HomeNews Gauja National Park - wonderful landscapes and memorable settlements

Gauja National Park - wonderful landscapes and memorable settlements

Latvia's largest, Gauja National Park is renowned for its primeval forests, sandstone outcrops and biodiversity. In the National Park, one natural wonder follows another, with almost 500 cultural and historical monuments: manors and castles, forts and fortresses, mills and churches, outstanding architecture and museums.

The National Park was established in 1973 and is named after the Gauja River, above which, with luck, kingfishers can be seen swooping. The area is ideal for leisure activities, hiking, cycling or canoeing.

If you should decide to visit the area, be prepared to encounter unspoilt nature, take a break from the fast-paced city life and challenge yourself on some wilderness trips.

The National Park stretches from Sigulda to Valmiera, and between them are Cesis, with its castle, and Ligatne, once home of the paper industry, both of which have a well-preserved history and, as you wander around, feel like one big museum.

In Sigulda, on the south-western edge of the Park, you can ride cable cars and bobsleighs on a track of which there are only 18 in the world. Thanks to the surrounding forests, Sigulda has been famous for centuries for its clean air and recreational opportunities. When you are there, find out what the locals are up to with their walking sticks. You'll see these sticks both on city streets and in souvenir shops. If you've still got some stamina left, climb the tower of Turaida Castle (highly recommended in autumn!) and walk to the grave of Turaida Rose, of which local legend tells an unspeakably sad tale.

One of the trademarks of Gauja National Park are the nearly 350-million-year-old sandstone cliffs which come in a range of colours They contain caves as well as fascinating rock formations. The most prominent outcrops are the 22-metre-high Erglu Bank, which overlooks the Gauja valley, and the almost half-kilometre-long Sietiniezis Rock, which translates as "sieve rock". Caves and pillars, niches and arches - there's something to admire at every turn. What's more, this wall is

grey which is rather rare in sandstones. For recreation, there is a picnic area nearby, as well as a lean-to shelter and a swimming spot. So, pitch your tent and soak up as much peace and quiet as your soul desires.

In some very old forests, you can feel like in a fairy tale, where forest elves live among the moss-covered trees and ferns. In fact, forests cover almost half of the Park’s territory. 33 lakes and nearly 100 kilometres of the Gauja River also allow doing water sports as an alternative to walking and cycling.

Finishing your tour in the north of Gauja National Park, take a break at the Valmiermuiža Brewery, set up in an old manorial building, this is much more than just a place to taste hoppy beer. Here you'll find handmade crafts from local artisans and tasty treats, and the air is thick with history.

But if you appreciate saunas and water treatments, step into the Ziedlejas nature spa, harmoniously tucked away in the countryside, where special rituals purify both body and soul.

Contacts:
Enter Gauja
info@entergauja.com
+371 28658900

Text by Merle Rallmann