Walk around Sigulda. Sights, parks and churches, cafes and restaurants, palaces and castles of Sigulda, as well as where to go with children and active holidays in Sigulda. What you can do in one day in sigulda Last visit to sigulda
...Traveling through Central Asia, I often thought that the grandeur of the mountains and the expanse of the steppes would not replace the most ordinary forest over a slow river. So now, after two months of break, I resume the story about Latvia. Past posts about this Baltic country - see the tag.
If the Western Dvina is such a "Latvian Dnieper", then the Gauja is here instead of the Dniester: the main river Vidzeme, the longest in Latvia (because, unlike the Daugava, it flows from source to mouth) and notable for its deep wooded valley. On the Gauja, fifty kilometers from Riga, stands Sigulda (11 thousand inhabitants) - perhaps the most picturesque Latvian town that grew up in the Middle Ages in the field of view of three castles: the orderly Zigevold on the left bank, the episcopal Treiden (Turaida) and the capitular Kremen (Krimulda) on the right. Siegevold is usually translated as "forest of victories" - it was the first castle founded by the crusaders in the depths of the mainland (1207). About him, in general about the left bank of Sigulda and about the kilometer-long cable car through the Gauja valley - in the first part.
The history of Sigulda is very typical for Latvia - the stormy and beautiful knightly Middle Ages, the transformation into a provincial village with a manor after the Livonian and Northern Wars, and finally the return of city status in 1928. The border of Sigulda is formed by the Riga-Pskov highway, from which it is about a kilometer to the railway station, about three kilometers to the Sigulda Castle, and more than 6 to the Turaida Castle. The area from the highway to the railway is completely inexpressive:
2.
The eye clings only to the little church on one of the side streets, which, upon closer inspection, turns out to be a typical remake:
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The border of the center can be considered a station on the former Pskov-Riga railway, which in 1886-89 connected Riga with St. Petersburg along the shortest route. Traffic here is not as active as on electrified lines near Riga, but still diesel runs every 2-3 hours:
4.
When I saw the station, I immediately admired - "what an excellent example of architecture of the First Republic of Latvia!", And most likely not even from the time of Ulmanis, but from the 1920s - you must admit, there is nothing like this in other countries of the former Union:
5.
It is all the more surprising that in fact it is Stalinka, which I refused to believe until I saw a photo of a real station in the 1920s. In general, with the dating of buildings, I regularly make mistakes in Latvia in this way, that is, in fact, the "architecture of the First Republic" lived even after its disappearance, right up to the Khrushchev era. The fabulous appearance of the old railway station at the station, which was not even a city at that time, probably indicates that Sigulda already then began to develop as a resort.
5a. 
According to the new Latvian tradition, the station here is combined with a car port, buses to Riga run every hour and they get where it is more convenient.
6.
On the square - the local clock "Laima". So "Laima" is a well-known famous chocolate factory in Riga, and a similar clock is installed in the capital at the entrance to the Old Town near its company store. Why else one here - alas, I do not know.
7.
If you walk along the railway for about a kilometer towards Riga, you will come to the beauty and pride of Latvian sports, the luge and bobsleigh complex (1986), until recently the only one in the post-Soviet space. I got to him the other day, accompanied by renatar - the fact is that this complex was designed by her father, Viktor Rimsha.
8.
In general, as it turned out later, I saw three buildings of the authorship of Viktor Benediktovich, and I didn’t know about the other two - but I remember them. According to Renata, in modern Latvia they don’t really like to remember his contribution, and the authorship of the building is attributed either to the Yugoslavs (in fact, they carried out direct construction), or to the Germans from the GDR (they carried out technical calculations). The bobsleigh track here is unique in that from one point you can see its 7 turns:
9.
The track descends very beautifully into the Gauja valley, and it is not uncommon to see lugers practicing on it.
10.
Scheme of the track and bob - bobsleigh with an ornament " " on the side. Although luge sport originated in the 1880s in the Alps, and entered the program of the Olympic Games in 1954, this business is still not very well known in our country - however, it was the Latvian lugers who won the first USSR medals in this sport in 1980. In post-Soviet times, their own sleigh-bobble complexes have been built since then in the Moscow region (Paramonovo) and Sochi.
11.
From the station to the Sigulda Castle - another twenty minutes walk. There are more nice houses here than behind the railway, but they do not form a solid building anywhere.
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13.
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Installations so beloved in the Baltic States:
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But in general, Sigulda most of all resembles Jurmala - a well-maintained resort town, where in every second house there is not a hotel like a cafe, but every second passerby is a group of tourists:
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On the approaches to the castle - St. Berthold's church (1930-36, but in general it has been known on this place since 1483):
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Protestant minimalist hall:
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And in the tower there was an exhibition of mosaics by Valdas Atals (if I'm not mistaken):
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Everything would be fine, but they are made of buttons! I have seen pictures of sand and feathers, so these mosaics perfectly continue the series.
