Gallows Hill Memorial site
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The Hangman's Hill is located in Valmiera (Bēātes Street 22), on the shore of Dzirnavu Lake, on the side of Beātes Street.
The Gallows Hill was a medieval place of punishment outside the city. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the surrounding meadows were called the Executioner's Fields. In December 1919, 11 communist-minded young people were shot and buried on the Gallows Hill. In the literature, another name can also be found for it - Rūtiņkalns, but the name used during the Soviet era - Komjauniešu kalniņš, to which students and Komsomol members of the city's enterprises went on torchlight processions, is more well-known. After World War II, a monument was unveiled on the hill in 1949, the author of which is Jānis Zariņš from Rūjie. The sculptor studied under Kārlis Zāle, Konrāds Ubāns and other masters known in Latvia and the world, and created monuments to Rūdolfs Blaumanis, Krišjānis Barons, Rainis, Aspazija and other great spirits.
You can go on an audio guide-guided tour and listen to stories about more than 40 Valmiera attractions for free, including the Gallows Hill.
The audio guide is available in Latvian, Russian, English, Estonian and German.
Used sources and references:
https://www.zudusilatvija.lv/objects/object/44349/
https://www.valmiera.lv/lv/pilseta/dabas_teritorijas/skveri_un_parki/karatavu_kalnina_teritorija/
Valmiera audio guide, a basic information base from the historical materials and archives of the Valmiera Museum.
