Turaida stone castle and castle mound
Work on the Turaida Stone Castle began in 1214 under the direction of Albert, Bishop of Riga. From the 13th century until the latter half of the 16th century, Turaida was Rīga Archbishops castle of economic significance, the centre of Archbishoprics Liv district, a residence of district`s governor and military fortification.
Folk Song Park, Dainu Hill
The Folk Song Hill was opened to the public on July 7, 1985, in honour of the 150th anniversary of the birth of folklorist Krišjānis Barons and with a performance of one of the folk songs that he collected – “I Stood and Sang Atop a High Hill.” Initially, the park had 15 sculptures by Indulis Ranka. People remember the date as a grand day for folk songs on Folk Song Hill. Poet Jānis Peters told the gathering that “the Latvian folk song has never resounded on such a high hill. It is a hill which testifies to the satisfaction of our people.”
Turaida Church and Church Hill
Turaida church is one of the oldest wooden churches in Latvia, built in 1750. The church is located on the Church hill, which is an ancient church building place. Archaeological excavations testify that on this hill there have been previously built at least two churches. The Church hill was used as an ancient burial place.
The Turaida estate
The origin of estates in Latvia dates back to the time when the first stone castles were built in Livonia and the first cloisters were established, and they needed revenues. So-called castle districts were established around the castle of the archbishop in Turaida and around all of Livonia’s important castles. The point to these was to collect fees. The Turaida Castle was a fortress, but also an economic centre at which the fees were collected and stored. The Turaida Estate gradually developed from the castle’s operations.
The Liv Trail
The longest path to Folk Song Hill begins at the “Liv Bird” sculpture in Folk Song Garden. The Liv Path stretches from Folk Song Garden to Folk Song Hill, and it is 800 m long. People who walk down the path will hear birdsong and the wind, and they can look at the landscape that has been shaped by nature and people.
Māra’s trail
Another way of getting from Folk Song Garden to Folk Song Hill is Māra’s trail, which is 300 m long and crosses Māra’s stream. An ancient tradition says that on the morning of March 25, which is Māra’s Day, people must wash themselves in the stream, which flows toward the East, before the sun rises. Such people can expect to be strong and healthy. This belief led to the name of the small stream and the trail.
Circular Jānis Graudonis Trail
Professor Jānis Graudonis (1913-2005), director of archaeological research at the Turaida Castle from 1976 until 2003. The circular path around the stone castle offers a look at the more interesting elements of the construction of a Medieval castle. The trail is named after Jānis Graudonis, who spent more than 25 years in conducting archaeological work at the castle.