Location
State: Latvia
Region: Vidzeme
Town: Smiltene
Other references to the location
On the side of road P18, the Kalna Zauskas and Lejas Zauskas homesteads.
Coordinates
lat=57.442737, lon=25.835278
57° 26′ 33″ N, 25° 50′ 7″ E
Description
The Zauska Pine, the name of which comes from the nearby homestead, was considered the most secular pine in Latvia up to 1951 (latvijaslegendas.lv, 2012, ER). The circumference of its trunk was 4.63 m. Later the tree withered and in 1958 it was sawn and cut into several pieces. According to specialists, it was 370 years old
Narrative
Since ancient times at the pine there has been a place where the people brought sacrifices to various deities, particularly to Māra. (Smiltene Municipality Council, 2011c). Still some decades ago the people from the surroundings had the habit of standing under the pine for a while, especially in solemn cases such as weddings. Drinks were used and a sacrifice left for the pine – a ribbon tied around the tree, cash left or something else. Here at the end of the summer of 1941 the locally well-known murderer Ringmanis killed his servant Vorpe, judge of Smiltene Court Pārups and one more unknown person (latvijaslegendas.lv, 2012).
Attraction
The object has perished and only its fragment has survived. The place meets tourism needs and fits the road side. It is used as a stop in wedding rituals.
Availability
Easily accessible, on the very side of the road.
Infrastructure, management, facilities
A bench, stand and a fence around the site. It is looked after and tidied.
Local info
An information stand with visual material, in Latvian.
Capacity
10 – 40
Publicity
Popular
Legal Status
Private
Comments
On the side of the road the proximity of the road side sites to the sites of regional significance must be taken into account.
