Maija Park, also called May Park, is the place to look for Cēsis’ black swans. The official visitor listing names the pair as Katrīna and Grāfs. A walk around the pond fits easily into a day in town, but seeing the birds depends on the season and their care arrangements.
Sources reviewed: 30 September 2026. The latest dated municipal return notice found for this guide is from 15 April 2025. The current tourism listing still names the pair, but we have not independently confirmed their presence in the pond today.
Where to find the black swans
Head to Maija parks, Cēsis, and look for the ornamental pond. Use the directions linked by the official tourism listing to locate the park.
Maija Park and Pils Park, the Castle Park, are separate places. Choose Maija Park when searching for the black swans; photographs and descriptions of the pond below the castle refer to a different park.
Allow time to watch quietly from the path. A phone’s zoom or a longer lens lets you photograph the birds without approaching them. If they are resting or keeping their distance, leave them space rather than trying to draw them closer.
When can you see them?
The swans are a seasonal attraction. In its 15 April 2025 update, Cēsis municipality reported that Grāfs and Katrīna had returned to Maija Park after spending the cold months in winter accommodation.
That report confirms the seasonal arrangement, not a fixed return date for every year. Do not plan a winter visit on the assumption that the swans will be in the pond. If seeing them is the main reason for your trip, check with the Cēsis Tourism Information Centre on +371 28318318 before travelling, especially in spring or autumn.
The park can still be part of your day if the birds are away. Leave room for its paths, sculptures and children’s play area instead of making the whole outing depend on a sighting.
Katrīna and Grāfs: the story behind the names
Cēsis’ official tourism account dates the arrival of a black-swan pair from Lisbon to 2005. The history of black swans in the park, however, spans more than one pair.
A municipal report from October 2014 records that the city had bought a new pair, which received the names Grāfs and Katrīna that summer. It also describes the previous male, Zigfrīds, living in another Cēsis park. The 2005 arrival and the later named pair should therefore be treated as separate chapters.
The municipality’s April 2015 account explains that residents chose the names in a vote the previous year. Katrīna honours Saint Catherine, Cēsis’ medieval patron saint; Grāfs refers to the von Sievers family associated with the New Castle. We use the Latvian names here, as the official visitor information does.
Watch the swans without feeding them
Leave feeding to the birds’ carers. The municipality’s 2025 notice asks visitors not to bring treats and says the pair is fed twice daily with greens and grain. It mentions a lettuce leaf as the only permitted exception, rather than encouraging feeding as a visitor activity.
For a simple visit, bring nothing for the birds. Keep food put away, follow signs at the pond and supervise children near the water. Watch and photograph from a comfortable distance; avoid calling, chasing or using food to bring a swan into a picture.
Make it a park walk
The visitor listing also highlights the sculptures Cīņa ar kentauru (Battle with a Centaur) and Dziesminieks (The Bard), together with a children’s play area, cycling area and skatepark. These give you other things to look for around a stop at the pond.
Use our Cēsis visit planner for transport and the rest of your day. If you want a longer activity, the cycling guide compares routes around Cēsis and the Gauja valley. Keep the swan stop flexible and check seasonal information before making a special journey.