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Well, there is a stone's throw to the castle. For his detailed history, as usual, I refer to the site of Renata Rimsha, I myself will retell it very briefly. As already mentioned, Sigevold was the first castle founded by the crusaders far from the sea (1207-1211), and for the next three hundred years remained one of the most influential in Livonia. Firstly, the lands touched here, and therefore the interests of the Master of the Order, the Archbishop of Riga, and, in addition, the Riga Dome Chapter, which had not so many possessions outside of Riga, clashed; Secondly. the Gauja valley, in principle, turned out to be the center of the order lands, its capital Wenden (Cesis) stood a little higher, but Zigevold was the center of the komturstvo (province) on whose territory it was located. Since 1432, the residence of the landmarshal, that is, the commander, has been here - and as you might guess, in the Order this was the position number 2 after the master. And although the castle was destroyed by Ivan the Terrible during the Livonian War, it nevertheless rebuilt much faster than Wenden, and under the Commonwealth it was the actual center of the Wenden Voivodeship, which included almost all of right-bank Latvia. The castle was finally finished off by the Polish-Swedish war, and having gone to Sweden in 1621, in the following centuries Siegevold turned from a fortress into a manor that grew on the site of a destroyed forburg - a decorative wall of the late 19th century runs approximately in the same place as the fortress:
21.
For three hundred years, the estate has changed many owners, the longest time (1783-1898) the castle was owned by the Ostsee barons Borchi (I already showed their other estate somehow), and the last owners were the Kropotkins - I must say, it is a rather rare case that the estate of an Ostsee baron went to to a Russian nobleman: Dmitry Kropotkin married Olga Borkh (who formally remained the mistress of the estate until the end of her life), after which, in 1878-81, one of the most beautiful neo-Gothic palaces in Latvia was built, the architect of which, by the way, was the ethnic Latvian Janis Mengelis .
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But the wooden outbuildings may be older, from the time of the Borchs:
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Another painted sled, this time not sporty at all:
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Burned down in the First World War, after the war the palace became state property, and in the 1930s it housed the House of Writers - I don’t know what they did there: performed, created or rested; then (1936-37) the tower was built on. Now the palace is occupied by the Sigulda City Council, and I did not understand whether it is possible to freely get inside, where very beautiful interiors of the 1920s have been preserved.
25.
And medieval ruins are met right in the backyard, behind a deep moat that separated the convent from the forburg. Siegevold was lucky - the owners of the estate took care of it as a decoration of the park and a relic, and even before the revolution, the Old Castle became one of the main attractions of the Ostsee region. As I understand it, most of the surviving buildings belong to the 15th century, and in 2011 they underwent a very high-quality restoration. On the right is the assembly hall and the chapel, on the left is one of the two surviving towers, and in the wooden structure there is a ticket office and a souvenir kiosk:
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Above the entrance is the coat of arms of the Borchs.
26a. 
From the wall, so high that an arrow could not fly over it, in one direction a view of the Kropotkin Palace, and in the other - to the stage inside the castle:
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The wall and the chapel - the view of the Middle Ages is simply utterly impossible:
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Chapel from the inside. The wall in the foreground separated the assembly hall:
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The stub of the second tower contains a small museum where I did not go:
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And this is how the castle looked during its heyday on the eve of the Livonian War:
30a. 
The observation deck offers a view of the Gauja forest area and Turaida Castle in the distance, the plan of which is also attached.
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Rather, his replica - the real Treiden has not survived to this day, his stones went a lot to the construction of the Kropotkin Palace, and there, in the distance, since 1953, the "ideal Livonian castle", a collective image of the chivalrous past of the Baltic states, has been slowly being built.
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In the castle that day, the revival was clearly visible: in addition to the stage, there were laid tables ...
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At the checkout there is a girl in medieval attire (I apologize for taking a picture in an unfortunate position - but still I think it’s clear even so that she is very beautiful):
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And at the gates of the estate, the arriving guests were greeted by a musician boy:
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Leaving the gate, I went to the right - past the boiler room:
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Past the directorate of the Gauja National Park - by the way, the largest (approximately the size of Moscow before expansion) and the oldest (1979) in Latvia:
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Through a busy street, steeply descending from the shore and through a cozy park with flower beds to the cable car station, the 1060m long line of which was thrown in 1969 through the Gauja valley:
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The only booth runs every half an hour until 6 pm, and it is better to come in advance - everyone may not fit in it. I was waiting for boarding in the company of tourists, where the most noticeable was a large girl in her 20s with a short haircut and a very loud voice. In principle, after five minutes of waiting, according to intonations and expressions (especially the word "hipster" that regularly slipped through), I no longer doubted that Muscovites were in front of me, and I could not even resist and asked them directly about it. In general, there are a lot of Russian tourists in Latvia, and the guys, of course, were not very happy with the appearance of a compatriot in the field of view.
39.
The start of the cable car is impressive - only when it starts, it abruptly goes down. The appearance of the pavilion is rather suspicious - clearly another echo of interwar architecture. I did not measure the travel time, but it felt like 7-10 minutes.
