This trail starts at the hill of the Rucava Manor, which is the highest elevation in the area. It offers a beautiful and special look at the Sventāja River valley and neighbouring Lithuania, which is right beyond the river. The hill has a comfortable and large viewing platform so that people can enjoy the grand view. During the age of the Duchy of Kurzeme (16th to 18th century) the dukes had a manor here, but only the foundations of the cellar survive. There is a dendrological park there now. Once you have enjoyed the unique view, head down the road along the Sventāja River trail. You will pass the Lejas holy stream and get to a place for leisure right at the banks of the border river. Catch your breath, take a photo at the LatvianLithuanian border crossing, and then head back to the hill. The Leju holy stream has been known since antiquity as a cult location for Curonians. People left donations there. The Curonians tended to donate antique items that were broken. For instance, a purposeful damaged items along a ritual path or in a fire. A legend tells us that “God gave three rivers to the ancient Curonians – the Bārta, the Venta and the Sventa. A girl named Ieva was born in the region, and she grew up to be beautiful, hard-working and loved by everyone. A young man from the opposite side of the river wished to marry her, but in order to delay her departure, the goddess Māra ordered everyone to weep so that the Sventa River would break its banks and cross the path of a stranger to the girl. Love conquered all, however, and the young man rowed a boat that was decorated with flowers to get to her. People’s tears created a little stream that comes from the underground. A bird-cherry tree took root in the place where Ieva was last seen. Two nations with different languages appeared there, but the word “mīlu” (I love you) was common for both of them. The stream is also known as the Sacrificial stream, and it is a fairly large stream that is in the Sventāja valley between Latvia and Lithuania. The chemical composition of the water shows that it has a lot of iron. That is evidenced by the bright orange sediment that is found on the bed of the stream.
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