Sigulda and Turaida (Gauja National Park) – if you are willing to know Latvia better you must visit the Gauja National Park established in 1973. The park consists of various areas and the visited one is the historical that includes two little towns – Turaida and Sigulda and its surroundings. In Turaida we will visit the red-brick castle ruins and its best preserved defensive tower. Photography lovers and others willing to reach the observation deck of the defence tower will have to climb all 140 steps till the top to get a wonderful reward – panoramic view of the Gauja National Park. You will be left breathless, not from climbing, but from the surprise. The view will be worth every step – forests, meadows, hills, river Gauja valley and river bends till the horizon. After visiting the castle we will walk till the Hill of Songs dedicated to Cristobal Barons who in 19th century collected Latvian tales and songs and put them in a single book. We will find various sculptures by Indulis Ranka that represent different virtues of life found in these tales and songs. On the way to Sigulda we will visit the cave of Gutman that is made in sandstone and is biggest in Baltic States. The place is also known as the Switzerland of Latvia because of the hills, forests and the narrow road. On the other side of river Gauja there is another town called Sigulda. Famous for bobsleigh track and a modern 19th century castle built by an aristocrat Kropotkin. By the modern castle we will find the old castle ruins, which belonged to the Crusaders.
