Gauja and bridge over the Gauja

Strenči – Valmiera

Points of interest
GPS 57.61875, 25.70127
Object description

Gauja is the longest river in Latvia that begins and ends its flow in Latvia. Length: 452 km, fall: 234 m.
A legend says – the fox had gone to Lake Aluksne to drink, but when felt the edges wriggling in, turned around and ran away, still felt the water in her feet as she ran. It was Gauja. For which bends the fox ran, for which Gauja followed, so the river is like fox: fast, volatile.

The bridge over Gauja in Strenči is notable for being the second oldest reinforced concrete bridge in Latvia. Built in 1909. The bridge’s width of 4.5 m has been calculated in such a way that two horse-drawn carriages can change during the journey. Before the reconstruction, it was the only bridge in Latvia that was covered with three types of coverings – wood, asphalt and pavement.

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