Location
State: Latvia
Region: Vidzeme
County: Kocēni
Parish: Kocēni
Other references to the location
In the underbrush, ~50 m from the edge of a meadow, 300 m north – north east of the Paistalas homestead
Coordinates
lat=57.5111111111, lon=25.3155555556
57° 30′ 39″ N, 25° 18′ 56″ E
Description
A mythological site. Tales have two versions: one is related to hidden money, the other – to a fact that the owner of the nearby homestead was a wizard. The stone is not too large (length of 1.55 m, width of 1.05 m, height of 0.8 m; the part above the ground is 60%), but its visual looks can stimulate imagination. Other nearby objects: Kocēni, Cimpēni Hill Fort, Vītolēni Devil’s Watch.
Narrative
“Paistals of Kocēni was a wizard. Once some man named Grunte was driving from the Brīnums homestead of the same parish to town. At Mellums the old Paistals passed him by, and Grunte’s donkey fell down on earth and started flinging as if going to die.” (7875; compiled by I. Ruberte. Valmiera County Tales (Valmieras novada teikas). 1999.)
Attraction
The stone is of an interesting form accompanied by a tale, but its surroundings are unattractive.
Availability
Accessibility is relatively easy, but ~50 m have to be tracked through a forest underbrush. No indication signs. It can be visited free of charge.
Infrastructure, management, facilities
No
Local info
No
Capacity
0 – 9
Publicity
Known
Legal Status
Private
Comments
Potentially, it can be included, for example, into horse riding routes (in co-operation with Kocēni Horse-Breeding).