Things to do in Sigulda
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Turaidas muiža
Turaidas muiža organizes various horse-riding activities, including treks and horse-drawn carriage rides around the national park.
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Turaida Museum Reserve
The reserve's centrepiece is Turaida Castle, a red brick archbishops' castle founded in 1214 on the site of a Liv stronghold. It was blown up when lightning hit its gunpowder store in the 18th century. The restored castle is better viewed from afar, but a museum in the 15th-century granary offers an interesting account of the Livonian state from 1319 to 1561.
On the path between the castle and the road is the small wooden-spired Turaida Church, built in 1750 and housing a small history exhibition.
In the churchyard two lime trees shade the grave of the legendary Turaida Rose. The headstone bears the inscription 'Turaidas Roze 1601-1620' (Turaida means 'God's Garden' in an…
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Gūtmaņis Cave
Gūtmaņis Cave is covered with graffiti going back to the 16th century - including the coats of arms of long-gone hunters. Legend has it the cave is named after a healer who allegedly cured the sick with water from it. This cave is most famous, however, for its role in the tragic legend of the 'Turaida Rose'.
Sigulda's local beauty, Maija, was taken into Turaida Castle as a little girl when she was found among the wounded after a battle in 1601. She grew into a famous beauty courted by men from far and wide, but she loved Viktors, a gardener at Sigulda Castle. They would meet in a cave halfway between the two castles.
One day a particularly desperate Polish officer amon…
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Turaida Church
On the path to the Turaida Castle in the Turaida Museum Reserve is the small wooden-spired Turaida Church, built in 1750 and housing a small history exhibition. In the churchyard two lime trees shade the grave of the legendary Turaida Rose. The headstone bears the inscription 'Turaidas Roze 1601-1620'. Viktors - a gardener local beauty Maija loved - is said to have buried Maija and planted one of the trees, then disappeared without trace.
The hillside behind the church is known as Daina Hill (Dainu kalns) and shelters the Daina Hill Song Garden. The daina (poetic folk song) is a major Latvian tradition, and the hillside is dotted with sculptures dedicated to epic Latvian…
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Knights' Stronghold
Little remains of the Knights' Stronghold, built between 1207 and 1226 among woods on the northeastern edge of Sigulda. The castle hasn't been repaired since the Great Northern War, but its ruins are perhaps more evocative because of that. There's a great view through the trees to the archbishop's reconstructed Turaida Castle, on the far side of the valley. On the way to the ruins from town, you pass Sigulda Church (Siguldas baznīca), built in 1225 and rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries, and also the 19th-century New Sigulda Castle (Siguldas jaunā pils), the former residence of Prince Kropotkin and now a sanatorium.
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Bobsled Track
Sigulda's 1200m artificial Bobsled Track was built for the former Soviet bobsleigh team. Today, the track hosts a portion of the European luge championships every January. In winter you can fly down the 16-bend track at 80km/h in a five-person Vuchko tourist bob, while summer speed fiends can ride a wheel bob. If your stomach is not up to it, scale the viewing tower instead for a panoramic view of the bobsled run snaking into the valley.
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Cable Car
A good way to reach Krimulda Castle is by Cable Car, which crosses the valley (west of Raiņa iela) every 15 minutes and affords splendid views. The big white building just west of the northern cable-car station is Krimulda Manor (Krimuldas muižas pils; Mednieku iela 3), built in 1897, confiscated by the government in 1922 and later turned into a tuberculosis hospital. Today it is a sanatorium.
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Krimulda Castle & Manor
Built between 1255 and 1273, Krimulda Castle was once used as a guesthouse for visiting dignitaries. A good way to reach the castle ruins is by cable car, which crosses the valley every half hour and affords splendid views. The big white building just west of the northern cable car station is Krimulda Manor built in 1897. Today it is a sanatorium.
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Sporta Bāze Baiļi
Valmiera's Sporta Bāze Baiļi arranges various one-day canoe trips (24km, Valmiera to Strenči), (83km Valmiera to Sigulda) or (45km, Valmiera toCēsis). Trips spread across two days or more cost more. The company also offers one-day rafting trips. The price includes a boat, paddles, life jackets and transport.
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Mario Pizzeria
If you're tiring of Latvian fare, head to this quaint little pizzeria with lots of choices and fabulous English translations - 'fowl ham' pizza was our favourite. The thin-crust pizza is quite tasty, and cooked just right.
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Lāčplēsis
Directly opposite Trīs Draugi, this place is mainly a bar with lots of pool tables, darts and one-armed bandits (slot machines). It's very clean with funky red curtains and serves light meals in a pub-style setting.
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Bungee Jump
To get a different perspective on things, try a 43m Bungee Jump from the cable car which crosses the Gauja. Jumps are offered on Saturdays and Sundays, May to September, from 18:30 until the last customer has jumped.
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Trīs Draugi
Trī Trīs Draugi is a bright and sparkling place where you can be served - canteen-style - with large and tasty helpings of cheap food. Sit at the outside picnic tables under the trees.
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Altius
Scenic hot-air balloon flights can be organized by Altius. Call to arrange a flight; balloons depart at any time, year-round, as long as weather conditions are good.
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Pilsmuiža
Inside New Sigulda Castle, this eatery overlooks the ruins of the castle and has panoramic views of the Gauja Valley. The food is typical Latvian fare.
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Globuss
This 24-hour supermarket has a small bistro for those needing to eat on the cheap.
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