This lovely old town, with one of the longest histories in Latvia, boasts many remarkable monuments. The Catholic church, for example, dates from 1283. A Hanseatic town from the 13th to the 15th centuries, many buildings were destroyed when the town was razed in the Great Northern War of 1702. Present day Valmeira finds itself at the heart of industrial development in the region. The main industries include foodstuffs, metalwork, fibreglass and wood processing. Because of its importance as administrative centre of Vadzeme, great strides have been made in improving infrastructures.
Investment opportunities centre mostly around business property. By applying a little imagination, splendid and lucrative investments may be achieved, such as the enviable scheme of converting a Baroque- style palace into a business conference centre.
