Sigulda

Sigulda
Town
Castle at Sigulda
Flag Coat of arms
Sigulda Location in Latvia
Coordinates: 57°09′N 24°52′E / 57.150°N 24.867°E / 57.150; 24.867Coordinates: 57°09′N 24°52′E / 57.150°N 24.867°E / 57.150; 24.867
Country	Latvia
District	Sigulda municipality
Town rights	1928
Government
• Mayor	Uģis Mitrevics
Area
• Total	18.2 km2 (7.0 sq mi)
Population
• Total	16,679
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	LV-2150
Calling code	+371 67
Number of city council members	15

Sigulda ( pronunciation ; German: Segewold) is a town in the Vidzeme Region of Latvia, 53 kilometres (33 miles) from the capital city Riga.

Sigulda is 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.