Special Castles and Stunning Sights in Sigulda, Latvia

Travellers may not realise, but Latvia is an excellent choice of destination if you’re after nature and castles. Nowhere is that clearer than the small town of Sigulda. Found just an hour away from the capital, a Sigulda day trip from Riga is both easy to do and not soon forgotten. I’d go so far as to stay that it’s my favourite place in Latvia, which is why I’ve made sure to visit Sigulda not once, but twice, during my trips to Latvia.

Now, Sigulda and the nearby Gauja Valley are a cornucopia of sights, both historical and natural. In Sigulda castles are without a doubt the most memorable attractions, ranging from medieval ruins to preserved manor houses. But there’s plenty of neat natural landmarks and scenic panoramic views as well, meaning one day in Sigulda isn’t enough. Not if you really want to experience all it has to offer. To show you what I mean, here all the things to do in Sigulda and the Gauja Valley.

Sigulda Castles

The history of Sigulda is inseparable from that of Sigulda Castle, making it the best place to start with. However, when I speak of Sigulda Castle I am in fact actually talking about two different castles. That’s right, two for the price of one! The Sigulda castle complex actually consists of the New Castle and the older Medieval or Livonian Order Castle. Other than sharing a location they are quite different, which means they present a nice contrast. The castles rest at the northern end of town, overlooking the Gauja River.

Beyond the actual castles, the castle complex is home to elegant ponds and some old workshops for various local craftsmen. One workshop in particular found in the old brewery is now used as a studio for a practice known as sand art. Only the Medieval Castle requires an entrance fee of just 2€.

Sigulda New Castle

Since you’ll first see the Sigulda New Castle, let’s start there. Pass through the castle gate and you’ll be met with quite a sight. Gardens lead up to the castle and when in full bloom there is a real burst of colour along the garden path. Then you have the fresh-faced New Castle, which actually looks more like a manor house. Given that it was only built in 1878, that makes a lot of sense.

Now hosting the Sigulda Regional Council, this Sigulda castle was originally built by local a duke as his residence. While the castle was sadly destroyed during World War I, it was fortunately reconstructed by 1937 in the Neo-Gothic style. There are several outdoor information boards that detail the castle’s history, while there’s also a terrace with sweeping views of the nearby valley.

Sigulda Medieval Castle

Behind the New Castle, you will soon be faced an interesting bridge leading to the Medieval Castle beyond it. This historic castle built in the early 13th century belonged to the Livonian Brothers of the Sword. This is the same group behind the castle in Cesis, another one not to miss.

The Livonian Order were known as “warrior monks”, German crusaders who had travelled to the Baltic region to fight and Christianise the local pagans. Yes, the Crusades didn’t just happen in modern-day Israel/Palestine but all across Europe!

Anyway, it was from this castle that these crusaders controlled the entire Gauja Valley. This made Sigulda Castle a pivotal regional stronghold for centuries under the control of the Order. After the region got caught up in the war between Sweden and Poland in the 17th century, this castle sustained damage and quickly lost its significance.

It’s only thanks to frequent tourism throughout the 20th and 21st centuries that these castle ruins have managed to survive. This continuing interest inspired both archaeological excavations and renovation efforts, leaving behind what can still be seen. Today, visitors are able to walk along the old castle walls and climb up its towers for views through the treetops.

Turaida Castle

Across the Gauja Valley from Sigulda lies the equally enchanting sight of Turaida Castle. This castle sits within the Turaida Museum Reserve, home to a range of historical, archaeological and architectural landmarks. You can spend quite a bit of time here but the highlight is unquestionably Turaida Castle.

The Livonian Order built Turaida as a counterpart to the existing Sigulda Livonian Castle in 1214, replacing a former wooden castle there in the process. The name Turaida means “Thor’s Garden” in the native Livonian, which has a ring of power to it.

This red brick castle was improved upon over the centuries until a fire destroyed it in 1776. Like the Sigulda Medieval Castle, Turaida Castle was left to fall into ruin, eventually falling within the grounds of a local manor house. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the castle received some much-needed restoration. It’s now said to be the most visited museum in Latvia, so clearly the work was worth it.

Visiting Turaida Castle, you have the opportunity to explore the castle ruins. The buildings host a handful of exhibits that explore the history of the castle and region. But perhaps the highlight is the wonderful views you get from the renovated tower of the castle. Seeing the castle, forest and Gauja River all at once perfectly sums up why Sigulda is worth the visit. Entry to the Museum Reserve is 5€.

Krimulda Manor

Also resting opposite the Gauja Valley from Sigulda is the small village of Krimulda. This village is a quiet and rustic place to walk through with a smattering of charming old houses to see. Krimulda belonged to Sweden until 1817 when the manor was purchased by Count von Lieven. There isn’t too much for visitors to see today but you can find a nice cafe at the Milly Cafe and also a convenience store in the centre of the village.

The main sight in the village is the historic Krimulda Manor House. The house dates from 1848 and was built by Count von Lieven in a Neo-Classical style. Like most of the landmarks in the area, it sits on the edge of the valley with some great panoramic views. While the Manor House used to host a local museum, it now seems to function as a Rehabilitation and Recreation Centre.

