Indulis and Ārija Oak

Indulis and Ārija Oak

Coordinates: 56.50258179940204, 21.80816326096775

Legend says that it was at this very spot where the Curonian leader Indulis met the German knight's daughter, Ārija. This legend was used by the poet Rainis (1865-1929), who wrote the tragedy "Indulis and Ārija."

The story goes that Indulis was a tall, fearless Curonian chieftain and the ruler of Embūte. Ārija was a beautiful and brave daughter of a German military leader. Once, after losing the Embūte castle, Indulis met a white knight in the forest and began a battle. Indulis defeated the knight, only to discover that it was Ārija. Indulis saved the injured Ārija, and the two young people fell in love. Their meeting place was in a field by the oak tree. The sculptures of Indulis and Ārija in the form of these significant literary figures were installed in the Embūte Nature Park near the Indulis Hillfort (Curonian Hillfort). Although this love story took place over 700 years ago, right here in Embūte, it still retains its relevance today.

Sculptor: Gatis Selderiņš.

The hillfort's spring, or Indulis' spring, located at the foot of the hillfort, is a mineral-rich European protected biotope with a unique community of plants and insects. The vegetation surrounding the spring consists of moisture-loving species.

The origin of the spring is told by a legend: In ancient times, the Curonian leader Indulis' castle sank, taking a maiden with it. In the sunken castle, she was said to have continuously cried, and the water flowing above the surface was her tears.

Coordinates for the wooden sculptures and the spring: 56.510914757987834, 21.818996348563232. Indulis and Ārija are long gone, but the oak tree still grows and flourishes, telling the story of the Latvian Romeo and Juliet.