Sigulda is one of the main attractions of Latvia. Rarely a tourist who is in the country for sightseeing purposes passes by the perfectly preserved medieval fortress of the XIII century. In Turaida Castle it is easy to feel like a princess imprisoned in the tower or a knight courageously rescuing her. The excursion gives a complete idea of the country's history, and the visual museum exposition is interesting even for the youngest visitors.
History
The construction of the stone Turaida Castle on the place of the burnt wooden fortress was started by order of the Bishop of Riga in 1214. Across the river Gauja from the castle began the possessions of the Livonian Order and up to the middle of the XVI century as a result of constant skirmishes the fortress changed hands. Perhaps it was because of this that the construction was delayed. In 1561, after the liquidation of both the Archbishopric of Riga and the Livonian Landmeistery, the castle passed into private hands.
By 1778, when a fire caused serious damage to the castle, it had already lost its military significance and looked more like an estate. The owners did not set about restoring Turaida Castle. In 1920 Turaida, like all other estates, was nationalised. A few years later it was recognised as an architectural monument and included in the list of protected objects. And in the 50s of the last century, restoration work began here.
Turaida Castle today
Turaida Castle and the surrounding countryside are united into a museum-reserve. The complex, where 37 historical structures are presented, is visited by about 200 thousand tourists every year. But the main attraction and the centre of attraction of the reserve is, of course, the 13th century Turaida Castle.
Main Tower
The main defence and observation tower of the castle rises 38 metres. The five-storey structure was not used for permanent residence, rather as a last outpost during long sieges. Nevertheless, the tower has a fireplace. The thickness of the walls varies from 2.9 to 3.7 metres - the most dangerous, northern side of the tower is particularly strong. The entrance was at the level of 9.5 metres (3rd floor) and was accessed by a wooden staircase. In case of a siege, it could have been burned down, preventing the enemies from getting in. The staircase was not restored, and the entrance doorway in 1936 was converted into a viewing platform.
During the restoration works an entrance was made from the hole at the bottom of the tower. Stairs were built to climb to the third floor. Today, the lower levels house a museum. The upper level offers a marvellous view of the surroundings, often referred to as Latvia's Switzerland. The technical buildings, the castle courtyard and the Semicircular Tower can also be seen from here.
Semicircular Tower
The semicircular tower of Turaida Castle was built at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. Just like the main tower, it could only be accessed by a wooden staircase with a balcony. In the basement part of the tower there was a prison where prisoners waited for their fate before the trial. You can learn more about the structure of the prisons of that time in the exhibition of the Castle Prison Museum, located here. The museum section in the tower itself tells about its history, construction and firearms of the Middle Ages.
Courtyard
The inner courtyard of Turaida Castle is equally interesting to explore. Technical buildings and structures discovered during excavations are displayed here. The most interesting exhibit is the 16th century bathhouse, made on the same principle as in ancient Rome. Voids in the masonry allowed hot air to flow under the floors and inside the walls, heating the huge building. A 16th century wooden well has also survived. It is the only one found in a medieval fortress in Latvia. For unknown reasons in the XVII century, the 9-metre well was filled up.
Museum-preserve
The museum-preserve is interesting not only for the castle. Here, on the Turaida Church Hill on the territory of the reserve, you can see one of the oldest wooden churches in Latvia. Built in 1750, the church has been preserved almost in its original form. The custom-made altar, ambo and pews of the 18th century deserve special attention.
You can admire the views, learn about Latvian folk art and get energised in the park on Daina Mountain. There are 26 statues, each of which symbolises one of Latvia's folk songs. Festivals, concerts and theatre performances are regularly organised in the "Song Garden" located here.
The Legend of the Turaida Rose
The beautiful legend of the Turaida Rose, preserved through the ages and sung by cinema, is not a legend at all. All the events described are confirmed by the court record and the letter of the castle manager. In 1601, in the course of another battle, the castle of Turaida passed from the Swedes to the Poles. Among the still smoking rubble and corpses, the clerk Greif discovered a baby, a charming girl, adopted her and named her Maya.
She grew up to be a true beauty and was nicknamed the Turaid Rose by the people. Maija had a lover Victor, a gardener from Sigulda Castle, with whom they met regularly at the Gutman's cave. At the same time, there were two mercenaries serving in Turaida. One of them, Adam, had fallen in love with Maja, sought her attention and love, but was refused. Unable to control his heart, he decided to achieve the girl by force, sending her a note about the meeting on behalf of Victor.
Adam intended to take by force the deception-induced Maya, but was faced with an unexpected offer. Maya, in exchange for freedom and honour, offered the soldier her red magic handkerchief. And the magic that grants invulnerability in battle was to be tried on her. The girl tied the handkerchief round her neck, Adam swung round and struck her with his blade. Looking at Maya's corpse and realising that the shawl was in no way magical and the girl was only trying to save her honour, he either fled or immediately hanged himself in a nearby forest.
Victor, finding his lover murdered, there threw down his hatchet and rushed out to call for help. Because of this incontrovertible evidence, he was charged with murder and taken into custody. And the truth would hardly have been revealed if not for the heartfelt confession of Adam's friend and co-worker. Victor was released, next to Maya's grave he planted a linden tree, a symbol of eternal love.
How to get there
Turaida Castle is located 50 kilometres from Riga and 5 kilometres from Sigulda. You can get here:
- By car on the A2 motorway to Sigulda, and P8 to Turaida.
- By bus from Riga Central Bus Station to the stop "Sigulda" or "Siguldas Autoosta". Buses leave frequently, the journey will take a little over an hour and cost 2-3 euros per person. From Sigulda to Turaida is a 10-minute bus or taxi ride. In summer, an electric car transports tourists from Sigulda to the castle.
- By train to the station "Sigulda". This is the longest way, the journey will take about 1.5 hours and will cost 2.5 euros.
Travel agencies in Riga organise excursions to Sigulda and Turaida Castle. This is the easiest and most comfortable way to get to the reserve. Bonus is a fascinating story guide.
Cost and opening hours
The museum-reserve is open to the public daily, without weekends. Tours are available, including in Russian.
- From May to September from 9:00 to 20:00 hours. The entrance fee is 5 euros and children's tickets cost 1.14 euros.
- In April and October the opening hours of the museum are reduced by an hour, until 19:00. The cost of admission tickets is the same.
- From November to March you can visit the castle from 10:00 to 17:00. An adult ticket costs 2.85 euros, a child ticket costs 0.7 euros.
The castle has a car park. In summer it costs 1.5 euros, in winter it is free of charge.
To get a truly unforgettable experience of visiting the medieval castle of the XIII century, you can take advantage of one of the special programmes of the museum. The role-playing game "Visiting Turaida Fort" allows you to try on the role of a peasant or a knight (together with the appropriate attire), learn medieval manners and learn to write on wax tablets.
The programme "What is Turaida Castle made of?" introduces the life of artisans. Visitors make their own bricks using the technology of the 14th and 15th centuries. There is a special route for visitors with disabilities, which allows them to comfortably explore the castle. Wheelchairs are provided on the territory of the museum-reserve.