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The Gauja with its wild hilly shores reminded me very much, especially where nothing man-made gets into the frame:
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But that this is not the Russian North, but the Baltic states, make it clear as many as three castles from different sides - the Siegevold is behind, barely visible through the trees:
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Turaida three kilometers upstream:
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And Krimulda is right on the course - she has been known since 1255; like Siegevold, it was destroyed during the Polish-Swedish war and since 1625 it turned into an estate, which the Lievens owned the farthest, and in 1862 Alexander II even stayed in the palace. The current palace, as I understand it, was built around the same time, and somewhere in the manor park even the ruins of the walls of the 14th century remained. In Soviet times, a tuberculosis sanatorium was located there, for the service of which the cable car was built, moreover, according to calendulae , with the participation of builders from the Georgian Chiatura, where there is a whole network of passenger cable cars. However, I did not really examine the Krimulda estate:
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The bridge is a little older than the cable car - 1950, and in principle it is strange that the matter was not limited to them alone. Pay attention to the abundance of driftwood - the Gauja erodes its wooded banks very intensively:
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Krimulda station at the other end of the cable car:
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You can get to Turaida Castle on this contraption - but I decided to walk:
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About Krimulda and Turaida - in the next part.
LATVIA-2013
. Villages and religions. Imperial Riga. "Eisenstein's quarter".
Train station, market and skyscraper.
Masque. Side of Riga.
Factory suburbs. Grzinkalns.
Factory suburbs. Northeast industrial area.
Factory suburbs. Sarkandaugava.
Left Coast. Zadvinye, or Pardaugava.
Left Coast. Bolderaya, Daugavsgriva fortress and access to the sea.
Riga Ethnographic Museum.
Jurmala. Resort villages.
Jurmala. Railway, Sloka and Kemeri.
Vidzeme.
Sigulda. Left bank of the Gauja.
Sigulda. Krimulda and Turaida.
Cesis. County town.
Cesis. Wenden Castle.
Cesis. Araishi.
Vidzeme hinterland. Straupe, Ungurmuizha, Birini.
. Narrow gauge.
. Cities and estates.
Semigallia (Zemgale).
Jelgava. Mitavsky Palace and Castle Island.
Jelgava. Remains of the city.
Rundala and Zalenieki. Biron Palaces.
Bauska. The first capital of the duchy.
Tukums. On the way to Courland.
Neighborhood of Tukums. Shlokenbeka, Sinevilla, Jaunmok.
Courland (Kurzeme).
Kuldiga. City above the waterfall.
Kandava and Sabile. Courland towns.
Courland hinterland. Embute, Virga, Priekulya, Grobina.
Liepaja. Marine facade.
Liepaja Naval. Karosta and Tosmare.
Liepaja industrial. Metallurgical Plant and the Northern Suburb.
Liepaja. New City and Trade Canal.
Liepaja. Old city.
Tsirava, Saka, Pavilosta.
Suiti land. Alsunga, Edole.
Ventspils. Old city.
Ventspils. Port and new color.
Ventspils. Seaside park.
Dundaga and Nurmuizh.
. Root of the Baltic.
A touch of almost a thousand years of history awaits visitors to the Turaida Castle in Sigulda. The unusual exposition, part of which is located in the open air, allows not only to get acquainted with the eventful history of the region, but also simply to admire the picturesque landscape, against which the ruins and ancient buildings are located.
The bishop of Ratseburg, Philip, was the first to lay a stone in the foundation of the castle-fortress, and in 1214 the construction of the majestic building was completed. It could not stand to this day, as the conflagration of 1776 destroyed it almost completely. But on this land in the 19th century, a rural estate was rebuilt, completely preserved.
For the last 50 years, not only scientific research of the castle, but also restoration work has been actively carried out. Visitors can not only get acquainted with the exposition of the museum-reserve, but also climb the 26 meters of the observation tower to admire the beauty and grandeur of the castle rising from the ruins. The South and North Towers, some walls and living quarters have already been restored, in which you can view antiquities found on the territory.
Time and cost of visiting
The museum is open:
- November to March from 10:00 to 17:00, in April until 19:00.
- from May to September from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., in October until 7 p.m.
In summer, from 10 am to 6 pm, all expositions are open, and during the remaining hours, only the territory of the reserve, the main tower and the tower-shaped southern building.
Visit cost:
- winter period: adults €3, students €0.70, family ticket 2+2 €6.40, 1+2 €3.70
- summer period: adults €5, students €1.50, family ticket 2+2 €10.70, 1+2 €6.40.
Preschoolers can visit for free.
An organized sightseeing tour in a group of up to 30 people for 1.5-2 hours in Russian, English or German costs 35.57€, thematic tour for 30-40 minutes - 14.23€.
Various museum programs are organized, for example, "Visiting the Turaida Vogt", which will cost a group of adults 66.87 €, schoolchildren 35.57 €, students - 49.80 €. Read about other programs on the official website.
How to get there
From the railway station of Sigulda, you need to walk 3 km or take a bus towards Krimulda to the stop "Turaida" along the P8 highway, and there is also a cable car going to the castle.
Sigulda is an ancient Latvian city, located in the middle of the Gauja Park, one of the main attractions of Latvia.
The story about Sigulda and its environs did not fit in one article, there are too many interesting things here.
Therefore, first we will walk around the city, see the Sigulda castle of the Livonian Order and the Kropotkin estate, ride the cable car from Sigulda to Krimulda, see the sanatorium and the remains of the ancient fortress in Krimulda.
And in the second essay - we will tell about.
The entire route can be covered during the day. So get on your way!
Sigulda, how to get there, Riga - Sigulda.
