사랑의 동굴(Gutmanala cave)(1). 시굴다(Sigulda)

사랑의 동굴(Gūtmaņala cave)(1).

시굴다(Sigulda). 라트비아(Latvia)

 

Gutmanala cave is the most visited, the biggest, the oldest & in various information sources the most decribed cave in Latvia

An archeeological monument since 1967, as well as a protected geological object since 1974. It is the highest cave of Latvia & the largest grotto in the Baltic 10m high, 12m wide & 18.8m long. The spring that flows out of the cave used to be sacred & its water - healing.

 

Gutmanala cave is connected with the Legend of the Rose of Turaida & her tragic love.

 

There is another popular story about the beautiful & unfaithful wife of the Luv chief Rindaugs. In anger her husband let her dig into the ground of the cave. Tears of the wife have made the spring.

 

Baltic-Germans started to call it Gutmanala (Good mans's cave) for a local healer had lived next to the cave. He gave the water of the spring to people & treated them with various herbs.

 

In the 30ties of the 20th century, there was a suggestion to Latvianize the name of the cave & to call it Latvira cave. For all that there was no responsiveness among the Latvians.

 

The numbers of the years in the ceiling of the cave give evidence that it is the oldest tourism object in Latvia. There is information found from German literature sources that even until 1812 the year numbers 1521 & 1564 have been remained on the walls of the cave. The oldest, partly presented inscription nowadays is "ANNA MAGDALENA VON TIESENHAVSEN ANNO 1667". It is located in the arch of the ceiling above the little cascade of the spring.

 

In the sandstone you can read also the names of barons & estate managers. They were engraved by masters according to indications & orders of noblemen. These artists dwelled here & had their tools - ladders & engraving instruments next to them. Names & other kind of information were engraved for a payment. Various student organisations had left information about themselves as well. You can recognise that older inscriptions have been made also in Latvian.

 

Sadly the great majority of the ancient inscriptions are irreversible lost because they have been re-engraved for several times. It is prohibited already for a long time because it damages this million-year-old sandstone rock. Thereby even a half-meter thick layer of the ancient sandstone rock has been scraped off.

 

LEGEND ABOUT THE ROSE OF TURAIDA

During the Swedish-Polish War the secretary of the Turaida castle called Greif found a baby girl near to the Turaida castle. She was half-starving & almost dead. He adopted her, baptised & gave her name Maija. She grew up & was a beatiful & honest maiden. Victor Heil, the gardener of Sigulda, fell for Maija, in the evenings they met in Gutmana cave

 

In August 1620 Maija got a message from Heil where it was said that she had to come to the mentioned cave in the afternoon because he was going to the busy that evening. Maija went together with the Greif's eight years odl daughter Lenta to the cave.

 

In the evening Heil ran to Turida & let know that Maija had beed killed. Lenta also had not returned. The local judge got the news already the same evening & in the next evening he arrived in Turaida.

 

Heil was suspected as a murderer although he was known as an honest man. The Lord of Turaida Shildheim who was ill then let the judge know that he should pay attention to two Polish army desertes Jakubowsky & Skudntis. They had been in servic for two years in Turaida & were known as drunkards & imps. Skudntis had visited the Lord of Turaida & wanted to give a testimony about the case.

 

Skudntis was called to the court immediately. He told that Jakubowsky fell in love with Maija just after he had arrived in Turaida. Three months ago he had talked to Maija & had promised to marry her. She refused & told him she was engaged to Heil.

 

Jakubowsky was a very angry man & longed form refenge. Then he explained Skudntis his idea. He wanted to lure Maija to Gutmana cave. Both of them should rape the virgin there. Jakubowsky was the one who had sent the false message. Both had run to the cave & hidden in bushes.

 

When Maija had arrived, Jakubowsky placed himself in front of her & has told his evil intention with bad words. The young girl had tried to resist but Jakubowsky was very strong & threw her down.

 

Then Maija bagged him to let her free. For that she wouldgive him a magic scarf that protects man form all injuries. If the doesn's believe it, he can try to strike her with his sword. Jakubowsky had his sword with him & he stroke in a moment. Maija fell down & blood started to come out of her neck. At that moment Skudritis heard scream behind him. It should have been the small Lenta.

 

After the murder Jakubowsky got very upset, ran into the forest & formade Skudritis to come dose to him. This morning he has found him hung in the forest.

 

The guiltless Viktor Heil was let free immediately. Skudirtis had been in prison just for four months because even Heil & Greif asked to let him free.

- 안내문에서 -

 

 

 

 

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