Krimulda Castle

There’s one last castle near Sigulda to mention, although there isn’t much left today. Just outside the quaint village of Krimulda in the middle of the woods lies the ruins of Krimulda Castle. This castle dates from the 13th century and belonged to the Archbishop of Riga. It was destroyed in 1601 and slowly reclaimed by nature. The castle ruins are really quite atmospheric as they are immersed in the woods and feel like they’ve been hidden away from the world.

Gauja Valley

The impressive Gauja Valley lies at the heart of Latvia’s oldest national park. Through this rocky, yet lush valley the Gauja River flows creating some spectacular scenery along the way. As a vital trading route historically, it’s amazing that this breathtaking valley has not been marred by human settlement and development. In fact, this is true throughout the Gauja National Park, with just the odd town or castle here and there. 

Thanks to this preservation, the Gauja National Park is renowned for its high level of biological diversity. The valley and park beyond is home to over 900 species of plant, 149 of birds and 48 of mammals. The region is protected and there are continuing conservation efforts going on to preserve the region’s flora and fauna. Besides the Sigulda castles, exploring this valley is the main other thing to do here.

Throughout the Gauja Valley there are walking trails and a great variety of sights to see. Nature lovers will thoroughly enjoy a wander along the walking trails that lead up and down the valley through fantastic, lush forest. In fact, after some rainfall it actually feels like you’re in a rainforest half a world away. Another way to explore the forest is to rent a mountain bike and ride along the generally gentle paths.

During my two trips to Sigulda, I did several hikes through Gauja National Park and was amazed at just how diverse the areas were. The valley varies from wetlands with frogs chirping down by the river to thick forests higher up with a totally different atmosphere.

Sigulda Cable Car

A perfect way way to get a bird’s-eye of view of the Gauja Valley is by taking the Sigulda cable car across. This cable car connects the town with Krimulda Manor, saving you a fair walk down into the valley. A journey across costs 7€ one-way and offers superb views both down and along the valley. Apparently, for those looking for a big more adventure, there are even special cable car trips where you can go bungee jumping! I’ve yet to muster the courage for that one.

Devil’s Cliffs and Devil’s Cave

A particularly nice part of the Gauja Valley to explore is the banks of the river down near the Devil’s Cliffs. These cliffs are perhaps the most interesting example of the sandstone rock that the Gauja Valley is known for. Measuring 15 metres high and stretching for around 250 metres along the river, their smooth sandstone face really stands out among the normally vibrant grass and forest. While you can walk along the top of the cliffs, the view’s much better from across the river.

Standing at the Devil’s Cliffs you’ll also find two other natural attractions in the diabolically-named Devil’s Cave and Little Devil’s Cave. It’s not hard to understand how they earned their names either. With a charred black interior, an unusual outer appearance and local legends of the Devil hiding within, the names seem oddly fitting.

The larger Devil’s Cave was once a site of pagan worship and is nationally protected historical and natural monument. A little sad to see is that the caves bear inscriptions by tourists from the 19th century. This is a common problem in places where tourism took off before conservation was a priority. Tourists, sigh!

Gutman’s Caves

There are actually quite a lot of fascinating caves along the Gauja Valley. The most impressive is surely Gutman’s Cave, the largest in all the of the Baltic countries. Again, the mouth of the cave is covered in inscriptions by visitors dating as far back as the 17th century. As such, this 19-metre-deep cave is considered the oldest tourist attraction in Latvia. The cave is also the setting for one of the main local legends, the Rose of Turaida. The tale is too long to account here, so if you wish to learn about it, feel free to read it here.

Town of Sigulda

Finally, we come to the town of Sigulda itself. Now, Sigulda is a modest town on the edge of the dense Gauja National Park in the Vidzeme region that’s not far from Riga. Thanks to the sandstone formations nearby, this town of 16,000 people has often been dubbed the “Switzerland of Vidzeme”. Despite its small size, Sigulda is quite spread out and almost feels like it lacks a town centre. Wandering is advisable as you get to explore the pleasantly serene streets of this intensely green town.

One of the cuter spots in town is a small park filled with giant walking sticks and mushrooms. It almost resembles something out of Alice in Wonderland and is sure to delight kids. The park owes its theme to the fact that locally crafted walking sticks used to be the most popular souvenir for visitors to Sigulda and the Gauja Valley.

Travel Tips for Visiting Sigulda

Having covered just how much there is to see in Sigulda, let’s now look at planning a trip there. First things first, Sigulda is an easy place to get to, which makes sense given that it’s a common day trip from Riga.

For those without a car, you can get to Sigulda from Riga by either train or bus. Both take 75 minutes from Riga, with the train costing under 2€ and the bus under 3€. Both bus and train schedules can be found here at 1188, but honestly I always take the train. Of course, there’s always the option of taking a tour if you want a guide to show you around.

Now, if you do decide to spend longer than the day in Sigulda, you’ll need to work out where to stay. There are actually quite a few accommodation options around Sigulda and the wonderful Gauja Valley. You’ll even find some camping and glamping options which would surely make the most of the natural surroundings here. However, I also recommend looking at Airbnb as that’s what I’ve used in the past and it worked out well.

Have you ever seen the Sigulda castles before? Does Sigulda Latvia look like somewhere you’d like to visit on your travels? Please share in the comments below.

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