From Riga to Sigulda is only 51 kilometers, and there are several ways to get there:
by private car along the A2 highway or by taxi (40-45 minutes);
by bus from the central bus station (buses run from 06.30 to 23.00 with an interval of 1 hour, a ticket costs 2.50-2.70 €, travel time 70-90 minutes);
by train from the railway station (direction Riga-Sigulda, Riga-Valga, Riga-Cesis to Sigulda station; trains run from 06.15 to 21.35; ticket price - 2.35 €; travel time - 75 minutes).
Our choice is the train.
Sigulda.
Sigulda is a city in Latvia, which has many historical, architectural and natural attractions. Our journey begins from the building of the railway station, with its appearance reminiscent of past centuries. Information Bureau is located in the building of the railway station. Almost all newly arrived tourists go there to receive: free maps, brochures, tourist routes around the reserve and consultations. We are no exception either.
Having stuffed our heads with all kinds of information, we begin our acquaintance with Sigulda. Sigulda is a small town, which, if desired, can be bypassed in one hour. But this amazing journey, short in real time, takes us to other times and exciting events for a long time.
Leaving the station building, we get to the station square of Sigulda. Not in the center of it is an unusual clock representing the logo of the factory for the production of the most delicious sweets in Latvia - "Laima".
There is a small fountain in the square. Everything looks so quiet, cozy and touching under the gentle Baltic sun of Sigulda.
The fountain, which is not fenced with a parapet, as is usually the case, is a favorite place for children. Deftly running between the streams of clear water is a whole art!
Right on the station square - a map of the city of Sigulda with comments in Latvian and English. Therefore, for those who are in a hurry, you can not go to the information center, but immediately plan your route.
Sigulda, photo.
Sigulda is a shady green town. Among the alleys with centuries-old trees, houses twined with ivy. The special atmosphere of the city is conducive to a leisurely walk and contemplation of the beauty of the world. The authorities of Latvia have tried - everything is well-groomed and not a single piece of paper.
We walk along the streets of Sigulda and look at different buildings. Here is a building resembling an administrative office or a school.
Here is a small house, friendly inviting to a shop and a cafe.
Walking around Sigulda, you constantly feel in the middle of a large well-groomed park. Carefully trimmed lawns, bright flower beds, clean paths.
In such wonderful weather, tourists are attracted by open-air cafes among shady greenery.
Fashionable form of a vertical flower bed with numbers 2014 (the year of our trip to Sigulda).
Sigulda, attractions.
The city is so small that it does not make sense to indicate the addresses of the sights, you will not pass by them anyway.
Sculpture "Wind Bell", installed in 2007 in honor of the 800th anniversary of Sigulda, is the work of I. Bert. Inside the concrete figure there are 8 bells that make amazing melodic sounds in windy weather. We had windless weather and we could not check it.
If you move along Pils Street, you will come to Square of three keys, equipped in 2007, for the birthday of Sigulda. The composition consists of three iron keys set next to a stone wall. The keys are a symbol of three ancient settlements located in the Gauja Park and forming the historical and cultural image of this area - Sigulda, Krimulda, Turaida.
Also in the Square of Three Keys, one of the paths is framed as a bridge, benches have been placed, and flower beds have been laid out.
In Sigulda, many houses or on their facades have the flag of the Republic of Latvia. The cloth with a red-white-red (carmine) stripe was approved as a flag as early as 1923. According to ancient legends, this was the sign of the warriors of the Wenden fortress (now Cēsis) as early as the 13th century. They also say that a simple white cloth along the edges was soaked with the blood of the brave commander of the fortress defenders during its heroic defense from the invaders.
Fairy tale corner: the stream turns the wheel of a small mill. It's like a house for gnomes in the middle of a blooming park!
There are many such overgrown, undeveloped land plots in Sigulda, where nature triumphs.
On one of the squares monument to Krisjanis Baron- Latvian writer, collector of folklore, author of scientific works on Latvian folk songs. The sculptural image was installed in 1985 in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Collector of Dine - Lithuanian folk songs.
Church, Sigulda.
We are in front of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sigulda. It was erected on the site of an older one, which was dedicated to St. Berthold and was already known at the end of the 15th century. The bell tower of the church was built in the 30s. 20th century, according to the project of P. Pekshen, at about the same time the altar part of the interior decoration was restored.
From the bell tower you can admire the picturesque surroundings. Beautiful inside the church. There is an organ assembled from several organs during the reconstruction of the instrument after the Second World War.
There are many squares in Sigulda, decorated with unusual works of sculptors and landscape designers. Here Composition "Knight's Parade", made of granite, scrap metal and wooden parts.
The knight's parade is the pride of the townspeople, because it expresses the spirit of the area where from time immemorial the brave Liv knights fought to defend ancient castles. The composition is installed near the Sigulda Castle with a majestic stone fence. Here the knights guard this castle.
We are heading to the stone gate leading to the park of the Kropotkin estate. The entrance to the park is free. In addition to the manor, the park also houses the old Sigulda Castle.
Kropotkin's estate.
From the gate we contemplate the vastness of the estate and the central building - the New Sigulda Castle, built in the 19th century by the Kropotkin princes. The building is stylized as a fairy-tale fortress and harmonizes with the landscape and wildlife around.
From the hills of the estate, there is an amazing view of the building located in the neighboring village – Krimulde. This is the building of the famous sanatorium, located in the former noble estate of the princes Liven, the construction of which dates back to 1854. In Soviet times, a children's sanatorium was located here, now a rehabilitation center is located here.
