Left Bank of River Gauja

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Rāmkalni – Sigulda – Līgatne – Cēsis – Veselava – Valmiera

The route (between the left bank of the River Gauja and road A2) crosses the whole Gauja National Park in the direction from southwest to northeast. It covers the most excellent nature monuments, best views, and most scenic spots. To diversify, the route includes also the most significant culture and history monuments, which are often closely related to the nature. For example, Līgatne is not only a village of the paper mill, but also a place where people have made artificial caves in sandstone outcrops, and where interesting and protected habitats are found. The Castle of Livonian Order in Sigulda is a man-made object, while its construction materials —boulders — have been “brought” by a glacier from Scandinavia.

	Route Leisure Park “Rāmkalni” – Sigulda – Līgatne – Skaļupes – Zvārte Rock – Āraiši – Veselava – Ozolkalns – Cēsis – Liepa – Valmiera – Valmiermuiža.
	Distance ~150 km.
	Duration 2–3 days.
	Road pavement The section Līgatne–Zvārte Rock–Kārļi (up to road P20) is a gravel road. The rest of the route runs on asphalt.
	Starting point / Destination Leisure Park “Rāmkalni” / Valmiermuiža
	Worth knowing! Following long rainy periods, the gravel road can be of poor quality at some places. Prior to the trip, check the working hours of museums and other sites. Visit to the local Tourism Information Centres is recommended (for information and local maps). The activity is at one’s own risk. Emergency services: 112.
	Recommendation The route can be continued in direction of Riga City on the other bank of the River Gauja (left bank). The route can be merged with a route running on the other bank of the river by crossing the River Gauja at Līgatne Ferry Crossing.

	1. Leisure Park “Rāmkalni”
	2. Nature and heritage incentive centre “Baltā pils” (White Castle) Located in a building (Baznīcas iela 7) erected at the end of 1890s as a family house for the grand duke Nikolai Kropotkin. At present it is home of the Nature Conservation Agency. Swans and wild ducks are seen in the pond next to it. The nearby slopes are covered with forests of slopes (protected habitats), while the Sigulda Park is a place to watch bats in summer evenings.
	3. Sigulda New Castle
	4. Castle of Livonian Order in Sigulda
	5. Mound Paradīzes (Gleznotājkalns) One of the most scenic places in Sigulda, which has been painted (reference to its name as Gleznotājkalns means the Hill of Painters in Latvian) and photo-shoot since long ago!
	6. Vējupīte Ravine The wooden stairs on its steep slopes lead from Mound Paradīzes along the banks of the River Vējupīte to Kraukļu Ravine, Kraukļu Cave, Satezele Hillfort, and Pētera Cave.
	7. Vienkoču Park
	8. Līgatne Tourism Information Centre
	9. Līgatne Village
	10. Līgatne Paper Mill
	11. River Līgatne (Līgate) The most rapid tributary of the River Gauja, which forms an explicit valley beneath the road A2 Riga-Veclaicene with 45–60 m high banks with a lot of sandstone outcrops. A path leading from Ānfabrika Cliff to Lustūzis is a great place to watch the autumn migration of salmon-like fish.
	12. Lustūzis or Alu Rock Very scenic sandstone outcrop on the right bank of the River Līgatne, in the centre of town Līgatne; on the other bank there is a viewing platform for better visibility of the outcrop.
	13. Mound Remdenkalns
	14. Līgatne Ferry Crossing
	15. Jumpravu Rock Sandstone outcrop on the left bank of the River Gauja. On roadside with a beautiful view over the curves of the River Gauja. Only a small part of the outcrop adjoins to the river. The rest runs deep into the forest as a steep and rocky bank slope.
	16. Līgatne Nature Trails Large areas of fencing have been established on the banks of the primeval valley of the River Gauja and its tributaries, where the conditions are similar to those in wildlife. Here one can see the wild animals of Latvia — stags, roe deer, wild boar, bears, foxes, lynx, and two species of birds.
	17. Secret Soviet bunker in Skaļupes
	18. Ķūķu Cliffs The most massive sandstone outcrop from the Devonian Period in Latvia. Length ~500 m, height 43 m.
	19. Primeval valley of River Amata One of the deepest river valleys. At the deepest it reaches ~50 m, and its width ranges 1–1.5 km. Beautiful and scenic sandstone outcrops are an integral part of the primeval valley of the River Amata.
	20. Visitor Centre at Zvārte Rock
	21. Raganu Meadow Facilitated place for leisure, bonfires, and picnic with active attractions. A “xylophone” has been created from planks of various species of timber (each producing a different sound). From here, Zvārte and Migla Rocks are visible.
	22. Zvārte Rock One of the most popular and scenic tourism objects with a classic view towards the rock itself.
	23. Hotel “Karlamuiza Country Hotel” There are hiking trails nearby leading along the landscape park and beautiful banks of the River Amata.
	24. Āraiši Lake Fortress
	25. Zviedru Pine Located 250 m north of Āraiši Windmill on the roadside. Its circumference is close to 2 m.
	26. Āraiši Windmill
	27. Veselava Manor
	28. Leisure park & camping “Ozolkalns” A place offering one of the most beautiful views over the primeval valley of the River Gauja. Nearby Mound Ozolkalns, there are the Cīrulīši Nature Trails.
	29. Cēsis Old Town
	30. Ērģeļu (Ērgļu) Cliffs Most monolith sandstone cliff wall in the Baltics: length ~700 m, maximum height up to 22 m.
	31. River Rauna Left tributary of the River Gauja. Below the road Riga–Veclaicene (A2), it flows through a deep and beautiful valley with sandstone outcrops on its banks.
	32. Lielā Ellīte Cave Extraordinary sandstone outcrop for Latvia with several arches, pillars, hollows, and a cave — shaped as a result of suffusion processes. The cave amounts to more than 20 m with a ceiling height up to 3.5 m and width — 5 m. A powerful spring flows out of the cave.
	33. Lode Clay-pit The clay-pit became world famous when the geologist V. Kuršs in 1970 first time in the history of the world discovered well preserved fossils of the Upper Devonian armoured fish and Strunius kurshi fish.
	34. Valmiera bridge
	35. Foundations of Riga Gate
	36. St Simon’s Church of Valmiera
	37. Livonian Order Castle Ruins
	38. Old Town of Valmiera In the culture monument of national significance — the Old Town of Valmiera — the Valmiera Museum, premises with 8 buildings is located. Several secular trees (oaks and linden trees) are found in the Old Town.
	39. Valmiermuiža Brewery Visit to the brewery will reveal its history’s impact on the beer-making process, and how the live beer is made from natural raw materials. Everybody can taste the beer as it has once been done by the masters of manors. Excellent catering.