Castles!

Livonian Order Sigulda Castle (1209) 

On a day trip in Latvia we headed to Sigulda, an up and coming tourist attraction for those seeking a bit more adventure. This was my first experience with authentic old castles and it did not disappoint. We spent about 4 hours walking around the rolling hills taking in the 3 main castle areas and their museums.

 The Livonian Order Sigulda Castle was originally built in 1209 for the the Livonian Brothers of the Sword who were German warrior monks. It was damaged in the Livonian War, the Polish-Swedish War, and again in the Great Northern War in the 16th and 17th centuries . Fortunately, the main structures were repaired each time due to its strategic importance in the Gauja River Valley. Age and abandonment have destroyed most of the outer walls of the compound, but the main buildings have been repaired to attract tourists and are beautiful structures with towering thick walls and amazing views of the valley.

The Turaida Castle Complex is an impressive set of red brick structures originally built in 1214 by the archbishop of Riga. The entire complex was destroyed in a fire in 1776 and was left in disrepair until the 20th century. The grounds around the castle cover about 100 acres and are full of old structures throughout the ages displaying unique cultural traditions of Latvia.

Turaida Medieval Castle - Main Tower (1214) 

The Krimulda Medieval Castle was built in the 13th century by the Riga high council and was considered impossible to conquer since it was backed by a steep valley was surrounded on the other sides by a moat. It was involved in a number of wars, but was eventually burned down by the Polish during the Swedish-Polish war in 1601 so that it wouldn't fall into the hands of the enemy. It has never been repaired and is located in a lush forest with lovely paths winding down to the Gauja valley below.

Krimulda Medieval Castle 

View of the Gauja River from a mountain gondola.

Local train from Riga to Sigulda. 

Sigulda Lutheran Church (1483)

Riga

The charming center of Old Town Riga.

On my way to my next teaching adventure in Russia, I decided that I should take the opportunity to see something else. After looking over the possibilities, Latvia sounded like an interesting and inexpensive option. My lovely friend Paulina decided to join me on the adventure and we had a ball. We only knew that Latvia was a Baltic state famous for architecture, saunas, and woolen mittens, but we were in for a treat. It turns out that Latvia is charming and easy to get around. The people are quite friendly and we felt safe and relaxed the whole time.

St. Peter's Church (1209)

The capital, Riga, has a population of just under 700,000 and is famous for it's many styles of art nouveau architecture. The old city center was founded in 1201 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are a number of gorgeous brick cathedrals with copper steeples that have aged green. Riga has been conquered by a number of wars so many of its older buildings were burned down or destroyed, but those that remain are quite striking.

  

Old German Zepplin hangars were used to
build the 5 pavilions of the central market (1930).

The central market is an impressive site just outside the walls of old town. After WWI the city decided to recycle old German Zepplin hangars and create 5 pavilions for local farmers to sell their wares. Most of the fresh produce is sold outside in stalls, but the main pavilions have meat, fish, sweets, pickled goods, bread, and even a few cafes preparing food from market ingredients. Since we were visiting during the height of fall harvest, the market was full of apples, cranberries, blueberries,
cabbage, potatoes, and beets.



Riga is a great city for long walks. There are plenty of parks around, long avenues of architecture to gawk at, and the promenade along the Daugava river. Many people rent bikes and brave the old cobblestone streets to see more of the city. Overall, it's a lovely city that I would recommend for a quiet and relaxing vacation.

Dried fish are a popular choice.

Stalin's Birthday Cake is a lovely reminder
of the Soviet occupation (1956).

Great view from the top of Stalin's Birthday Cake.