Administrative building in the Kropotkin estate in Sigulda. Nikolai Dmitrievich Kropotkin - Vice-Governor of Courland and Livonia, owner of an estate with a Castle, founder of a resort in present-day Sigulda, which became famous at the beginning of the 20th century. By order N.D. Kropotkin in Sigulda, a railway station, a toboggan run, dachas, boarding houses, hotels were built, and the city was filled with tourists and summer residents who came here to improve their health and relax.
Monument to KRONVALD ATS, who interceded in 1872 at a conference of teachers during the period of Russification for the rights of the LATVIAN LANGUAGE and was expelled from work. Studied and worked in Tartu.
The new Sigulda Castle was built in 1881 on the site of a stone house that once belonged to the Lievens. During the First World War, the building was badly damaged. Then by 1937 it was restored. After the Second World War, there were medical institutions here, and after the return of independence to the Republic of Latvia in the 90s. 20th century This is where the city administration is located.
Sigulda castle.
We approach the oldest part of Sigulda - Sigulda Castle of the Livonian Order. Entrance to its territory is already paid, so we are content with its external inspection, which, in my opinion, is quite enough.
The castle in Sigulda, like the Castle in , was founded by the German crusader knights as a fortification.
It appeared in 1207 and bore the name Segewald (“Forest of Victories”). The ruins of the castle are the center of the park in Sigulda.
The medieval Sigulda Castle makes a vivid impression. We see before us two watchtowers and part of a powerful fortress wall.
The sign of the Order of the Crusaders in the upper part of one of the towers of the Sigulda Castle has survived to this day. It is known that the castle withstood the attacks of local tribes many times.
It is quite possible to spend more than one hour on the territory of the former Kropotkin estate. Of interest is the House of Artists.
House of Artists- these are sand paintings, entrance is paid, children are free. An exhibition of sand sculptures and paintings is organized here every year.
And here are the works made of sand - a portrait that conveys the mood and character of the character (all the photos in the artist's house were taken by my daughter).
The figure of a girl, also made of sand.
Nude figure: the amazing possibilities of the material allow you to convey a variety of shades of color, even in the photo the girl’s body seems to shimmer and warm
Artistic composition-installation.
From ancient buildings and an art gallery, we return to a pond with a fountain in the middle.
There are also ancient cannons in Sigulda - after all, the city has experienced many military events.
Sigulda park.
Sigulda Park opens before us many unusual granite sculptures. We consider the figure of a man sitting on green grass with a book in his hands.
And here is a beautiful girl in a national costume from folk songs - dain.
Having walked a lot around the estate, we leave its territory. Among the sights of Sigulda you can also highlight:
White castle.
This building is called the "White House". It appeared in Sigulda at the end of the 19th century. and was intended for N.D. Kropotkin. Since 1920, the house belonged to E. Poruks. She organized a boarding house in the building and nicknamed it the White Castle. Later, there was a gymnasium, a school, during the war - a bomb shelter. Now here is a cultural and educational center dealing with the problems of environmental education and environmental conservation.
In Sigulda, you can study landscape design, in particular, the art of arranging flowerbeds of various shapes, colors and designs.
Cane park.
Can't get past cane park. This park was laid out in 2007 for the anniversary of the city. The cane is considered to be the talisman of Sigulda, tourists take souvenirs in the form of a cane to their homes from here. When the resort began to develop here, it was supposed to walk along the park paths with a cane.
In the Pack of Canes, even flowerbeds are made on the composition of umbrellas!
A bright colored fence invites you to visit Winnie the Pooh.
Tarzan Park.
Sigulda invites you to the largest amusement park in Latvia, and in the whole Baltic States, for children and adults "Tarzan".
From the top of the Ferris Wheel in Sigulda you can see boundless dense forests. In areas not occupied by forest, grass is neatly mowed.
The amusement park "Tarzan" is located in the middle of Sigulda. When organizing it, all the favorable features of the relief were used: there is a carousel lift and a picnic area.
Bobsleigh track in Sigulda.
Another place for active recreation is the track for sleighing and bobsledding.
The park has comfortable playgrounds. Here you can not only play excavator driver, but also ride an electric car along tracks specially prepared for kids.
Cable car, Sigulda.
Another attraction of Sigulda is the cable car, built in 1969, connecting two Latvian settlements - Sigulda and Krimulda.
At the box office, you can buy a one-way or round-trip ticket. The ticket is quite expensive, and the views from the cabin are not so impressive, so as a curiosity we take a one-way ticket.
By cable car on the air tram we will go on a journey through the greenery of forests and over the river Gauja. The length of the road is just over a kilometer, the height above the river is 42 meters, and the travel time is only eight minutes.
From 1969 to the mid 80s. 20th century the cable car was used as the only form of public transport helping to get from Sigulda to Krimulda.
By the way, the cable car in Sigulda is the only one in Latvia. This is another reason to ride it.
The cable car leaves every 30 minutes, so you have to wait a bit, and then hit the road. From the carriage you can see the main sights of the Gauja National Park.
The flowing waters of the Gauja River, coniferous and deciduous trees rush under us in the air permeated with the scent of pine needles.
