Holiday apartment in Sigulda Municipality: nature, castles and Gauja National Park

Gauja National Park also extends across Sigulda Municipality, combining recreational and nature conservation functions there. The park has more than 100 kilometres of hiking trails, as well as cycling routes throughout the park. At the same time, more than 800 species of vascular plants, 149 bird species and 48 mammal species have been recorded in the national park. Protected natural features, historic sites and cultural venues come together to create a destination with many different facets.

Nature

One of the notable natural sites is Raganu katls, a protected natural feature in the Nurmiži Ravine Nature Reserve area of Sigulda Municipality. The activity of various watercourses created a large suffosion sinkhole, or ravine, here. The formation is 30 metres high and 20 metres wide, while the rock walls reach a maximum height of 20 metres. Raganu katls can only be viewed from the upper lookout point of the ravine. The strictly protected reserve zone may only be crossed along a designated route marked on the map.

Around 1993, a total of 939 taxa of trees and shrubs were recorded in Lēdurga Dendrological Park; by now, the number of taxa may exceed 1,000. The park also has a disc golf course with 19 baskets: one practice basket and 18 baskets for the playing course. Picnics, guided excursions and creative workshops are also possible there. Another nature experience is provided by the Mālpils Nature Trail: the approximately 6.5-kilometre round trip runs along the left bank of the Mergupe and is accompanied by information boards about the local trees, plants and fish.

Gūtmaņala is an 18.8-metre-long grotto in the yellowish-red sandstone of the Gauja Formation. It is 12 metres wide and reaches a maximum ceiling height of 10 metres. Inscriptions from the 17th century have been preserved in the grotto; it is also associated with the legend of the Rose of Turaida.

Culture and history

The 42-hectare Turaida Museum Reserve contains archaeological, architectural, historical and artistic monuments. They bear witness to events spanning approximately 1,000 years from the 11th century onwards. Construction of the stone Turaida Castle began in 1214. The museum reserve also contains 26 stone sculptures by the sculptor Indulis Ranka.

The Livonian Order’s castle in Sigulda, built in 1207, was destroyed in the early 18th century during the Great Northern War. Since reconstruction work began in 2011, it has been open to visitors and used for open-air events. Sigulda’s historic architecture also includes the New Castle, built in 1878, which retains its Neo-Gothic style on the exterior.

The „Siguldas devons“ cultural centre is a multifunctional cultural and artistic space. Its programme includes art exhibitions, theatre performances, concerts, film screenings and family events. Sigulda’s castle quarter also has workshops and studios belonging to craftspeople and artists, where visitors can learn new skills and buy souvenirs.

Activities

Sigulda’s bobsleigh and luge track is open to the public daily from 8:00 to 20:00. In summer, it offers summer bobsleigh rides; in winter, soft bob, soft luge and ice raft experiences. The Sigulda cable car crosses the Gauja and connects its two banks over a distance of 1,025 metres.

Zilver Winery also welcomes visitors by prior arrangement. The offer is intended for groups of 10 to 60 people and includes a tour of the winemaking process with explanations of production, as well as a tasting of five fruit, berry or flower wines or wine distillates. The tour and tasting take a total of 1.5 hours.

Before booking, it is worth checking the included services, individual price components, and the booking and cancellation conditions. This allows you to compare offers based on your own plans.

For more destinations on this page, you can explore Sigulda, Allaži and More.

For the overarching travel overview: Latvia.

More destinations

Other places within the same destination:

Liepāja, Ventspils, Stopiņu Municipality, Rucava Municipality, Tērvete Municipality.