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Turaida Castle
Turaidas pils
Latvia · Vidzeme, Gauja National Park · Near Sigulda
Built 1214 · Livonian brick Gothic
Quick Facts
- Hours
- Extended to 19:00 May to October. Park grounds open daily from dawn to dusk.
- Tickets from
- €7
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Best time
- May to October
- Nearest city
- Sigulda
Highlights
- ✦Latvia's most recognisable castle and a national symbol
- ✦Restored round tower with panoramic views over the Gauja valley
- ✦Open-air Turaida Museum Reserve covering castle, estate, and folk sculpture garden
- ✦Grave of the Rose of Turaida — Latvia's most famous romantic legend
- ✦Beautiful forest setting within Gauja National Park
Skip the queue with a guided tour
Skip-the-line tickets & expert guides
Turaida Castle is Latvia's most recognisable medieval monument — a striking ensemble of red-brick towers rising from a forested cliff above the Gauja River gorge, enclosed within the protected landscape of Gauja National Park. Built by the Archbishop of Riga from 1214 on the site of a Livonian hill fort, the castle served as an ecclesiastical administrative centre for three centuries. Today it forms the centrepiece of the Turaida Museum Reserve, an extensive open-air complex covering the castle ruins and restored towers, a 19th-century estate, a folk sculpture garden, and the grave of the 'Rose of Turaida' — Maija, a young woman of local legend who died in 1620 rather than betray her betrothed, becoming Latvia's most celebrated romantic heroine. The main tower, fully restored, offers exceptional views over the river gorge and forests.
History
Built from 1214 by Archbishop Albert of Riga on the site of the Liv tribal fort of Turaida, the castle served as the administrative centre of the Archbishop's Latvian territories for over three centuries. It was badly damaged by lightning and fire in 1776 and abandoned. Archaeological excavation and restoration began in the Soviet period, with major works in the 1970s–1980s restoring the main tower. The surrounding estate and grounds were developed into the Turaida Museum Reserve in the 1980s–1990s.
How to Visit
Turaida Castle is in Sigulda, 50 km from Riga. Take a train from Riga to Sigulda (1 hour), then walk 4 km through the Gauja valley gorge to the castle, or take a taxi. The gorge walk from Sigulda to Turaida passes Gutmanis Cave (the largest cave in the Baltic states). Combine with Sigulda Castle and Krimulda Manor on the same valley excursion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Maija, an orphan raised at Turaida Castle, became the subject of Latvia's most famous romantic legend after her death in 1620. Her grave in the castle grounds is visited as a monument to fidelity.
Location
Turaidas iela 10, Sigulda, LV-2150, Latvia
Nearby Castles
Tours & Tickets
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Entry from
€7/ adult