From the trailer you can see the Turaida Castle with its towers and red-brick fortress walls.
Directly below us are the sandy beaches on the banks of the Gauja.
It is a bit breathtaking when we are above the middle of the Gauja river.
We are speeding along the highway, which means that soon we will arrive on a high hill in Krimulda.
Krimulda.
We are greeted by an information stand in Latvian and English, telling about another town in Latvia - Krimulda.
We descended from heaven to earth, or rather, simply from the platform of the air cable car station.
Krimulda is a small village (very small in relation to Sigulda), where houses of past centuries have been preserved. In the summer, they are very beautiful, as they are decorated with climbing plants creeping along the facades of houses, along the carved railings of galleries.
Houses, fences - everything in Latvia is decorated with flowers.
We travel through the territory of the health resort: here in the old building there is a shop and a cafe.
The ancient pavilions in Krimulda have been restored; they are rare examples of the architecture of European summer cottages of the early 20th century.
We are again transported to the Middle Ages when we approach the age-old walls built of stone. And under the trees there are such fabulous mushrooms.
Sanatorium Krimulda.
In the meantime, we approached the sanatorium in Krimulda.
The sanatorium in Krimulda is located in an old noble estate. The columns are reminiscent of the solemn receptions that the hosts arranged for their guests, balls, musical evenings.
In the sanatorium, children and adults with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, respiratory and nervous systems undergo treatment.
Having walked a lot along Krimulda, we return to the cable car. Here, among the vegetation, the remains of an old castle are hidden.
Krimulda Castle.
Powerful walls, skillfully lined windows still amaze with grandeur and beauty.
And again on the road, along the roads of Latvia, in the footsteps of medieval knights and Russian emperors.
We are walking towards new impressions, amazing and mysterious places.
See you on the paths of Latvia!
Where we went then can be seen in the article:
Sigulda is a small town located 51 kilometers from the Latvian capital. People go to Sigulda, first of all, to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the big city, as well as for the picturesque pristine nature, fresh air and solitude. And not in vain, Sigulda draws to itself like a magnet, because the city is located in the largest in Latvia, stretching for 918 kilometers along both banks of the Gauja River.
In addition to the chic nature in Sigulda there are many monuments of architecture and history, medieval castles, churches, parks and other interesting places of interest.
In this article, we will take a leisurely walk around Sigulda and see the main and most interesting sights of the city in our opinion. As mentioned earlier, Sigulda is a small town, you can easily get around it on foot in just an hour. This city is beautiful, impressing and somehow peacefully calm. In some places, especially sitting on a bench in a cane park, Sigulda resembles the small towns of Bavaria ().
Our walk around Sigulda started from station square(Stacijas laukums). It was here that we arrived from Riga by train, buses also come here. About how to get from Riga to Sigulda and back on your own.
The station square is small in size, it is playground And Laima watch. Laima Clock is a city clock with the logo of the famous Latvian confectionery factory Laima. Similar clocks can be seen in other cities of Latvia, for example in Riga, Laima Clock is located on.
Walking around Sigulda, we now and then came across squares and natural parks
Walking along Pils Street, we came to the sights, Square of Keys. The square of the three springs is a small piece of land on which there are three huge iron keys resting on a stone wall, an arch with a bench for rest and a decorative bridge nearby. The Three Springs Monument symbolizes the three historical centers of the Gauja National Park surroundings and their unity - Sigulda, Turaida and Krimulda. The square was opened in 2007 in honor of the 800th anniversary of Sigulda.
Walking further came across the next attraction of the city - cane park. Sigulda Reed Park was opened in 2007 as a tribute to Sigulda's most popular souvenir - walking sticks. A mention of this item can be found in the 19th century archival editions of the city, which say that walking through the country mountainous area requires a walking stick, which previously could be purchased from any street urchin. At present, the cane, of course, has lost its practical use, but it has remained a popular local souvenir. You can buy such a souvenir in any shop, they sell them in various sizes, from large to small.
Reed Park, a small green square with benches and sculptural compositions.
The streets in Sigulda are not wide, and residential buildings are mostly private and one-story with lawns and low fences around the perimeter. Of course, you can’t call them an attraction, but still beautiful.
Having crossed to the opposite side of Raina Street (Raiņa iela), we exit to small lake.
Near the lake is located (Siguldas Evangeliski Luteriska baznica). Location address of the Sigulda Lutheran Church: Baznicas iela 2.
In the place of the current church, in the old days there was another church, called the Church of St. Bertulis (Berthold). The first evidence of the church dates back to 1483. From the beginning of the 30s of the last century, according to the project of the architect P. Pekshen, a new tower of the church was built, and six years later the restoration of the altar was completed. They say you can climb the church tower, from there a panoramic view of the city opens.
Inside the church is small, from the main entrance to the altar there is a passage covered with a carpet, and on both sides of it there are benches.
An organ is installed above the main entrance. The current organ is a masterful mosaic of parts from various organs. The fact is that in the post-war period, several parts disappeared from the original organ, after which they were replaced with equivalent parts from the organs of other churches. So, over time, the organ was completely restored.
We go to another famous sight of Sigulda - to the white house. The White House was built in the 90s of the 19th century for Nikolai Kropotkin and his family, the owner of the Sigulda Manor. During the agrarian reform in 1920 the house was sold. Ernestine Poruks, the widow of the famous Latvian poet and romantic Janis Poruk, became his new mistress. She kept a boarding house in the house, which she gave another name to the White Castle.
