Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

86 NORTH EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp92–3

Sigulda 6

50 km (31 miles) NE of Rīga.

• 15,000. £ from Rīga. c from
  Rīga. n Valdemāra iela 1a, 6797

1335. http://www.sigulda.lv

A pretty town situated in the
scenic woodland of Gauja
National Park, Sigulda is a
centre for outdoor activities
and is often described as the
Switzerland of the Vidzeme
region. After the Brotherhood
of the Sword subdued the Liv
pop ulation in 1207, they gave
the right bank of the Gauja
river to the Bishop of Rīga and
built their own castle on the
left bank. The Brotherhood,
renamed the Livonian Order,
lost the town to the Poles in
1562, and it passed between
the Poles and Swedes for 150

Gauja National Park 7

Gauja nacionālā parka

Latvia’s first national park was established in 1973,
stretching for about 100 km (62 miles) along the
Gauja River valley. Almost half of the park is
forested, and it is home to about 900 plant, 149
bird and 48 mammal species. Boating and canoe-
ing are great ways to see the caves, cliffs and
ravines carved out by the river since the glaciers
receded 12,000 years ago. In addi tion to its
natural attractions, the area has some of Latvia’s
most fascinating historic sites, and been attracting
visitors to its trails since the 19th century.

KEY

Gauja National Park

0 km

0 miles

5

5

years, until it was taken by

Russia in the Great Northern

War (1700–21). The castle

ruins are tucked away behind

the 19th-century New Castle

(Jaunā pils), which now

houses city council offices

and a restaurant.

Turaida Museum Reserve
The reserve comprises the extensively restored Turaida
Castle, which houses historical exhibitions, and the
grounds, with the outbuildings and a sculpture park.

Ruins of the castle built by the Brotherhood of the Sword, Sigulda

Sigulda offers a rare chance

to experience the thrill of

a world-class bobsleigh run

at a reasonable price.

Close by is a Lutheran church

and an imp ressive viewpoint

called Artists’ Hill (Gleznotāju

kalns). Paths run through the

wood land to Satzele Castle

Mound, once a Liv fortress,

and Peter’s Cave on the

bank of the Vējupīte river.

Inčiems

Lielstraupe

Turaida

Ragana

Gauja

Rīga

43 km (27 miles)

Krimulda

SIGULDA

G

au

ja

Lake

Ungurs

Véju

pīt

J e

J

LATVIA

b

b

b

b

Gulf of

Rīga

Gau

ja

Sigulda

Rīga

Cēsis

Valmiera

Area of the

map illustrated