Smiltene

Smiltene ( German: Smilten ) is a town in northern Latvia, 45 km from the Estonian border.

Economy and infrastructure

First of all textile and wood industry are based in Smiltene. There is a large road construction company and a dairy. In Smiltene there was an important region for the clinic, which today operates an ambulance. In the urban area there is an extensive parks and several lakes.

• There is a twinning with the North Rhine-Westphalian town of Willich and Wiesbach (Baden).

History

The area was inhabited by the Latgale. Smiltene arose around a castle of the Teutonic Knights, from the ruins still exist today. Originally built wooden castle was inhabited in the 12th and 13th centuries and was on the highest mountain Smiltenes to 153m above sea level. 1560, the city of troops of the Russian tsar was conquered and destroyed the castle. Then followed an alternating possession, first of Poland, then Sweden. From 1721 to 1918 the site was again among Russia. The estate was acquired by Prince Paul Smiltene Liven 1895, during which time began a strong recovery. 1912 was a small train to Wolmar. In 1920 Smiltene received city rights. 1935 lived here 3464 Latvians, 221 Jews, 25 German, 19 Russians, 11 Poles and 14 people with other nationalities.

Others

• The pastor of the Lutheran congregation Smiltenes Jakob Lange (1711-1777) wrote the first German - Latvian dictionary.
• The football club Smiltenes Abuls plays in the first league of Latvia.

Smiltenes novads

2009 united the city Smiltene with 8 surrounding communities to a new administrative unit. At 949 km ² area 14276 residents are reported (as of 2010 ). Through this field of Abuls flows.