Location
State: Latvia
Region: Riga
County: Aloja
Parish: Aloja
Other references to the location
On the right side of the Staicele – Aloja highway less than 100 m behind the culvert of the Karogupīte River in the direction of of Aloja.
Coordinates
lat=57.8163888889, lon=24.7852777778
57° 48′ 59″ N, 24° 47′ 7″ E
Description
From the highway side, the Hill is separated by a 2 – 3 m deep ditch; other elevations there, between the Karogupīte River and the highway in the direction of Aloja, are not so clearly separated. The Hill is about 8 m high against the Karogupīte River. The Karogupīte River gnaws at the Hill’s foot exposing a small sandstone cliff, along which a spring leaks. The Hill itself has been overgrown by forest and bush; there are several large birch trees on it. In the central part of the Hill, there is a stone, on which there are, it seems, natural sign-type erosions.
Narrative
„They wanted to build the Church of Aloja on the Karogi silt not far from the Salaca River, where there is still a small hillock originating from the unstarted church walls. But, what was built during the day, collapsed over the night. Understanding that it was not the right place for the Church, they gave up the idea to build the Church there. Having no other place in mind, they decided to find the right place as follows: having yoked an ox, they put a log into the cart and let the ox go, thinking to themselves: where the ox would stop, there would be the right place for the Church. The ox stopped at the place, where there is the present Church of Aloja. They started construction works there, but again the same situation repeated – what was built during the day, collapsed over the night. They decided to sacrifice a human soul. They summoned all local people and asked them: „Who wants to keep the Church’es keys?” Then some man, named Aleksis, said he wanted to. So they made the man drunk and immured him alive into the Church’es walls. After that they continued building the Church without any hindrance — it was never destroyed over the night again.” (Latvian Folklore Repository 1978, 3231. In Aloja of Valmiera. From the museum materials of K. Galeviuss, 1923)
Attraction
At present, the site is not very attractive, but it can be made so.
Availability
From the road side, there is a path passing by the Spring along the bank of the Karogupīte River.
Infrastructure, management, facilities
At the edge of the highway. There are no infomration signs. There is a trodden path along the Hillock about 20 m away from the highway.
Local info
The information about the Karogkalniņs Hill as an ancient cult site appears on the information board
Capacity
10 – 40
Publicity
Unknown
Legal Status
Private
Comments
Past the Karogkalniņs Hill foot, along the dale of the Karogupīte River, alongside the edge of the river, there is a path leading to the homestead on the opposite bank of the Karogupīte River. Opposite the Karogkalniņs Hill over the Karogupīte River, there is a plank way, but at the culvert on the left bank of the Karoupīte River, there is a facilitated spring with iron water.
You might also like
