Cepurīte (Hat) Island

Lake Alūksne is the eleventh largest lake in Latvia with four islands – Garā Island, Tīklu Island, the largest of the islands –Castle Island– and Cepurīte (Hat) salu.

Cepurīte (Hat) Island is also called the Island of Love, the name comes from its shape. The island is naturally formed, but based on archaeological research and the pottery shards found on the island, there used to be a castle mound there, built in a lake on a natural island and inhabited in the 1st-2nd centuries.

The island of Cepurīte is shrouded in myths and legends.

“In winter, a wedding party crossed Lake Alūksne. The ice broke. All the wedding guests crossed, only the groom and the groom drowned. The groom’s hat and the groom’s veil remained on the ice. In the spring, the ice melted, but the hat and veil turned into islands that are still visible today and are called Cepurīte Island and Garā Island.”

An unwritten rule of Love Island states that only two people and only one boat can dock at the island. Hat Island is especially popular among lovers and wedding couples. It should be noted that when approaching the island, you must first go around it and check if any boats have already docked. If other lovers are ahead, then you are not allowed to dock, but you must row around the island until the previous ones have left.