Valga, town in southern Estonia
Valga is a small city in southern Estonia situated directly on the border with Latvia where two countries meet closely. It has older buildings like St. John's Church and several small museums, while the railway station built in 1949 serves as a key connection between the two nations.
Valga was first mentioned in 1286 and was then known by the German name Walk, reflecting its period under German rule. In the 20th century the city changed greatly, especially when the border between Estonia and Latvia was drawn through its middle in 1920, dividing it into two parts.
The name Valga comes from its past as a meeting point of different peoples. Today visitors can sit on the Central Square bench with one side in Estonia and the other in Latvia, a simple way to see how two nations share this space.
The town is easy to walk through and the main street runs through the center to the border where shops and cafes are located. There is also a bicycle network and buses for exploring, plus basic lodging and food shops nearby.
The Central Square built in 2018 allows visitors to swing on a seesaw that goes from Estonia into Latvia or sit on a bench where each side represents a different country. This is a rare example of two sovereign nations sharing a public space.
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