Further, the White House has been renamed more than once and everything was under its roof. There was a gymnasium, Latvian and Russian secondary schools, during World War II the German army used it as a shelter, and the house was abandoned for a long time, until it was transferred to the management of the Gauja National Park Administration. Currently, the initiative center for education in the field of nature and cultural environment “Balta pils” operates in the White House.
Near the White House are these shelter bunker, built in the 40s of the 20th century to shelter local residents from air raids. The bunkers have long been abandoned and, of course, there is nothing remarkable in them, except perhaps for the fact that they are now serving wintering grounds for bats.
Not far from the shelters is such a wonderful composition. Some soldiers made of scrap metal, granite stones and wood. By the way, this sculptural composition is also included in the list of sights of Sigulda and is called Sculptural group "Knight's Parade"(Skulpturu grupa ""Bruņinieku parade").
The inhabitants of Sigulda are very proud of this sculpture, well, firstly, they consider the sculpture to be a unique object, and secondly, they believe that it not only fits perfectly into the overall look of the city, but also complements it. Why do they think so? Now you will understand it!
If you look ahead from the Knights Parade sculpture and walk a few steps, then we will go out to the stone gate, stylized in the Middle Ages, and upon entering the gate, we will be greeted by stunning beauty New Sigulda Castle, built in the 19th century by the princes Kropotkin. And behind the castle, another amazing surprise awaits us - ruins of the old Medieval castle of the Livonian Castle built in the 1200s.
The medieval Sigulda Castle was once a majestic stone building, then a city was formed around it, and it was from this castle that the history of Sigulda began. Currently, only two observation towers and part of the defensive wall remain from the Medieval castle. These two castles are considered the most important sights of Sigulda, together forming. A separate article is devoted to these two castles on our blog, with a detailed description and great photographs,.
In the photo on the left is the New Sigulda Castle, on the right is the Sigulda Medieval Castle of the Livonian Order
On this, our walk around Sigulda came to an end. Then we went to the cable car and went on a hiking route to the Gauja National Park, visiting the Gutman cave and the Turaida Museum-Reserve with the Turaida Castle. But this is a completely different story, which we will talk about in the next article. So, after walking around Sigulda, do not stop, but continue your walk, you can join us about the hiking route through the Sigulda park-reserve, cable car, cave and castles.
What to do in Sigulda with children?
Sigulda is not only architectural sights and nature, that is, to a greater extent entertainment for adults, the city has also prepared a lot of entertainment for children of all ages. First of all, it is a big and famous Adventure Park "Tarzan". Tarzan, the largest amusement park in the Baltics, is visited by families from all over the region.
The park is located directly in the city, under the open sky. What is attractive about the park is that everyone, regardless of age, will find entertainment for themselves in it. We also wanted to visit this park, but there was not enough time, it is large and you need to allocate, perhaps, the whole day to visit it.
Tarzan Adventure Park has an obstacle course for children and adults with over 100 different obstacles placed in trees, a carousel lift, zip lines, a rollercoaster track, a catapult, a rotor, a giant tree swing, a climbing wall, large trampolines, velomobiles , riding on cameras, attractions - archery, as well as a separate place for picnics.
Adventure park "Tarzan" is located at the address: Sigulda, Peldu street, 1.
There is another park in Sigulda, this adventure park "Forest Cat". To get to this park, you will need to walk a little. The park is also suitable for families. Lesnoy Kot Amusement Park offers obstacles, cables, nets, bridges of various designs, swings, beams, ropes and ladders, as well as rope flights, a volleyball court, an Alpine-style guest house, a bath complex, a tavern and rooms for seminars.
In winter, a ski run is open in the park. The adventure park "Lenoy Kot" is located at the address: Sigulda, Senchu street, 1.
Active holidays in Sigulda
In Sigulda, active recreation is also well developed. Of course, the parks listed above are also suitable for outdoor activities, but there are still separate places for this in Sigulda: the Sigulda Sports and Active Recreation Center and the bobsleigh and luge track.
Sigulda Sports and Active Leisure Center, offers its guests a 1.25 km track for roller skating, Nordic walking and running. Rollers and roller skis can be rented here. There is a ski track in the center. By the way, this is the only frozen track of this kind in Eastern Europe. There is also a giant swing with a 7-meter free fall in the sports and active recreation center.
The sports and active recreation center is located at the address: Sigulda, Pukyu street 4.
Sigulda luge and bobsleigh track is one of the rarest buildings of its kind in the world. Its length is 1420 meters, it has 16 turns and a 200-meter stopping distance. The bobsleigh and luge track is located at the address: Sigulda, Šveices street, 13.
As you can see, Sigulda has prepared a lot of all kinds of places for recreation and entertainment for every taste and color for all ages. So, come to Sigulda, you will definitely not regret it. From personal experience, I can say that, having visited Sigulda, we regretted only one thing, that we came to the city for just one day and did not have time to see and do so much. Next time we will definitely come for a few days and make up for lost time.
