Love padlocks
by MalenaN
When I walked on a bridge over River Gauja I saw many padlocks locked to the bridge. It is a tradition for newly married couples to put a padlock on a bridge railing and then throw the key in to the water below. Many of the padlocks are engraved with the names of the couple. It is a way of declaring the bond between them forever.
This custom is done in other cities as well, for example in Riga, Rome, Tokyo and Pécs. The custom is believed to have begun in Pécs (Hungary) in the 1980s.
Cave
by ealgisi
The Gutmanis Cave lies halfway between Sigulda and Turaida Castle and has a little creek flowing from it. The largest cave in the Baltics measuring 19 m deep, 12 m wide and 10 m high. The cave still bears inscriptions from as early as the 17th century; drinking the water supposed to be healthy and boosting one's lifespan.
The cave is connected with the old Latvian story of Maija, the Rose of Turaida (1601-1620). According to legend she was an orphan girl discovered after a battle and raised by the staff at Turaida Castle. She fell in love with the gardener and they used to meet in the cave. A polish soldier fell in love with her, but she turned him down. The soldier then tricked her to the cave using a forged letter and there he planned on raping her. In exchange for letting he go she offered him a "magical scarf" that supposedly was impossible to cut trough. She offered to demonstrate it and put it around her neck. The soldier cut through it with his sword killing her. According to documents in Sigulda's archives the soldier was later caught, tried and hanged for his crime.
Bobsleigh and sleigh track Sigulda
by eksvist
The Sigulda bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track is located in Sigulda, Latvia.
It is only place in Baltic countrys, where you can see and try the Bobsleigh.
On this trip to Latvia we wasn't time to drive but we saw it and it looks funny ... :)
Working hours:
Saturdays and Sundays: 12:00 – 17:00
Price:
Vuèko 6 Ls/person
summer type bob riding 6Ls/person
winter type bob riding 35 Ls/person
Panorama wheel
by Inguuna
Not far from air tram, you can also see Gauja river valley from the top, swirling in the air. Better to take this attraction together with one friend, because if you do it on your own, cabin inclines to one side and feelings are very strange. But being already at the top you can catch nice photos.
Gutmanis Cave
by Airpunk
The name of this cave comes from old german and means cave of the good man. According to a legend, the good man was a healer who cured several diseases with the water from the small stream flowing out of the cave. Still, it is said that the water cures face wrinkles (I didn’t try it… J ). There’s also a legend where this stream comes from. A Liv warrior had his cheating wife immured alive in this cave. Her tears became what is now the stream. Many people, mostly hunters, have put their name into the stones of the caves in the past centuries. So, you will see here some 16th century grafitties. With a length of over 18 meters, a with of 12 and a height of up to 10 meters, it is the largest cave in the Baltics.
The cave is also said to be the place where Viktor, a gardener of Sigulda Castle, and Maija, the beauty of Turaida castle met each other. For further details of this tragic love, check out my travllogue for the “Legend of Turaida Rose”. Just a couple of steps away, there’s also Viktor’s cave which plays a role in this legend.
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Turaida Church
Food at Tris Draugi
Sigulda Castle Ruins
The train station in Sigulda
