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Things to Do in Sigulda

Sigulda church - Sigulda
Sigulda church
by Inguuna
Reviews and photos of Sigulda attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Sigulda sightseeing.
Local Time 8:15 am Friday, July 25, 2008
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Turaida Castle
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  • By Lilasel on September 16, 2005
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    by Lilasel
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    Artefacts of war, from the 11th century are stored within the massive baked-brick walls of the castle. Riga`s archbishop Albert commenced construction of this fortress (initially christened Toreida - The garden of the god Tora) in the year 1214 and it was later used as a strategic stronghold by the crusaders who occupied Livonia.

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    Turaida Castle
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  • Updated By Lilasel on September 16, 2005
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    by Lilasel
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    The Turaida museum, established in 1947 received the status of museum reserve in 1989. The exhibitions illustrate the history of the Turaida Castle, parish and the Gauja Livs. Visitors are time-warped through many centuries, beginning with the exhibition of domestic objects dating back to the time of extinct tribes of Balts and Livs.

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  • Address: 10 Turaidas iela
  • Phone: (29) 71 797
  • Website: http://www.turaida-muzejs.lv/en/index_en.htm
  • Other Contact: 10.00 - 18.00

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    The Gūtmaņa cave
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  • By Lilasel on September 16, 2005
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    by Lilasel
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    This is the largest cave in the Baltic States – 18,8 metres deep, 12 metres wide and 10 metres high.
    An old legend says that Liv warrior ordered that his beautiful but cheating wife be entombed in the wall of a local cliff. The woman’s tears turned into a clear stream of water, which later carved the massive cave into the wall of rock.
    Another legend talks of a healer who supposedly healed many people with the healthy water of the area in the cave.
    The most popular story about the cave speaks of the Maiden of Turaida, Maija who was killed here.

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    Birini Palace
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  • By Lilasel on September 16, 2005
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    by Lilasel, 4 more photos
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    Birini Castle isn't very far from Sigulda, so if you're discovering this region, don't miss this georgeous palace.
    The first information about this inhabited locality dates back to the 13th century and can be traced down in old legends and chronicles.
    Birini Palace was built from 1857 – 1860. The building’s architectural style is more neogothic but the interior is dominated by romanticism.
    Birini Palace has a beautiful regular park with a stunning view.

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  • Phone: 4066316, 9416661
  • Directions: Limbazhu region
  • Website: http://www.birinupils.lv/en/index.html

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    “Folk Song Hill"
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  • By Lilasel on September 16, 2005
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    by Lilasel,
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    Finally, have a walk through the park which is devoted to that fragile heritage of centuries flown past - the folk songs and dance. The stone sculptures are made by Indulis Ranka and they show the mentality of the Latvian nation, rooted in nature and folklore.

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    Gauja National Park
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  • By Lilasel on September 16, 2005
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    by Lilasel,
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    The Gauja National Park was established in 1973. It's a nature reserve situated between Sigulda and Cesis. Nature lovers can use the approximately 100 km walking trails that are marked with signs and information boards. There are view points, benches, steps and established camp sites along the trails.

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    Gutmanis Cave
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  • Updated By Dabs on June 12, 2004
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  • Gutmanis Cave - Sigulda
    Gutmanis Cave
    by Dabs
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    After looking at the ruins of Krimulda Castle, the only path we saw going down was the bike trail. Lonely Planet says that there are 410 steep wooden stairs below the viewing tower of Krimulda, immediately to the left of the castle, leading to the riverside path but since we didn't see them we took the bike trail which eventually got us there. At some point we did use some stairs but not 410 of them consecutively. We did some signs showing the direction to the caves once we got on the riverside path.

    Gutmanis cave is the largest in the Baltics so I was a bit surprised that it didn't seem very big at all and certainly not very deep. I was envisioning something like Mammoth cave!

    There are several legends associated with this cave, one is that the water flowing from the cave removes facial wrinkles (drat, forgot to bottle some up!), another talks of a healer who used the water to cure the sick but the most famous is the legend of the Turaida Rose-see the tip for the grave of Turaida Rose for the story.

    The cave is covered with graffiti as old as the 16th century, I've posted a photo in my next tip.

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    Knights Stronghold
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  • By Dabs on June 12, 2004
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  • Knight's Stronghold - Sigulda
    Knight's Stronghold
    by Dabs
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    There's not much left of the Knights Stronghold. It was built between 1207 and 1226, by the Knights of the Sword.

    In 1207 after the Germans conquered this area, the Gauga Valley bacame the boundary between these German Knights and the Archibishop of Riga who had a castle on the other side of the valley at Turaida which can be seen across the valley from this point.

    See the next tip for a photo.

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    Turaida Museum Reserve
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  • Updated By Dabs on June 14, 2004
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  • Turaida Castle - Sigulda
    Turaida Castle
    by Dabs
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    After leaving Gutmanis Cave, we headed toward Turaida. Although we saw a couple of directional signs, once again the path at some point is not well marked. We ended up walking along the shoulder of the main road at some point, you could see the castle from the road along with all kinds of signs saying not to climb up the hill to get there whether that be for safety or because you'd skip paying the admission fee.

    So we resisted temptation and followed the road up to the official entrance, paid our 1.5 Ls and entered the reserve. The reserve has several attractions to visit, the highlight is the Turaida Castle but you will also want to go see the grave of Turaida Rose, the estate manager's house and surrounding buildings, the Turaida church and the Folksong sculpture garden.

    We started off to the right of the admission desk, mostly because I saw the WC and was in desperate need now so our first stop was the Turaida Church.

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  • Website: http://www.turaida-muzejs.lv/en/index_en.htm

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    Folksong Garden at Turaida
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  • Updated By Dabs on June 13, 2004
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  • Folksong Garden - Sigulda
    Folksong Garden
    by Dabs
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    After visiting the Turaida castle, we went back towards the Turaida church and wandered through the Folksong Garden, Latvia's only sculpture garden (according to LP).

    The sculptures by Latvian sculptor Indulis Ranka are of Latvian folksong heroes, there are several gathered together and several more on the paths back to the entrance, 25 in total

    The folksong garden was established in 1985 in honor of Krisjanis Barons who collected folksongs.

    See the travelogue for a few more pictures.

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