Task 1. Read the text about Regions of Latvia and then do the crossword:

Regions of Latvia

Latvia is the one of the three countries of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and is located in North-eastern Europe on the east coast of the Baltic Sea. Latvia has four regions – Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Latgale and Zemgale.

Kurzeme, is situated in the west part of Latvia. Bordering in the south with Lithuania, in the east with Zemgale region, in the west with the Baltic Sea and in the north with the Gulf of Riga.Kurzeme region is green and little bit hilly. Kurzeme language originated from Finno-Ugric Livonian language. Liv language mixed with neighborhood languages and today there are just a few people left who know this unique Liv language. Kurzeme`s landscape is varying from white sandy beaches, dunes, pinewoods to wide spreading agriculture fields and hills. The biggest cities in Kurzeme are

Liepaja and Ventspils. You will be pleased to visit Kurzeme as this region has plenty of gateways to the beautiful nature, culture and history of Latvia: Kolka cape in the beautiful Slitere national park is the place where the Baltic Sea meets the Gulf of Riga. There is a small former fishing village Pavilosta and culturally preserved towns Sabile and Skrunda.Near Tukums there is a beautiful palace – Jaunmokas which is a masterpiece of architecture in Latvia, designed with a combination of Neo- Gothic and the forms of Art Nouveau. The palace was built in 1901 as a hunting palace for the mayor of Riga – George Armitstead (1847 - 1912). The legend of Jaunmokas palace is based on a true event, that occurred at the beginning of the 20th century and the legend tells us a story about a young girl named Dorothy.

At the end of the 20th century relatives of the former owner of the palace fon Ungern – Sternberg visited the palace and told about the tragic event that had happened at the beginning of the 20th century.

The German army resided in the palace during the Second World War. At that time a young girl Dorothy worked as a nanny in the palace. Dorothy fell in love with an officer, but the army did not stay long in one place. After a short while the officer left the palace together with the army, leaving the girl who was expecting a baby. Dorothy could not endure the parting and she did not want to experience the shame when everyone would find out her secret, so one night Dorothy went to a mill pond not far away from the palace, and ended her life by jumping in the water.

After this tragic event, the inmates of the palace sometimes saw a mysterious ghost in a white dress that walked around the palace. The spirit of Dorothy could not find rest.

Once the palace was visited by two German tourists who were scientists that studied different energies. They walked in and around the palace, using some electronic devices and found that the most intense energies were coming from the attic. They had even talked to Dorothy or The White Lady and found out that she was a good-natured ghost.

The people who have lived and worked in the palace tell that they often hear or see The White Lady – sometimes they hear footsteps in the empty palace or the slam of doors.

Latgale Region - the mother of lakes, includes the deepest and the most beautiful lakes in Latvia. In Latgale there are several extraordinary lakes: the deepest lake in all the Baltic countries – Dridzis (63 m), the beautiful and surrounded by legends Devil’s lake, Ezezers lake with 36 naturally formed islands. For the same purpose in Latgalian songs there is often used the word “lakes”.

For many years, Latgale belonged to Poland. Thus, it brought Latgalians to strong belief. The most passionate Catholics live exactly in this region. Latgalians have preserved many churches and other sacred places. Aglona basilica is the holy place, the spiritual and religious centre for thousands of people who are gathering here for 15th of August – the celebration of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary.

Latgale region borders in the south with

Lithuania and in the east with Belarusia and Russia. Latgalian language, as well as Latgalians themselves are different than the rest of Latvia. A lot of Latvians cannot understand the real Latgalian language. Latgalians are well known for their ceramics that is carefully made by local potters. Many of the ceramic works like pots, plates, cups, etc. include traditional Latgalian motives.

Zemgale is mostly a flat land situated in the south-central part of Latvia and west of the River Daugava.

Zemgale could be characterized as the cradle of the most fertile soil. There are four beautiful rivers – the Daugava, Lielupe, Musa and Memele, which are used for fishing and boating. A beautiful natural phenomena can be observed in Bauska town. Alongside the Bauska Old Castle, the Musa and Memele Rivers meet each other forming the Lielupe river - the second largest river in Latvia. Rundale and Jelgava palaces, designed by Italian architect Rostrelli, Mežotne palace and Livonian castle are near the town Bauska.

