The key facts
- Sigulda, an hour by train from Riga, is known for its autumn scenery and the absence of tourist crowds
- The cable car across the Gauja valley, Gutmanis Cave and Turaida Castle from 1214 are the main attractions
- Sigulda is considered the gateway to Gauja National Park; nearby is Cesis with its 13th-century castle
Autumn colours without tourist crowds
Euronews Travel journalist Dianna Appen-Sadler calls Sigulda the autumn capital of Latvia: the town is located just over an hour by train from Riga, and the trees surrounding it turn yellow, orange and red as the weather cools. According to her, there are practically no tourist crowds here. The author first visited Sigulda last summer and returned in autumn at the beginning of this month to see the scenery in person.
The cable car, Gutmanis Cave and the legend of the 'Rose of Turaida'
The best views, in the author's opinion, open up in the surroundings of the Gauja River, which can be crossed by cable car: the seven-minute ride passes over the valley, with several castles visible along the way. On the other bank, after a short walk through the forest, lies Gutmanis Cave — the largest in the Baltic countries, whose walls have been covered over the centuries with carvings made by lovers. It is linked to the legend of the 'Rose of Turaida': a girl named Maija, who grew up in Turaida Castle during the Swedish-Polish war, fell in love with the gardener Viktor Heil and was killed in the cave by the deserter Jakubovsky, who lured her out by pretending to be Viktor.
Turaida Castle and Sigulda walking sticks
From the cave you can walk to Turaida Castle, built in 1214. The main tower offers panoramic views, several exhibitions tell the history of the castle, and sculptures by Indulis Ranka are installed in the garden. There are other castles in the vicinity of Sigulda, including the New Castle, where creative workshops operate in the old manor buildings. There you can also buy the signature ornamental walking stick — one of the symbols of the town.
Gauja National Park and how to get there
Sigulda is considered the gateway to Gauja National Park with its many hiking trails; according to the publication, the best source of trails is the region's official tourism website Enter Gauja. Another popular town in the region is Cesis with its medieval 13th-century castle. The train from Riga to Sigulda takes about 1 hour 10 minutes, and to Cesis about 1 hour 20 minutes; tickets are sold at the station or via the Vivi website. A bus runs from Sigulda to Turaida Castle once an hour, and tickets can be bought from the driver in cash or by card.
