Location
State: Latvia
Region: Kurzeme
County: Ventspils
Parish: Ugāle
Other references to the location
500 m NE of Māteri, 100 m S of the Māteri Cemetery. The Devil’s Foot Stone is located on top of a gently sloping hill — Liepkalns Hill, in a clear meadow.
Coordinates
lat=57.2433333333, lon=21.9633333333
57° 14′ 35″ N, 21° 57′ 47″ E
Description
An archaeological monument under the state protection that is sometimes also mentioned under other names — Kristiņi or Dampeļi Devil’s Foot Stone (Kristiņu, Dampeļu Velna pēdas akmens). The dimensions of the stone: length of 4.6 m, width of 4.2 m, height of 2.0 m, circumference of 16.60 m, volume of 19 cubic meters. On its surface, there are many different incisions and roughness of natural origin. An interesting object as a great stone of cultural value.
Narrative
In various literature sources there is news found that before the World War II in the stone one could see Devil’s feet. It is possible that in the course of time it has decayed or crumbled and nowadays does not look like that anymore. Other tale narrates that the cavities used to be the Devil’s doors and windows. By the stone in 1931, there was an iron broad-blade axe put at the end of an iron socketed spear found of the 14th century.
Attraction
Average
Availability
Quite easily reachable. There are no information signs. One has to go around the Māteri or Kristiņi Cemetery from any side, because the stone is situated behind the cemetery.
Infrastructure, management, facilities
There have been no facilitation and maintenance works performed within the territory, no indication signs. Around the stone, raspberry-bush and thorny bush have expanded, no maintenance observed, but as the stone is located in a meadow next to the M
Local info
There is no information stand on site
Capacity
10 – 40
Publicity
Known
Legal Status
Private