Vidzeme region is the greenest and the most diverse region of Latvia. In the north Vidzeme borders

on Estonia and in the east - on Russia. The west side of Vidzeme is amazing for tourists with its beautiful sandy and stony beaches. The resort towns Jurmala, Saulkrasti and Salacgriva are attracting tourists for their outstanding sunsets, pine-woods, unique wooden architecture and annual festivals – “New Wave” in Jurmala, Jazz Festival in Saulkrasti and “Positivus” festival in Salacgriva. The biggest towns Valmiera, Cesis and Limbaži and the capital city Riga are the biggest guardians of historical and

cultural heritages of the region.

In Vidzeme you will see the highest point in Latvia, Gaizinkalns – 311,5 metres high. The valley of the longest and the most beautiful river Gauja. Adventures and excitement you will definitely find in

the resort town Sigulda, which is just approximately 55 km from Riga. Sigulda is situated in Gauja River valley and preserves such exciting monuments as Krauklis gorge, Ligatnes Nature trail, Turaida and Sigulda castles, legendary Gutmana cave.

Legend about the Rose of Turaida

Turaida castle has got close connection to one of the most popular love legends in Latvia - legend about Maija (Turaidas Roze). Maija was a real person, she lived from 1601 to 1620. According to the legend her grave is located at the enormous linden-tree - the tree is still alive although suffered from fire in 1972.

In May 1601 the castle in Turaida was besieged by a large group of Swedish troops. Knights in the castle decided to fight until the last man standing. The battle ended with a victory of

Swedes. Nobody cared about the fallen and heavily wounded in the battlefield. Only the old scribe of Turaida castle Greif alone went to see in the night if somebody needed his help.

Among the fallen warriors the old man found a small, weeping girl whom he brought home. The church in Turaida was burned down - thus Greif went to Ledurga and baptized the child and named her - Maija Roze (Rose of May) - because she was found in May.

Roze grew up and became a beautiful young girl. It happened one day that she met Victor Heil, a young craftsman who started to work as an apprentice of a gardener in Sigulda. Soon they both fell in love.

Every evening they met in Gutmana cave. When Victor could not come, Roze was sitting in this cave in the evenings together with a small, eight years old Hermine - old Greifs nurtured this girl as well.

Two Polish army men - Adam Jakubowski and Peter Skudritz, who made their living by theft and fraud, somehow managed to get work at Turaida castle. There Jakubowski noticed Roze and madly fell in love. Roze rejected him. In 1620 a wedding was planned between Maija Roze and Heil. Jakubowski got to know this and figured out a devilish plan. In the morning of 6th August in Turaida castle a message was brought to Maija that Victor will not be able to meet her in the evening - but he will be waiting for Maija earlier – at 12. So Roze arrived at the agreed time. She had taken Victor’s gift with her – a red kerchief with inscription "Love is stronger than death".

But Jakubowski came instead of Victor. When he started to harass Roze, she in despair showed the red kerchief and told that it had got magic properties – the one who got it as a gift, became invulnerable. In order to prove this Roze tied the kerchief around her neck and pleaded Jakubowski to hew with a sword - there would be not a scratch. Superstitious Jakubowski did as she told and killed Roze. He run away in the forest after commiting this crime.

When in the evening Victor Heil came, he collapsed in horror. When the tragedy was discovered suspicion fell on Victor and he was cast in the basement of Turaida castle. When the trial

started Skudritz arrived and told that Roze was killed by Jakubowski and that Jakubowski had hanged himself in an oak.

Roze was buried at Turaida church. There is an inscription on her grave "Love is stronger than death". In late autumn of the same year Victor returned to Germany, he took a handful of soil from the grave of Roze with him.

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Across2. A region where two rivers become one.4. A palace where Maija’s un Viktor’s love story took

place.6. A disappearing language.8. White Lady’s name.10. A place where the Baltic sea meets the Gulf of Riga.12. Members of the basic religion in Latgale.15. The tree that grows for more than 300 years.16. One of the resort towns in Vidzeme.17. The place where the celebration of the Ascension of the

Virgin Mary.18. A hunting palace for the Mayor of Riga.

Down1. One of the biggest cities in

Kurzeme.3. The longest river in Latvia.5. One of the palaces designed by

Rastrelli.6. The most popular word in Latgalian

songs.7. The number of island in Ezezers.9. Region of Latvia with the deepest

lake.11. The highest point in Latvia.13. One of the traditional handicrafts in

Latgale.14. A legendary cave in Vidzeme.