Sigulda

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Sigulda


Castle at Sigulda
City rights	1928

Location of Sigulda within Latvia
Location	57°09′N, 24°52′E
Other names	German: Segewold
Mayor	Tālis Puķītis
Number of city council members	11
District	Riga District
Area	18.2 km² (7 sq mi)
Population	16,679
Postal code	LV-2150
Calling code	+371 7
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Homepage of Sigulda

Sigulda (pronunciation (help·info)) is a city in the Vidzeme Region of Latvia, 53 km from the capital city Riga.

Sigulda is situated 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 and Turaida Castle and has a small stream flowing from it. It is the largest cave in the Baltics, measuring 19 m deep, 12 m wide and 10 m 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.