Sigulda walking sticks

It is very hard to walk along Sigulda steep hills and banks of the Gauja River’s ancient valley without a proper walking stick! For the local craftsmen the making of walking sticks has been and still is profitable. There are several families who make walking sticks, like Vīganti family in Turaida. Kļaviņi family used to be popular craftsmen in Sigulda.

Walking-sticks are made of nut-tree, juniper, alder buckthorn, willow, bird cherry – flexible tree species that can be bent in order to make a handle. At first wood is stewed, then one ending is bent around a special form and fastened. When the wood has dried up, it is taken of the form and ornamented. In the beginning walking sticks were very simple, with bark and without any ornaments. Later just the handle was barked. Gradually walking sticks got branded ornaments, colors and little heads of devils that were cut in places where branches start. Each walking stick has the inscription SIGULDA but every craftsmen make them differently.

Walking stick is the most characteristic souvenir of Sigulda that is known already from the 19th century. Not every place has its own symbol but Sigulda has!