tour called Art Nouveau City of Valga. Riemann shared many interesting facts about the striking buildings constructed in Art Nouveau style in the early 20th century in Valga's city centre, which have survived to this day. It turns out that the people of Valga pass by several remarkable structures every day, which everyone is used to, but whose value and history are actually not well known at all.
On June 12, Valga Museum's researcher and education manager Karin Varblane invited enthusiasts to the city tour Musical Valga. She showed places and buildings in the city where outstanding Estonian musicians from Valga lived or which were connected to music and music education. The walk ended at Valga St. John's Church, where there is a functioning organ by German organ master Friedrich Ladegast. The audience also enjoyed organ music performed by Maarika Reinhold, teacher at Valga Music School.
The staff of Valga Museum also participated on June 12 in the Twin Cities Festival parade, which passed through both Latvian-Valka and Estonian-Valga city centers and reached the Borderless Party at Valga Central Square.
