Today is our last full day in Latvia and we will use it to visit Sigulda
. It is located about 53 kilometres from Riga and is an important tourist and sports centre of Latvia. It is adjacent to the Gauja National Park and has a bobsleigh track on which world cups are run. Sigulda is also the place with the highest elevation in Latvia, with a full eighty-five metres.
Gauja River
Getting up is cool again today. Although Sigulda is in the local S-Bahn network, the intensity of connections here is not so dense and in fact the first usable one leaves only at 10:46. So the process is the same as usual have breakfast, walk to the station, buy a return ticket and get on the train. The only change from normal is the DR1AM diesel unit instead of electric. The interior was also interesting, with seats like a bus.
Riga - A Unit DR1AM
The journey took just over an hour. The first planned stop was Siguldas Pils aka Sigulda Castle. On the way to it we stopped at Maxima for ice cream and beer for the road. The castle grounds have two parts. The so-called new castle and the old castle. We skipped the tour of the new one and there was a concert in the old one and we couldn't go inside. But I was intrigued to see that they have robotic lawn mowers mowing their lawn here too.
Sigulda - Railway Station
Sigulda - Lutheran Church
Sigulda - New Castle
Sigulda - Old Castle
Sigulda - View of the new castle from the old castle
From the castle we continue down the valley to the Gauja River. There is a road bridge over there and also a cable car to the opposite village of Krimulda. This is complete with a Zip-line attraction, where the cable car reaches the opposite side, a zip-line starts behind it with people going about halfway and then waiting for the cable car to pick them up on the way back and push them back to the station.
Řeka Gauja
We continue up the valley to the cave system, where you will find Gutmanis Cave, the largest cave in the Baltics. But don't expect any miracles.
Jeskyně Mazā
Gutmanis Cave
Now we should proceed properly and reach the castle of Tulaida. It comes up a lot in promotional material when you look up Sigulda or the national park. But we didn't know it was it at first, so we didn't go there and went the other way to the village of Krimulda. It is located on a cliff, so you have to climb some elevation. From the viewpoint overlooking the river you can also see the red spires of Tulaida Castle. The ruins of the castle and the castle of the same name are located near Krimulda. The village is solidly depopulated and sometimes even spooky.
Tulaida Castle
Ruins of Krimulda Castle
Krimulda Castle
Krimulda Castle area
Krimulda
We leave Krimulda and descend back to the Gauja River. Along the way we are treated to swarms of mosquitoes and after ascending to Sigulda we find ourselves at the amusement park with the Ferris wheel. At Mark's urging we take a ride, but somehow the views from it are not exceptional.
Sigulda - Krimulda Castle from the opposite bank
Sigulda - Ferris wheel
Next to the Ferris wheel there is a ski slope with a cable car, which also offers attractions such as bobsleigh and monkey bars, a bike park and more.
The last thing we'll do today is a quick tour of the bobsled track. It is located a bit on the outskirts and since we have a train coming soon, we are going to it at a brisker pace. Supposedly you can get a ride from a professional on a roller coaster. We didn't know this at the time and didn't have time to do it, so I can't confirm.
Sigulda - Bobsleigh track
We pick up the pace again and head to the station. We get on the train and in Riga we go to the classic Lido station for dinner. We are still trying to return the PETs in Rimmi when the vending machine perfectly hidden in the underground car park is not working today. Then in the evening we have a cocoa party in the kitchen and pack our stuff, because tomorrow we move to Estonia.
Useful links:
Latvian Railways
Scheme of tariff zones of Latvian Railways
Web page of NP Gauja
Central Hostel Riga
Hotels around Riga
Hotels around Sigulda
