Hill of Crosses

About

While the exact origins of the Hill of Crosses are unknown, it’s believed the tradition began after the 1831 uprising when families couldn’t find the bodies of their fallen loved ones. When Latvia was under Soviet control between 1944 and 1990, the hill was bulldozed on 3 occasions to clear away the religious symbols, and even put under guard to try to keep locals away, all to no avail. Today, the hilltop, which is estimated to have 200,000 crosses on it, stands as a monument to Latvia’s national spirit, and was even named a place for hope, peace, love, and sacrifice by Pope John Paul II.