Sigulda, a gem of Latvia, is a must-visit destination. The city, cradled within a natural landscape, houses three medieval castles that are begging to be explored. The Gauja River Valley in Sigulda is home to the oldest tourist attraction in the Baltic States — Gutman’s Cave. Not only the largest grotto in the Baltics, but the walls of the cave also serve as an ancient canvas displaying inscriptions from the 17th century. Moreover, the cave carries the romantic legend of Turaida’s Rose — a story about a girl named Maija and her lover Viktors. Towering symbols of history — the Sigulda Castle, Turaida Castle and Krimulda Castle — stand almost within cannon-fire range of each other, creating a monumental sight for visitors approaching the ancient Gauja River Valley. The stories tied to these castles trace back to the 13th century, where each side of the Gauja River was under the command of different authorities — the Riga Bishop and the Order of Sword Brothers.