Cēsis is a town in the Vidzeme region of Latvia and serves as the administrative centre of Cēsis Municipality. It is located in the northern part of the Vidzeme Upland, roughly 90 km (56 mi) north-east of Riga, positioned on ridges above the valley of the Gauja River.
At the beginning of 2026, the town had a population of 14,899 residents. Its setting on elevated ground overlooking the Gauja valley is among its defining geographic features.