There is a swamp that lies on both sides of the high road leading from Vecate to Rūjiena through the Koškule Parish. And the mire can be found within the bounds of that parish between the ‘Valdeķi’ half-manor and the ‘Rūna’ household. It is not a swamp truthfully but rather – a low-lying marshy meadowContinue reading “Two Velns Dividing a Fen”
Category Archives: The Latvian Landmark Tales
Big Velns and Little Velns Squabbling Over the Kangari Hills
In the olden times, there was a great host of velns abiding in Kangari and they used to play their mischief on the cart-drivers who, on their way to Riga, passed by the velns’ dwelling grounds. But one time, a squabble arose amidst the velns over the ownership of the Big Kangari Hills which hadContinue reading “Big Velns and Little Velns Squabbling Over the Kangari Hills”
Liede River
The river Liede streams out of a tiny mire not far from the Rimstava pine forest. It is a dreary place and ill-looking – scattered with stunted pines and twisted birches and the vast covers of mosses host their troops of the crawling snakes. In the olden times, the river Liede did not run outContinue reading “Liede River”
Lake Aklais
In the Taurkalne pine forest by the Taurkalne-Jaunjelgava road, there lies the so-called Lake Aklais (Blind Lake). The lakesides have overgrown with green mosses. They say that the lake is very deep and that is how it has come by its name. The fishermen have tried to submerge their nets there but the nets wereContinue reading “Lake Aklais”
Lake Dūņezers
In the olden times, there was a lake in the Aumeisteri Parish and that lake was known by the name of Lake Dūņezers (Slime Lake). Lake Dūņezers was the dwelling place of velns. And oft the velns was seen treading across the surface of Lake Dūņezers. And velns was the finest lord with a staff inContinue reading “Lake Dūņezers”
Lake Kāls
In the Lake Kāls of the Vestiena lands – as in any other larger lake – many velns* used to dwell once upon a time. And the Kāls high lord was well acquainted with the fellows. One day, the Kāls lord wished to call upon the velns to hold great revels and the lord summonedContinue reading “Lake Kāls”
The Hill of the Dead
The following tale has been told of the Miroņu Hill (Hill of the Dead) in Rudbārži. In the times of plague, the dead were buried on this hill one upontopping another. Not only the deceased of the Rudbārži Parish were lain to rest there but, indeed, the dead bodies from many parishes were driven toContinue reading “The Hill of the Dead”
How the Blome Castle Was Built
The Blome Castle governor Šalipants was famed as a ruthless lord. His serving folk were put to sundry torments and often they were lashed in front of the castle. When the new Blome Castle was being raised, all folk had to share in the labour – big and small, young and old alike. Even mothersContinue reading “How the Blome Castle Was Built”
The Underground Passage
There is an underground passage that leads from the Nurmuiža Castle to the nearby church. It should be a verst* in length and it passes below the pond. The passage has been bricked over at the castle-side. The underground passage can be accessed through a succession of three doors in the church – and thoseContinue reading “The Underground Passage”
The Earth-Sunken Church
The Bašķiņu Hill in the Nogale lands has a church sunken in it along with its church-goers. Some folk fled the church as it was sinking – but they were turned into linden trees. If one attempts to strike at those lindens with an axe, blood is seen dripping and the trees moan. The BašķiņuContinue reading “The Earth-Sunken Church”
Latvian Folk Tales 