Gauja National Park

• Address: Latvia;
• Area: 917.4 km²;
• Working hours: every day from 10:00 to 17:00;
• Phone: +353 85 192 7450;
• Date of foundation: 1973.

The Gauja National Park in Latvia is the oldest national park in the country. It is also the largest - not only in Latvia, but also in the entire Baltic region. This is a specially protected natural area, open to visitors, thanks to which it is very popular among tourists from different countries.

Geography of the park

The park, which was founded in 1973, occupies 917.4 km² of land to the northeast of Riga (for comparison, Lahemaa 's largest national park occupies 725 km ²). The park partially covers the territory of 11 edges of Latvia. On its land are three cities: Cesis , Ligatne and Sigulda. South-western, the closest point to Riga is the village of Murjani; in the north-east the park borders on the large city of Valmiera .

The Gauja park almost half covers pine, spruce and (a little less) deciduous forest. From the north-east to the south-west it is crossed by the Gauja River , on the territory of the park its inflow of Amata also flows. Along the coast stretches cliffs of Devonian sandstone, whose height reaches 90 m. The age of the sandstone is 350-370 million years. Within the boundaries of the park are many lakes, the largest of them - Lake Ungurs.

Attractions of the park

The rocky, cavernous banks of Gauja and Amata are the visiting card of the Gauja National Park. The most interesting places are:

1. Gutman's Cave is the largest cave in the Baltic States. It is located in Sigulda . From the cave follows a source, popularly considered to be healing.
2. The Big Ellite is a cave in the Priekul region. Known not so much the cave itself, as the arcade at the entrance to it - the only natural sand formation in Latvia in the form of a series of arches.
3. Zvartes is a cliff of red sandstone on the bank of the Amata River. From here along the geological path along the river you can walk to the Wetzlauchu bridge.
4. Sietiniessis - outcrop of white sandstone in the Kochen area, on the right bank of Gauja. The cliff is covered with holes and resembles a sieve (hence the name "cliff-sieve"). Previously, there was the largest natural arcade in Latvia, then it collapsed, and this title moved to the Big Ellita.
5. Eagle rocks - formation of sandstone on the banks of Gauja, 7 km from the center of Cesis. The length of the rocks is 700 m, the height is up to 22 m. At the top there is an observation platform, along the walking trails are laid.

The Gauja National Park is dotted with nature trails. The most famous are the Ligatne Nature Trails - designed to introduce tourists to nature and the animal world of Latvia, to teach them how to protect the local flora and fauna. Here wild animals live in open-air cages: bears, wild boars, wolves, foxes, moose, large representatives of the cat family. From all over Latvia, wounded and abandoned cubs were brought here, unable to survive on their own. For them, all conditions were created, and now tourists can observe the life of representatives of the Latvian fauna collected in one place.

In the territory of the Gauja National Park there are more than 500 historical and cultural attractions. In the picturesque Sigulda, also called Latvian Switzerland, a significant part of them is concentrated. Not less popular with tourists and Cesis. Churches, estates, archeological monuments - all this can be found in the park. The highest density of castles in Latvia is also here - in the Gauja basin.

1. Turaida Museum-Reserve . The museum is located in Turaida, north of Sigulda. On its territory are located Turaida Castle , the place of memory of Turaida Rose , Folk Song and Turaida Church .
2. Krimulda manor house . The estate is north of Sigulda. Near the estate there is a distillery and a park with medicinal plants. Once upon a time Alexander I visited the park. The cable car connects the estate to Sigulda, and to Turaida a serpentine road leads from it.
3. Sigulda Castle of the Livonian Order . It was founded by the Order of the Sword-bearers at the site of the ancient Liv settlement. Later, Prince Kropotkin, a new castle was added to him.
4. Cesis medieval castle . It is located in the heart of Cesis. The biggest and best preserved castle in Latvia. Here lived the master of the Livonian Order (his dwelling can now be viewed by visitors). A new castle is added to the medieval castle - a palace in two floors with an attic. Now in the New Castle is the Museum of History and Art of Cesis. The Latvian flag flies above the tower of Lademacher, reminding that it was once there, in Cesis.
5. Church of St. John . The church in Cēsis for one thousand seats is one of the oldest churches in Latvia, and the biggest Latvian church outside of Riga.
6. "Araishas . " "Araishi" is an archaeological museum on the shore of Lake Araishu. Its exhibits are the reconstruction of an ancient Latgalian settlement (the so-called "lake castle" of wooden houses) and a restored Stone Age site with reed huts. To the south are the ruins of a medieval castle.
7. Manor «Ungurmuiza» . Located in the Pargaui region, north of Lake Ungurs. The manor house of the manor is the oldest wooden residential building of the estate in Latvia. Near the estate grew oak grove, the adornment of which is a tea house.
8. Park "Vienochi" . The theme of the park "Vienochi" - products from wood and decks. There are log houses and wooden sculptures. In the park there is a garden and a corner of untouched nature. Visitors can ride a shuttle or bathe in a tub hollowed out in a deck. The park is located south of Ligatne.

Active winter holidays

On the slopes in Sigulda are laid ski slopes. A sledge-bobsleigh track with the length of 1420 m is designed. Here athletes train, national and international competitions are held, but the rest of the time the track is free for anyone who wants to ride a bob. In Cesis, there is a popular ski resort "Zagarkalns", which offers 8 trails of varying degrees of complexity.

Useful information for tourists

Gauja National Park is beautiful in any season. The park is located in a temperate climatic zone, so there is a marked change of seasons. To admire the summer greens, autumn landscapes or bird-cherry blossom - choose a tourist.

Various vehicles are suitable for exploring the park. You can go on a trip by car or explore the park on foot. But the cliffs and cliffs along the banks of Gauja and Amata can be fully seen only from the water. Therefore, the park is organized by boat rafting. The most popular routes are from Ligatne to Sigulda (25 km) and from Cesis to Sigulda (45 m), although you can swim from Valmiera to the mouth of Gauja (this trip takes 3 days).

A bicycle is also a good choice for a warm season, but you need to be prepared for driving along narrow paths and sandy paths.

From Sigulda to Krimulda (a place on the other coast of Gauja) you can ride on the funicular: here at an altitude of 43 m there is a cable car . Within 7 minutes from the cable car you can see the Sigulda bobsleigh track , the Turaida and Sigulda castles and the Krimulda manor. And you can jump with an eraser just above Gauja.

For visitors on the territory of the park are 3 information centers: near the cliff of Zvartes, near the cave Gutman and at the beginning of the natural trails Ligatne. Tourist information centers are in Sigulda, Cesis, Priekule , Ligatne and Valmiera.