Gauja National Park Latvia Travel Postcard

Gauja National Park is Latvia’s oldest and largest protected area, covering about 918 km². It stretches along the Gauja River valley between Sigulda and Cēsis and is prized for its rich biodiversity, dramatic sandstone cliffs and outcrops, caves, springs, forests, and over 500 cultural monuments like castles, hill-forts, manors, churches, and mills. Visitors enjoy hiking, cycling, canoeing, birdwatching, and historic sightseeing. Highlights include Gūtmaņala (Gutman’s Cave) — the largest cave in the Baltics — Turaida Castle, and scenic rock formations like Ērgļu Cliffs. The park blends natural beauty with centuries of Latvian heritage in a compact, accessible landscape.