Shops, cafes and restaurants in Sigulda
Almost all shops, cafes, restaurants and bars in Sigulda are located near the Auto, Railway station, near the station square. Further, walking around the city and along the routes of the Gauja Park, there will be practically no cafes and shops as such, so if you want to take food with you, think about it in advance. We didn’t think about our daily food, long walks exhausted us at the end, so then we didn’t even manage to buy water, we had to go hungry for half a day.
Large Alvy's grocery storeElvi located near the Auto and railway station at the address: Vidus iela 1, Sigulda. Food prices in Sigulda are the same as in stores in Riga, and in all of Latvia they are about the same. About food prices in Riga.
Where to stay in Sigulda?
For vacationers in Sigulda, hotels are provided both without stars, they cost from 20 € for a double room per day, and three, four and five-star hotels, costing from 57 € for a double room per day.
It is better to book rooms, especially during the high season, although in Sigulda it is better to book in advance at any time of the year. We always book hotels in any country in the world through
Sigulda is a small town and a great place to relax, located in the picturesque Gauja National Park. Here you will find a relaxing holiday surrounded by pristine nature, natural reserves, castles and palaces of the Middle Ages, as well as places for outdoor activities and entertainment.
In this article, we will talk about hiking trails in Sigulda and its environs, as well as what to do and what you can see in Sigulda in one day with and without children.
Hiking trails in Sigulda and surroundings
In addition to walking around the city itself, Sigulda has prepared several hiking trails in the nearby outskirts of the city.
In the photo, the route map of Sigulda with all the sights:
Such a card can be taken free of charge at the Sigulda Tourist Information Center, located in the building of the Auto and Railway Stations, at the address: st. Ausekla 6, Sigulda (Ausekļa iela 6, Sigulda), entrance from the side of the city from the station square.
Red on the map the route through the city of Sigulda itself is marked above, with all its sights: the square of keys, the park of reeds, the Sigulda Evangelical Lutheran Church, the white castle, the Sigulda Castle of the Livonian Order, etc. The route is picturesque and interesting, the city hides a lot of hidden places.
Especially beautiful, which includes the New and Medieval castles, as well as the creative quarter of the Sigul Castle.
We recommend everyone to take a walk along this route, or rather not even along the route, but around the city of Sigulda, regardless of how far you have come to the city. We talked about a walk around Sigulda and its main attractions earlier,.
Walking through the center of Sigulda, there is an opportunity to go along two different routes - green or burgundy-lilac.
Green route on the map small in length. Walking along it, you will go deep into the Gauja National Park, where you can enjoy the wild nature. This route includes a visit to the Paradise Mountain, the cave and gorge of Krauklu (Voronov), the ancient settlement of Satesele and the cave of Petra.
Burgundy-lilac route longer than green, its length is 5 kilometers one way. In addition, this is the most picturesque and most visited route in Sigulda. It was on it that we walked, having received a lot of unforgettable impressions, we recommend it!
By choosing this route, you can ride a cable car, enjoy the clean fresh air and nature of the Gauja Park, visit the Krimulda Manor and the ruins of the Krimulda medieval castle, Gutman's Cave, which is associated with a romantic one, go to the most visited museum in Latvia - the Turaida Museum-Reserve, on the territory which is the famous Turaida stone castle. About a walk along this route and all its places of interest.
And finally route marked in blue on the map(first photo in this article), the one on the left. To walk along it, you need to return to the station square of Sigulda again. Following this route you will see the Tsar's Throne, Pikensky precipice, a small cave of the Devil and the rocks of the Devil's Cave. On the way to this route, you will get to the bobsleigh and sledge track and the Lesnoy Kot adventure park.
What can be done in one day in Sigulda
In one day in Sigulda, you can have time to walk around the city and walk along one of the proposed routes. We would recommend the longest route, with Gutman's Cave and Turaida Museum-Reserve. Although you can choose any other of the proposed routes to your own taste.
In order to have time to go along one of the routes, you need to arrive in Sigulda early in the morning and expect to spend the whole day in the city. About the best way to get from Riga to Sigulda and back.
Having visited Sigulda, we were convinced by our own experience that one day is not enough for such a charming town, with a lot of beautiful historical and natural places. We didn't get to see so much in one day. Conclusion: Sigulda needs at least three days. But if you have only one day to Sigulda, then it doesn’t matter either, choose your route and follow it, one day is enough for it.
One day with children in Sigulda
With children in Sigulda, you can walk around the city and visit one of the two adventure parks.
First - tarzan adventure park located near the cable car. But the photo with the map is number 11. Tarzan Adventure Park has an obstacle course for children and adults with more than 100 different obstacles placed on trees, a carousel lift, trolls, a roller coaster track, a catapult, a rotor, a giant swing in the trees , climbing wall, large trampolines, velomobiles, camera rides, archery attractions, and a separate picnic area. Adventure park "Tarzan" is located at the address: Sigulda, Peldu street, 1.
Photo taken at the cable car
Second, adventure park "Forest Cat". To get to this park, you need to follow the blue route, the park is number 25 on the map. In this park, obstacles, cables, nets, bridges of various designs, swings, beams, ropes and ladders, as well as rope flights, volleyball playground, guest house built in Alpine style, sauna complex, tavern and seminar rooms. In winter, a ski run is open in the park. The adventure park "Lenoy Kot" is located at the address: Sigulda, Senchu street, 1.
