Sigulda () is a
town in the
Vidzeme Region of
Latvia, 53 km from the capital city
Riga.
Overview
Sigulda is situated on a picturesque stretch of the
primeval Gauja river valley. Because of the reddish
Devonian sandstone which forms steep rocks and
caves on both banks of the river, Sigulda has been called the "
Switzerland of Vidzeme".
After the restoration of Latvian independence in 1991, an emphasis was placed on conserving Sigulda's public monuments and parks as well as improving the town's tourist sector. Supported by the
town council, a traditional
Opera Festival takes place in an open-air music hall in the
castle ruins each summer. A Town Festival is celebrated in May when
cherry trees blossom, while Sigulda is known for the colors of its trees in autumn. Sports such as
skiing,
bobsledding, and the
luge are popular in wintertime and
bungee jumping is practiced during the rest of the year.
The
Gutmanis Cave lies halfway between
Sigulda Castle and
Turaida Castle and has a small stream flowing from it. It is 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 is supposed to be healthy and is said to increase one's lifespan. From the cave it is possible to climb into the hills and take the
cable car over the river valley.
City population is growing every year since 2000. 86% of population is Latvians 9% Russians, 3% Belorussians, 2% others.
Points of interest
International relations
Twin towns - Sister cities
Sigulda is a member of the
Douzelage, a
town twinning association of 23 towns across the
European Union. This active town twinning began in 1991 and there are regular events, such as a produce market from each of the other countries and festivals.
Other
twinnings:
