
Historical regions of Latvia, together with Latvian cultural groups.
'Vidzeme' is one of the cultural and historical
regions of Latvia. Literally meaning "the Middle Land" it is situated in north-central
Latvia and roughly corresponds to the
Alūksne,
Cēsis,
Gulbene,
Limbaži,
Madona,
Valka,
Valmiera counties and parts of
Aizkraukle,
Ogre and
Riga counties north of the
Daugava river. Sometimes it is also known as ''
Livland'', though it comprises only a small part of traditional Livland. Present Vidzeme is the Latvian part of
Swedish Livonia and
Rīga.