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Town in Latvia
Town in Sigulda Municipality, Latvia
Sigulda
(
pronunciation
ⓘ
;
German
:
Segewold
) is a
town
in the
Vidzeme
region of
Latvia
, 53 kilometres (33 miles) from the capital city
Riga
.
[3]
[4]
Overview
[
edit
]
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.
The
Gutmanis 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
[
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]
Twin towns ? sister cities
[
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]
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:
[5]
- Agros
, Cyprus
- Altea
, Spain
- Asikkala
, Finland
- Bad Kotzting
, Germany
- Bellagio
, Italy
- Bundoran
, Ireland
- Chojna
, Poland
- Granville
, France
- Holstebro
, Denmark
- Houffalize
, Belgium
- Judenburg
, Austria
- K?szeg
, Hungary
- Marsaskala
, Malta
- Meerssen
, Netherlands
- Niederanven
, Luxembourg
- Oxelosund
, Sweden
- Preveza
, Greece
- Roki?kis
, Lithuania
- Rovinj
, Croatia
- Sesimbra
, Portugal
- Sherborne
, England, United Kingdom
- Siret
, Romania
- ?kofja Loka
, Slovenia
- Su?ice
, Czech Republic
- Tryavna
, Bulgaria
- Turi
, Estonia
- Zvolen
, Slovakia
- Other
twinnings
[6]
Notable people
[
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]
- Milda Lauberte
(1918-2009), chess player
- Alvis V?toli??
(1946-1997), chess player
- Sandis Ozoli??
(born 1972), ice hockey player
- Anda ?ak?a
(born 1974), politician, paediatrician
- Juris ?ics
(born 1983), luger
- Mihails Arhipovs
(born 1984), bobsledder, skeleton coach
- Andris ?ics
(born 1985), luger
- J?nis Strenga
(born 1986), bobsledder
- El?za T?ruma
(born 1990), luger
- Toms Skuji??
(born 1991), cyclist
- Lelde Priedul?na
(born 1993), skeleton racer
- Kendija Aparjode
(born 1996), luger
- Kristers Aparjods
(born 1998), luger
- M?rti?? Bots
(born 1999), luger
- El?na Ieva V?tola
(born 2000), luger
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for
Sigulda
.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Sigulda
.
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