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Sigulda

Coordinates: 57°09′N 24°52′E / 57.150°N 24.867°E / 57.150; 24.867
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Sigulda
Town
Location in Latvia
Coordinates: 57°09′N 24°52′E / 57.150°N 24.867°E / 57.150; 24.867
CountryFile:Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia
DistrictSigulda Municipality
Town rights1928
Government
 • MayorLinards Kumskis
Area
 • Water[convert: invalid number]
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
LV-2150
Calling code+371 67
Number of city council members15
Websitesigulda.lv/public/eng/

Sigulda (; German: Segewold; Polish: Zygwold) is a town and the centre of Sigulda Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, 53 kilometres (33 miles) from the capital city Riga.[1][2] It's an important tourist center of Latvia. Its territory also includes the ancient centers of Turaida and Krimulda. At the beginning of 2024, Sigulda had 14,632 inhabitants, making it the 15th largest settlement in Latvia.[3]

Overview

Sigulda is 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.

Gutman's 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 (62.34 ft) deep, 12 m (39.37 ft) wide and 10 m (32.81 ft) 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.

The town's population has been growing every year since 2000. 86% of the population is Latvian, 9% Russian, 3% Belarusian and 2% others. Sigulda celebrated its 800th anniversary in 2007.

Points of interest

Twin towns – sister cities

Sigulda is a member of the Douzelage, a town twinning association of 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. As of 2019, its members are:[4]

Other twinnings[5]

Notable people

Sport

References

  1. ↑ "Sigulda aizrauj!". Tourism.sigulda.lv. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. ↑ "Sigulda". Latvia.travel. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  3. ↑ "Oficiālās statistikas portāls". stat.gov.lv (in latviešu). Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  4. ↑ "Member towns". douzelage.eu. Douzelage. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  5. ↑ "Sadraudzības partneri". sigulda.lv (in latviešu). Sigulda. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
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