Sigulda (; ; Polish Zygwold) is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

in the

Vidzeme Vidzeme (; Old Latvian orthography: ''Widda-semme'', ) is one of the Historical Latvian Lands. The capital of Latvia, Riga, is situated in the southwestern part of the region. Literally meaning "the Middle Land", it is situated in north-centra ...

region of

Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...

, from the capital city

Riga Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...

Overview

Sigulda is on a picturesque stretch of the primeval Gauja river valley. Because of the reddish

Devonian The Devonian ( ) is a period (geology), geologic period and system (stratigraphy), system of the Paleozoic era (geology), era during the Phanerozoic eon (geology), eon, spanning 60.3 million years from the end of the preceding Silurian per ...

sandstone Sandstone is a Clastic rock#Sedimentary clastic rocks, clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of grain size, sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate mineral, silicate grains, Cementation (geology), cemented together by another mineral. Sand ...

which forms steep rocks and

cave Caves or caverns are natural voids under the Earth's Planetary surface, surface. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. Exogene caves are smaller openings that extend a relatively short distance undergrou ...

s on both banks of the river, Sigulda has been called the "

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

of Vidzeme". Gutmana ala3 8sep07

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 town council, city council or municipal council is a form of local government for small municipalities. Usage of the term varies under different jurisdictions. Republic of Ireland In 2002, 49 urban district councils and 26 town commissi ...

, a traditional

Opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

Festival takes place in an open-air music hall in the

castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...

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 Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow for basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International S ...

bobsled Bobsleigh or bobsled is a winter sport in which teams of 2 to 4 athletes make timed speed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sleigh. International bobsleigh competitions are governed by the International Bobs ...

ding, and the

luge A luge () is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds Supine position, supine (face-up) and feet-first. A luger begins seated, propelling themselves initially from handles on either side of the start ramp, then steers by using the Ca ...

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

in the Baltics, measuring deep, wide and 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

* Aerodium Latvia * Gauja National Park * Gutmanis Cave * Krimulda Castle * Sigulda bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track * Sigulda Castle * Sigulda Medieval Castle * Turaida Castle

Twin towns — sister cities

Sigulda is a member of the

Douzelage Douzelage is a town twinning association with one town from each of the member states of the European Union and the United Kingdom. Name The name is a portmanteau of the French words "douze" for twelve and "jumelage" for twinning and stands for t ...

, a

town twinning A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties. While there are early examples of inte ...

association of towns across the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

. 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: * Agros, Cyprus * Altea, Spain * Asikkala, Finland * Bad Kötzting, Germany * Bellagio, Italy * Bundoran, Ireland * Chojna, Poland * Granville, France * Holstebro, Denmark * Houffalize, Belgium * Judenburg, Austria * Kőszeg, Hungary * Marsaskala, Malta * Meerssen, Netherlands * Niederanven, Luxembourg * Oxelösund, Sweden *

Preveza Preveza (, ) is a city in the region of Epirus (region), Epirus, northwestern Greece, located on the northern peninsula of the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf. It is the capital of the Preveza (regional unit), regional unit of Preveza, which is the s ...

, Greece *

Rokiškis Rokiškis () is a list of cities in Lithuania, city in northeastern Lithuania, close to the Latvia–Lithuania border, with a population of 11,606 (2023). The city is a capital of the Rokiškis District Municipality with a population of 28,715 (20 ...

, Lithuania * Rovinj, Croatia *

Sesimbra Sesimbra () is a municipality of Portugal, in the Setúbal District, lying at the foothills of the ''Serra da Arrábida'', a mountain range between Setúbal and Sesimbra. Due to its particular position at the Península de Setúbal, Setúbal Bay, ...

, Portugal *

Sherborne Sherborne is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in north west Dorset, in South West England. It is sited on the River Yeo (South Somerset), River Yeo, on the edge of the Blackmore Vale, east of Yeovil. The parish include ...

, England, United Kingdom * Siret, Romania * Škofja Loka, Slovenia * Sušice, Czech Republic * Tryavna, Bulgaria * Türi, Estonia * Zvolen, Slovakia ;Other twinnings * Angus, Scotland, United Kingdom * Birštonas, Lithuania * Chiatura, Georgia * Chocz, Poland * Falköping, Sweden * Keila, Estonia *

Stuhr Stuhr is a municipality in the district of Diepholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps ...

, Germany * Vesthimmerland, Denmark

Notable people

* Milda Lauberte (1918-2009), chess player * Alvis Vītoliņš (1946-1997), chess player * Sandis Ozoliņš (born 1972), ice hockey player * Anda Čakša (born 1974), politician, paediatrician * Juris Šics (born 1983), luger * Mihails Arhipovs (born 1984), bobsledder, skeleton coach * Andris Šics (born 1985), luger * Jānis Strenga (born 1986), bobsledder * Elīza Tīruma (born 1990), luger * Toms Skujiņš (born 1991), cyclist * Lelde Priedulēna (born 1993), skeleton racer * Kendija Aparjode (born 1996), luger * Kristers Aparjods (born 1998), luger * Mārtiņš Bots (born 1999), luger * Elīna Ieva Vītola (born 2000), luger

References

External links

*
Tourist information office of Sigulda
{{Authority control Cities and towns in Vidzeme Ski areas and resorts in Latvia 1928 establishments in Latvia Populated places established in 1928 Riga county Populated places in Sigulda Municipality